When re-designing a garden I will always try to incorporate healthy plants that are on site into the design, although possibly relocate to a different area in the garden. We must make the decision whether to keep a plant where it is, move or transplant it to a new location, or to remove the plant completely.

Retain the plant in its current location

Through discussions with the client it is important to understand if there are any elements of their existing garden that they wish to either retain or enhance. It may be that they have a favourite tree, shrub or rose that they would like to keep where it is in the garden.

If this is the case then I could offer suggestions of how we could either improve the growing conditions of the plant so that it thrives, or maintenance suggestions such as when is the best time to prune a rose for example to enhance and extend the flowering period.

There may also be times when a client does not have any particular plants they wish to keep where they are, but as a garden designer I may encourage particular plants to be left in their current locations.

It may be that there’s a particularly beautiful cherry tree already in the space such as Prunus ‘Kursar’ that is already established and will provide pink flowers in the spring. After establishing whether the tree is in a healthy condition, I would then encourage the client that we should create the design around this already healthy plant specimen.

Re-position the plant

When assessing a client's garden I would include on my site assessment plan any plants that I wish to retain in the design, but note on the plan that this plant will be re-positioned elsewhere in the garden.

When a client is working to a tight budget, it is a cost effective way as well as more environmentally friendly to reposition existing plants rather than purchase new plants for the design. We should therefore carry out an inventory when visiting a site to see if we can re-position and repurpose any existing plants in the new design.

Other considerations

• Causes damage to walls, roof or pathways - reposition the plant to a more suitable position.

• Overcrowds neighboring plants - reposition to a more suitable place.

• Excess plant movement - this may be a sign of root damage. The plant should be removed as it is no longer safe.

• Signs of disease - Signs of disease include cankers, withering flowers, black or orange spots on leaves or powdery mildew. Check to see if the plant can be saved by either removing the diseased parts of the plant and disposing (ensuring that all garden equipment is thoroughly sterilised to avoid spread). If the plant cannot be saved, then it should be removed.