Meet The Member - Julia Langsman Garden Designer
julia langsman
We caught up with our member Julia Langsman, award-winning garden designer and horticulturist, to hear about her journey from journalism to garden design — and how she’s transforming outdoor spaces across Hertfordshire and beyond.
We are very happy to have you as a member of We Are Harpenden. We would love to hear about your journey. Have you always wanted to work in the gardening industry? Did you do something different before?
Pleasure to be a part of the community! I retrained in garden design following an earlier career in PR and journalism, in search of a more creative path. I started by working in gardens locally and gaining my RHS diploma, and later studied Garden Design at Capel Manor in Enfield. I’ve always loved learning about plants and soil, but garden design also involves a lot of logic and problem solving. Whether I’m designing a new retaining wall, or a colourful planting scheme, it always involves both sides of the brain.
What challenges are people usually facing before coming to you?
People often have a particular issue that makes them think about changing their whole garden. Sometimes a house extension has reduced their garden, or a patio might need replacing, or a play area is no longer being used. For one reason or another, people realise that their garden no longer meets their needs.
Redesigning a garden can be challenging and time consuming, so people often seek someone who can look at their space with fresh eyes and bring creative solutions to difficult areas. It also simplifies the whole process having a single point of contact with the knowledge and experience to manage everything from materials, to construction detailing and planting.
As a business owner, what do you like about being based in Harpenden?
It’s a very welcoming community with lots of support networks for local businesses. People also genuinely like to support local businesses and ventures.
What is it that defines you and sets you apart from other garden design businesses?
Garden design is a very broad sector and everyone has different strengths. For me it’s always been important to understand how plants behave, as well as how they look – and I’ve spent years working at historic gardens that are open to the public to try and deepen that understanding. I worked at Hatfield House Gardens when I was first training in horticulture, and the knowledge gained from working in a team of highly experienced gardeners has stood me in very good stead.
What are your top pieces of advice for someone looking to redesign their garden themselves?
It’s not just about the materials and the features, but the mood you are trying to create. Always allow enough space for planting, especially around seating areas, to give it a natural feel. No matter how nice the materials, a garden can feel harsh and uninviting without enough greenery to balance the space.
Is there anything that surprises people about the garden design process?
How long it can take. It varies depending on the time of year and the complexity of the site, but many gardens take around six months to go through the whole process from initial site survey to installation. Much like a home extension, redesigning a garden is a complex project with a lot of decisions to make along the way. In addition, good garden designers and landscapers can be booked up several months in advance. Autumn/winter is a great time to begin the process if you’re looking to build a new garden for next summer.
What do you like the most about what you do?
It’s so rewarding to see how much joy people get from a new space. A well-designed garden can help people to relax, get closer to nature and enjoy spending time together with family and friends. It can make a real difference to people’s lives.
Where in Harpenden is your favourite spot to go in your spare time?
Walking and cycling down Swan Walk or the Nickey Line. We’re so lucky to have access to so much green space in Harpenden.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
I have a tractor driving licence – you need them for working in large gardens and stately homes. Just don’t ask me to reverse a trailer around a corner – it’s much harder than it looks!