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Updated March 2026: So you’ve got your ticket in hand for the Chelsea Flower Show and are giddy with excitement. You can’t wait to see what’s on offer. This complete beginner’s guide covers everything from the show’s history and how to buy tickets, to insider tips from someone who has actually exhibited there. Let me […]

If you’ve ever wondered what all the fuss is about, or if you’re planning your first visit and want to make sure you get the most out of every minute, this is the guide I wish someone had handed me the first time I walked through those gates. We’re going to cover everything: the show’s […]

The shift from petrol-powered to cordless battery-powered garden tools has been one of the most significant changes in UK domestic gardening over the last decade. When I started in garden design, petrol was the professional standard and battery tools were the weak compromise you gave to someone who did not know better. That is completely […]

Whilst the weather here in the UK can be a bit temperamental, the summer often feels like a two-week affair before it disappears again. You would be surprised just how favourable our climate actually is for growing genuinely awesome plants. If your garden is lucky enough to be in full sun, this list of full-sun […]

When it comes to gardening in the United Kingdom, we often find ourselves battling unpredictable weather, with rain being a common occurrence. Coupled with the fact that most newly built gardens and plots come with heavy moisture-retentive, claggy clay soil, choosing wet soil plants can be a nightmare for gardeners. Sometimes, it’s a case of […]

When you think of meadows, you may think of acres of rolling hillside, Julie Andrews, and lazy summer days. However, the wildflower meadow is under threat from the overdevelopment of green spaces. So now, a number of gardeners are looking to recreate smaller versions of these in their own gardens, helping to create a refuge […]

North facing gardens receive limited direct sunlight, particularly during the winter months when the sun stays low in the sky. In summer, they can catch some evening sun along the boundaries, but the central area will remain shaded for much of the day. This position is also known as the ‘Garden Aspect’ or the compass […]

If you’re lucky enough to have a south facing garden, you have access to a plant palette that simply isn’t available to any other garden aspect, along with the warmest, sunniest outdoor space imaginable. A south facing garden receives direct sun from mid-morning right through to late afternoon and, in summer, into the early evening […]

A west facing garden receives direct sun from roughly midday or early afternoon onwards, building in intensity through the afternoon before the long, warm, golden light of evening that makes everything look at its very best. This position is also known as the ‘Garden Aspect’ or the compass point it faces. The soil tends to […]

Mediterranean gardens are the true sun worshippers of the garden design styles. Using plants that love full sun and earthy tones, these spaces can become an oasis of calm in your back garden. Even if you aren’t blessed with a south-facing garden, you can still steal some of the principles of the hot Mediterranean garden styles and […]