Blog

If there is one piece of advice I give almost every client who comes to me for a garden design consultation, it is this: fill your borders properly. Not half-heartedly with a few lonely shrubs surrounded by a sea of bare earth, but densely, intelligently, and with plants that work brilliantly together. Ground cover plants […]

Quick Answer The fastest growing plants for UK gardens include flowering shrubs such as Buddleja, Lavatera, Forsythia, and Photinia ‘Red Robin’, which can add 60cm to 1.5m per year. For ground cover, Vinca, Ajuga, and Geranium macrorrhizum spread rapidly with minimal effort. Fast-growing small trees including Amelanchier lamarckii, Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan), and Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ deliver […]

Quick Answer Prune most hydrangeas in late winter to early spring, ideally March in the UK, once the worst frosts have passed and you can see fresh buds emerging. Remove spent flower heads, cut back a quarter of the oldest stems to the ground, and trim remaining stems to an outward-facing bud. Climbing hydrangeas are […]

Many of the plants that define the classic English country garden style thrive specifically because of alkaline conditions, meaning that if you live in a very chalky garden, there are plenty of plants to choose from. Trust me, as the garden design expert, having all kinds of soil still lets you have flower beds full […]

From designing hundreds of client gardens across the UK, I can tell you that the gardeners who stop fighting their soil and start choosing plants that genuinely love it are the ones who achieve the most spectacular results. Acid soil is home territory for some of the most beautiful plants in cultivation. In this guide […]

These are plants with stories woven through Anglo-Saxon charms, Druid ritual, Tudor love spells, and the extraordinary tradition of floromancy, the art of reading the future in petals and blooms. What I love about this as a garden designer is that every single one of these plants earns its place on pure horticultural merit. They […]

Quick Answer Plant fertilisers supply the three key nutrients plants need: nitrogen (N) for leaf and shoot growth, phosphorus (P) for root development, and potassium (K) for flowers and fruit. Remember the mnemonic shoots, roots and fruits. Organic fertilisers such as compost, seaweed, and chicken manure pellets are always preferable to synthetic alternatives, as they […]

Quick Answer The best drought-tolerant plants for UK gardens are Mediterranean species such as lavender, rosemary, and sage alongside tough perennials like achillea, eryngium, and salvia. Once established, these plants need little or no supplementary watering and will thrive through hosepipe bans and long dry spells. Choose plants with silver or grey foliage, waxy leaves, […]

Quick Answer Gardening is one of the most evidence-backed forms of therapy available to anyone with access to outdoor space. Studies consistently show that regular gardening reduces cortisol (the stress hormone), improves mood, lowers anxiety, and builds a measurable sense of purpose. You do not need expertise, a large garden, or expensive tools to benefit. […]

As a garden designer who specialises in awkward and overlooked gardens, I use pleached trees a lot in my designs. Not because I’m lazy with my tree choice, but because they really do offer a host of benefits to a small garden. Whether it’s politely blocking out nosey neighbours, adding some contemporary drama or making […]