Blog

When I first started gardening in my teens, I made the classic rookie mistake of thinking any old spade or fork would do the job. Mainly because I had zero funds and was working with whatever I had in my shed. How wrong I was! After years of designing gardens on BBC1’s Garden Rescue and […]

If you’re gazing out at a bare concrete balcony, wondering how you could possibly create a thriving garden in such a small space, believe me when I tell you that no matter how small the space, it can still become an inviting garden (even 13 floors up). After years of designing gardens for clients ranging […]

Prairie planting has absolutely taken the UK gardening world by storm, and for excellent reasons! Although many prairie plants are not native to northern Europe, many have been part of our garden history for almost 200 years, and, with a few exceptions, they have behaved well. What started as an American phenomenon has evolved into […]

If you’ve been following my apple harvest adventures, you’ll know that autumn’s fruit bonanza doesn’t stop there, just as you’re getting to grips with your apple glut, along come the pears with their own delicious demands! After years of helping clients make the most of their orchard bounty, I can tell you that pears are […]

When I first started gardening many, many moons ago, I always gardened bare-handed. It gave me a genuine sense of connection with the earth and the gardening process. It wasn’t long, though, before coworkers in my old IT 9-5 job were giving my dirt-stained hands and nails the look of horror. It looked like I’d […]

If you’ve ever stood beneath a laden apple tree in September, wondering whether you’re experiencing the best gardening problem ever or staring at weeks of frantic apple processing ahead, then you’re in exactly the right place. After years of helping my own clients transform their apple gluts from overwhelming burden into delicious opportunity, I’m spilling […]

If you’ve ever stood in your garden watching your beloved pooch systematically destroy your prize Dahlias whilst simultaneously wondering if those mysterious holes appearing overnight are the work of garden goblins or your ‘innocent’ terrier, then you’re in exactly the right place. I’ve seen it all in my years designing gardens for dog owners and […]

Raised beds are quite simply the game-changer for modern gardening, especially in smaller gardens or where the soil is poor. Whether you’re struggling with rocky or sticky soil, want easier access to your plants, or simply fancy a more organised approach to growing your own, raised beds offer the perfect solution for easier garden growing […]

Are you staring at your Buddleja, wondering if you should reach for the secateurs? Perhaps you’ve inherited some towering, leggy butterfly bushes that look more like botanical disasters than the compact, flower-laden shrubs they should be. Maybe you’re nervous about potentially ruining this year’s butterfly magnet with an ill-timed snip, or confused by conflicting advice […]

September is often overlooked as a month for taking a breather rather than planting, with many gardeners thinking the growing season is winding down and focusing primarily on tidying up summer’s glorious chaos by cutting back. Knowing what to plant during September is where the experienced gardeners beat newbies! September is the prime time for […]