Blog

Making your own compost is one of the most rewarding things you can do as a gardener. Not only does it save you a fortune on bagged compost, but it’s also brilliant for the planet and turns your kitchen and garden waste into absolute gold for your soil. I’ve been gardening for a long time, […]

There’s a colour that British gardeners chronically underuse, and it’s the boldest, most dramatic one in the entire palette: vibrant, passionate, show-stopping red! Now, I know what you’re thinking. Red’s too loud, too in-your-face, too risky for proper garden design. Absolute nonsense! Red flowers are the ultimate statement makers, and they deserve way more space […]

There’s a colour and plant type that’s criminally underused in British gardens: bright, vibrant, in-your-face yellow flowers! Now, I know what you’re thinking. Everyone and their nan goes for the safe pastels, the gentle pinks and soft purples. But what you may not know is that yellow flowers are absolute show-stoppers in terms of garden […]

Staring out at your perfectly square garden through those patio doors, you might be feeling distinctly uninspired. That predictable rectangle of lumpy turf bordered by fence panels on all sides probably looks less like a garden and more like a green prison yard, especially if it’s one of those typical new build plots where developers […]

Sensory gardens are not just some trendy garden design concept dreamt up by fancy landscape designers with too much time on their hands. Sensory gardens are fundamentally about creating outdoor spaces that actively invite you to experience nature up close through touch, smell, hearing, taste, and sight. To enrich and awaken your senses, whether thats […]

“Can AI Be Used to Design My Garden?” I get asked this question almost weekly now. Someone’s uploaded a photo of their sad patch of lawn to an AI garden planner, pressed a few buttons, and suddenly they’re staring at a rendered image of what looks like the Chelsea Flower Show has landed in their […]

Staring down that narrow strip of garden stretching away from your house, you might be feeling like you’ve drawn the short straw in the garden lottery. Long thin gardens are probably the most common awkward shape in British suburbia, particularly in Victorian terraces, post-war developments, and those estate properties where developers sliced up former agricultural […]

Yes, winter is the best time to prune most deciduous trees. When trees are dormant (from November to late February), they heal faster, diseases are inactive, and you can clearly see the tree’s structure without leaves. However, some trees like cherries, plums and other members of the Prunus family should never be pruned in winter […]

Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival is the world’s largest annual flower show, sprawling across a magnificent 31 acres in the historic grounds of Hampton Court Palace. Unlike its more formal cousin, Chelsea, Hampton Court has a relaxed, family-friendly vibe that welcomes everyone from seasoned gardeners to complete novices. Given this is 2025’s final show before […]

November often gets dismissed as nothing more than a leaf raking and garden tidying month, with most gardeners thinking there’s nothing left to do except clear up and wait for spring. This mentality drives me absolutely spare! Whilst others are already planning their seed orders for February and ignoring their plots, I’m out here at […]