Blog

Creating a show garden is no mean feat. It takes months of planning, preparation and is a real consideration for any garden designer. Usually, your concept starts as a broader ‘idea’ before it is funnelled, refined and condensed into a show garden. However, memorial gardens are different, very different. They require the opposite considerations. You’re […]

If you’re a Garden Ninja follower you know I’m passionate about supporting local businesses, especially in horticulture. These local enthusiasts hold an invaluable source of knowledge and skills when it comes to growing beautiful plants. The brilliant thing about horticulture is the willingness for us all to share our knowledge and experience with other gardeners. […]

So you’ve got your ticket in hand for the Chelsea flower show and giddy with excitement you can’t wait to see what’s on offer. However, some key advice will help you avoid pitfalls, mental/physical fatigue and put your mind at rest so you can enjoy the world’s most celebrated flower show. The main advice is […]

Henchman is a British company more widely known for its incredible wobble proof ladders, especially for people who don’t always feel stable standing 12 rungs up a ladder cutting trees and such. If you want to read more on their tripod ladders here’s my guide – they are brilliant. However, it’s not just ladders they […]

Now that your seeds have germinated you may suddenly struggle to work out what to do next. Well, the next stage in growing your own plants is what’s known in the biz as ‘Pricking out’. This is a term used to describe separating your seedlings and potting them on into their own individual containers. It’s […]

It’s been a pretty erratic few months weather-wise here in the UK. Going from a heatwave in April to then Storm Hannah battering gardens. Not exactly ideal for tender plants and pricking out seedlings. However, by growing in a greenhouse and gardening without plastic I have at least managed to avoid any casualties so far! […]

Lawn edging and strimming is one of my least favourite tasks. If you’ve followed the Exploding Atom Garden you will know just how much of last year was spent installing lawn edging. However, a tatty edged lawn can look pretty ugly especially if you’re going to the trouble of mowing it. There’s no point having […]

Gardeners are a patient group. After sowing seeds you need to wait and let mother nature take over. Constantly tapping your toes, staring longingly at those seed trays for any signs of life waiting for seed germination. For some annuals its relatively fast maybe a week, yet for other herbaceous beauties, they make you wait […]

The Exploding Atom Garden is based on a concept of the layers of an atom firing out from a red hot core. To symbolise these layers I’ve decided to use Gabions to represent the shards of this Garden Explosion. Given this garden is using very soft landscaping techniques for the borders and grass pathways; I […]

Sowing seed is probably one of the most exciting parts of gardening. Ask any gardener or allotmenteer and seed selection then sowing is high on the list of favourite gardening activities. I’ve recently written a handy guide on how to sow seeds, so if you’re new to the seed sowing party maybe read that first […]

It’s amazing to think that most of the plants in your garden can be grown from tiny unassuming seeds. These little pods of life allow plants to propagate themselves and spread joy with us gardeners wanting to grow our own. The beauty of sowing seeds is the sheer variety of plants that you will have […]

I’m a massive fan of Ornamental grasses in the garden and fans of my work will see I incorporate them wherever I can. They require very little in terms of nutrition, will tolerate a number of soil types and can provide interest for around 10 months of the year. Grasses look great in groups and […]

I’ve already detailed the issue with plastic plant pots and containers in the garden. Even when conscientious gardeners pop them in their recycling bin, more often than not councils won’t recycle them. In fact 87% of those councils that could recycle plastic plant pots don’t. Frustratingly most of these items then become ‘single-use’ and end […]

Herbaceous perennials don’t require the care and attention of annuals or bedding plants as the majority of them are fully hardy (there are exceptions as with anything). Meaning they will happily survive underground during the harsh winter frosts. Arising again in the spring to dazzle us with their offerings. However, most people struggle to know […]

Roses are the quintessential English garden plant. You would be hard pushed to find someone who doesn’t have a fondness for the rose. Whether it be that bridal bouquet, valentines day or visits to English country gardens; the rose is one of the most iconic garden flowers. However, the beauty of roses also comes with […]