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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. […]

Quick Answer To build your own fire pit, dig a circle in the lawn or lift paving, lay a fireproof gravel base over weed membrane, arrange reclaimed stone or bricks around a steel fire bowl, and dress with decorative gravel. The whole project takes a day, costs as little as £30 using salvaged materials, and […]

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 […]

Quick Answer To plant a successful flower bed, first choose your site and test your soil, then prepare the ground by removing weeds and adding organic matter. Design using three plant layers (ground cover, mid-layer, and tall), pick a unified colour scheme, and use repetition of plants in groups of three or five. The whole […]

Once you’ve grown a few plants from seed, you suddenly open up your gardening skills. That knowledge builds quickly and sticks because you earned it by putting in the effort to really understand your plants. There is also the cost saving from growing your own. A single packet of seeds for a pound or two […]