Blog

Garden therapy is something I am resolute about promoting. The one message is that gardening, in any form can directly increase your happiness. I believe gardening is the therapy that everyone can benefit from whether you’re overworked, feeling lonely or wondering what you’re doing with your life. We have all been there and I don’t […]

Sensory gardens prime purpose is to awaken your senses, whether that be smell, touch or sight. They are rarely sutble and require specific design principles to work well. Garden Ninja is here to help clear up the confusion and provide some guidance on sensory garden design. This handy guide will explain each of the areas […]

So you’ve decided that you would like a garden you can relax and admire.  You may have also liked the look of raised beds.  Probably because: You want a neat looking garden with clean lines You like the idea of having an amazing garden but your current layout / borders put you off You want a […]

Informal Gardens are probably the most common garden style. An informal garden is less restrictive than say formal gardens in their design symmetry. Informal gardening can set you free of restrictions such as having any detailed horticultural or design knowledge. Thus allowing you to ‘have a go’ at gardening when you first start out, which […]

The gardens of Levens hall, Versailles in France, Bodelwyddan’s knot garden, clipped hedges of yew and box will all bring to mind the classic formal garden. Neat lines and symmetry are key for formal gardens along with a restrained colour palette and paired back mix of materials. Formal gardens can sometimes be folded on an […]

The boring garden is something that often starts the process of looking into a garden design. Looking out over an uninspired space can be enough of a drive to turn the blank garden into something fantastic. Starting garden design is an exciting but considered process. One that should not be rushed into but carefully planned. […]

Step 1 – Initial consultation & idea storming An initial consultation with you starts the ball rolling for the garden design process.  Ideally, this will be face to face, a phone consultation if pictures are provided can be undertaken.  This usually an hour-long consultation. Using my portfolio and ideas board, we can start to identify […]

Today Garden Ninja took a day off to visit one of the best gardens here in the North West, Tatton Gardens. Tatton gardens feature one of the most authentic Japanese gardens here in Britain alongside some spectacular formal gardens overlooking the grounds. It’s a huge garden packed with many surprises and some amazing specimens such […]

Garden designing with plants for shade is often approached with a look of worry, lip biting and sometimes avoidance. Planting for shade seems to fill people with dread. However, if Beth Chatto has taught us, designers, anything about garden plant choice, it’s to work with what you’ve got. I for one love designing with shade in […]

You can definitely tell that spring is on its way out and summer is ready to explode into life, and that’s especially prevalent at Bodnant Gardens this year. It’s one of the main attractions for plant lovers in Wales and has a romance that can’t be ignored. If you want to see some classic examples […]

Not only is this garden a welcome retreat from the sometimes unpredictable highland weather but it is free to enter. Meaning more cash to spend in the coffee shop stuffing yourself with homemade delicious scones and fresh coffee, well maybe that was just me. But before you dive into the delights of the cafe I’ve […]

Most gardens will have an area that is either in partial or full shade, especially given the proximity of buildings and neighbours. The suburbs are prime candidates for shady awkward gardens, as extensions and outbuildings are developed, the light sources can be broken up and shadows then cast. Don’t despair though, there are a whole […]

I specialise in garden design in the Manchester, Liverpool, Southport and Cheshire areas of the North West of England. Specifically small, awkward or unconventional gardens. I love problem gardens and love to use my creative design and problem-solving to make incredible spaces for customers. I have a passion for good design with plants and I’m one […]