Grow Your Own Fruit & Veg

After fifteen years designing gardens and presenting on BBC1’s Garden Rescue, the single question I’m asked more than any other is “when should I plant my vegetables?” It’s brilliant that so many people want to grow their own food, but getting the timing wrong is the fastest way to waste money and lose confidence in […]

Quick Answer To convert a lawn to a no dig bed, mow the grass short, lay overlapping sheets of plain cardboard directly on top, soak it thoroughly, then cover with 10 to 15cm of compost. Plant straight into the compost or wait 6 to 12 months for full decomposition. The grass underneath dies from lack […]

When most people think about growing fruit in the UK, they immediately jump to apples, pears and maybe the odd Victoria plum if they’re feeling adventurous. I’ve been designing gardens for over 15 years now and presenting on BBC1’s Garden Rescue. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into a garden where someone’s […]

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about starting a vegetable garden from scratch, based on my years of experience as an award-winning garden designer and what I’ve learned from growing my own veg. I’ll share the mistakes I’ve made (so you don’t have to repeat them!), the techniques that […]

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 […]

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 […]

If you’ve ever wondered why some of your prized perennial seeds refuse to germinate despite perfect conditions, warmth, and endless patience, you’ve likely encountered nature’s cleverly built-in safety mechanism called seed stratification. Understanding this fundamental process can transform your seed-starting success and unlock a world of beautiful plants that would otherwise remain frustratingly dormant in […]

Companion planting is the practice of growing plants together to support one another as part of a thriving garden community, to avoid pests and diseases, and for plants to help each other. Companion plantings in close proximity help to benefit each plant in some way. Like two friends cheering each other on and helping them […]

Raspberries (Rubus idaeus) are one of the most rewarding cane fruits to grow in your garden. Their juicy dark pink berries and fuss-free growth raspberries provide an abundant harvest with minimal effort. They are the perfect soft fruit for beginner gardeners to grow even in smaller gardens. This guide will show you how to grow […]

Gardening can be a deeply rewarding hobby, allowing you to reconnect with nature and find mindfulness in our often frantic lives. However, no matter how carefully we garden, our plants sometimes start to look sick. Plant diseases are a common challenge for all gardeners, no matter their experience level. They can be caused by fungi, […]