Why a successful small garden needs a big idea
A small garden needs a big idea. You can let a larger garden evolve – and by ‘larger’ I mean any garden more than about 100ft long or quarter of…
A small garden needs a big idea. You can let a larger garden evolve – and by ‘larger’ I mean any garden more than about 100ft long or quarter of…
I’ve recently been asked about plants and solutions for a windy garden. Even if you don’t have a windy garden, you probably have a windy spot. Our walled garden gets…
I’ve been meaning to organise the shed for years. It was cold, messy and full of clutter, with nowhere to put anything. So seeds and tools started to spread around…
Whitstable Open Gardens is held every year in June for the NGS. But even if you’re nowhere near Kent, let me treat you to a few of the summery seaside garden…
A seashell garden path is probably the most environmentally friendly path option you can choose. It’s relatively cheap and you can lay it yourself. And it’s not just for ‘seaside…
Monty Don’s new book, Down to Earth, has lots of good practical advice, but it isn’t a ‘how to.’ Down to Earth is about Monty’s personal gardening philosophy, and what…
I’ve been taking a sneak peek at the 2018 garden trends . I spent two days at GLEE, the exhibition where the gardening industry displays or discovers next year’s garden…
Garden ideas picked up from holidays abroad have inspired garden designers for years. Every year, there are several award-winning RHS show gardens based on places we visit, from Provence to…
This week I visited the roof garden at John Lewis in Oxford Street, designed by Tony Woods. Tony is a former RHS Young Designer of the Year. He and his…
‘Style your garden’ doesn’t mean exactly the same as ‘design your garden.’ Designing a garden is about choosing a theme, then planning the hard landscaping and planting. Styling is about…
Steven Edney and Louise Dowle’s middle-sized tropical garden, Sweetbriar, is open on 30th September 2018 (11am-5pm) for the NGS. Both Steven and Louise are professional gardeners. Steven runs the beautiful…
A friend recently asked me which hedge she should choose for her garden. It’s a bit like being asked for the answer to world peace. It’s rather a big question….
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How to find a gardener who’s perfect for your garden
What’s the first thing you think about when you decide to find a gardener? Is it ‘how much does a gardener cost?’ Or ‘how do I find a gardener who…
The best plants for amazingly low maintenance garden pots
What are ‘low maintenance garden pots’? After all, how low can you go? Can you go away on holiday for a fortnight without asking anyone to water your pots? Er,…
8 steps to the long thin garden of your dreams
Two years ago Emma and Mel moved to a house in Whitstable with a long thin garden. It’s open on the 10th June 2018 for the NGS 10am-5pm. They came…
Fences for privacy – 9 great ideas for garden screening
Are you making the most of your fences for privacy and screening? Privacy is a big issue for middle-sized gardens, because high hedges and fences block light. But low hedges…
7 essential garden tools to make your gardening life really easy
There are essential garden tools. And there are useful garden tools. Then there are useless garden tools. This post will show you how to invest in the first two, and…
The 8 best perfect-for-privacy garden trees
Do you need trees for privacy? Perhaps you have a neighbour’s window over-looking your garden? An ugly view or a street-lamp? The days of planting gloomy conifers to prevent people…
