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Do you avoid using Latin names for plants? Do they seem too complicated or even unnecessary? After all, we can all have beautiful gardens without knowing the Latin names of our plants. So I try…
'So how many people in this room have done a soil test?' This question was asked by garden designer Adam Frost at a recent talk at the Painters Forstal Gardening Club. There were over 80…
This year's autumn garden has taught me a lot about choosing plants for late-season colour. [caption id="attachment_9946" align="alignnone" width="400"] The leaves of the Robinia frisia (False acacia) and the Cotinus coggyria 'Grace' are a splendid…
How to choose the right garden tree? I think we all dither over this because trees seem like such a big purchase. More like buying a sofa than buying a vase, for example. [caption id="attachment_9798"…
I sense that the September garden isn't anyone's favourite. Vita Sackville-West abandoned Sissinghurst for the Mediterranean in September. Alan Titchmarsh refers to 'the depths of September and October'. There's a distinct drop in the number…
Have you run out of gardening steam by the time you get to the late summer garden? I know I do, which is why it's so inspiring to visit a top professional garden, such as…
I've always wondered about 'no dig flower borders' for annuals, shrubs and perennials. Not that I ever do much digging. But I wondered if the principles of no dig veg and no dig flower borders…
I’ve recently been asked about plants and solutions for a windy garden. [caption id="attachment_9359" align="alignnone" width="400"] Sue Marling and Fay Sweet's Suffolk garden is in a windy area, but it is colourful and feels sheltered.…
Self-seeding plants are the key to gardening on automatic. The less you do, the more they grow. And they're free. You buy one packet of seeds or one plant, and get a lifetime of exuberant…
My shady border is probably better for longer than anywhere else in the garden. Although I do far less work in it - less planting and weeding - than I do in the sunnier borders.…
Here in the South East (of England), we're assessing the winter damage to our gardens. The real problems weren't caused by the snow, freezing winds or low temperatures of late February. [caption id="attachment_8631" align="alignnone" width="600"]…
I didn't know the difference between a tree surgeon, an arborist (also known as an arboriculturalist) and a Chain Saw Man when we first moved into a garden with trees. First, we got the trees…