Formal topiary at Great Fosters
Get creative with topiary
I have to admit I do like a bit of topiary. There’s nothing quite like a clipped hedge or box ball to add structure to a garden. And the beauty…
How to deer-proof your garden
Aaah, aren’t deer cute?! Well not if they’re munching your prize roses they’re not! I have to admit that my heart sinks a little when new clients tell me they…
Winter wonderlands – gardens to visit
At this time of year it’s very tempting to stay inside, keep warm and banish all thoughts of garden visiting until April. But if you do that you’ll really be…
Top plants for autumn colour
At this time of year there’s really no excuse for gardens to be boring! Surprisingly though, it seems to be a common problem when I go to visit new clients. …
Philadelphus
5 easy flowering shrubs to plant this autumn
Did your garden lack a certain je ne sais quoi this summer? If you’re like many of my clients (who want a lovely garden, but have little time to do…
Bumble bee on Allium Christophii
Make room for pollinators
Many people think that creating a wildlife-friendly garden is the preserve of eco-friendly sandal-wearing, tofu-munching people. And in some cases that may be true! But designing gardens with wildlife in mind…
Potentilla fruticosa 'Goldfinger'
Sunny delights – flowering shrubs for hot dry gardens
For anyone blessed with a sunny garden with free-draining soil in the UK, it can be difficult to grow a wide range of garden shrubs as many of the plants…
Magnolia 'Heaven Scent'
Flower power for the spring garden
There are so many lovely trees and shrubs which flower in spring, it can sometimes be hard to choose what to buy. Instead of going for the obvious choices (like…
Box hedging and topiary at West Green House
Last call for hedging!
It’s so nice to have the opportunity to plant hedges along garden boundaries rather than building a fence. But hedges can also be used within gardens to divide areas or create backdrops…