Blog

The run-up to Christmas in December is usually a really busy month for me. Whilst most people are winding down my calender goes into overdrive with a mix of garden design work and social activities. Those savvy early bird garden design clients are queued up for me to start designing before the spring, my family […]

When I first started gardening many, many moons ago, I always used to garden barehanded. It gave me a real feeling of connection with the earth and the process of gardening. It wasn’t long, though, before coworkers were giving my dirt-stained hands and nails the look of horror. It looked like I’d clawed my way […]

When it comes to taking care of your lawn during winter, much of the maintenance requires preparation. Again, this isn’t an extensive amount of work, but there are a few points to take note of.  Now that the cold is seeping in, there’s no better time to hunker down with your to-do list and start […]

November is a cold month which signals the end of Autumn and the beginning of winters frosts. It’s easy to think its the end of the gardening year but if you think like that you’ll miss out on some wonderful gardening treats. It’s funny how people comment on ‘putting the garden to bed’. I never […]

A neatly mowed lawn is a quintessential component of the British garden. The majority of my design clients ask for a lawn as an essential part of their garden layout showing just how indispensable they are to homeowners. However, with peoples busy lives it can feel like a bit of a chore needing to cut […]

I’m often asked by new and experienced gardeners how to prune fruit trees in summer. Many gardeners know of winter pruning before spring as housekeeping but summer pruning often gets overlooked. Maybe its the euphoria of long sunny days, flowers all around the garden and hazy nights watching sunsets. However, if you fail to keep […]

If you’ve started to dig around a little into the world of Garden Design or have been binge-watching Gardeners’ World, you’ll have come across the term ‘Borrowed Views’. Other terms like a focal point or eye hook are sometimes used, and it may have sparked your imagination to use these in your garden. What on […]

Battery-powered garden tools are becoming really popular amongst gardeners. Battery-powered garden tools, such as hedge trimmers, are more flexible due to the lack of chords; they are usually lighter and better for the environment than petrol-powered hedge cutters. In fact, I now use a battery-powered lawnmower, strimmer, leaf blower and hedge trimmer in the #explodingatomgarden. […]

I have a continued love affair with Ornamental grasses in the garden. I love their height, texture, movement, and long seasons of interest. They are a welcome addition to nearly any garden. Now, I know they may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re open to grasses, this article will show you a […]

Watering a garden can be a time consuming and sometimes thankless task. In a heatwave, it is essential to efficiently water your plants to stop them from wilting, getting stressed or dying due to exhaustion. Before you reach for the sprinkler and set your alarm for 5 am, you may want to read this guide […]