Planning a garden

If you’ve got a bare fence line or row of fence panels in your garden, you will know just how depressing and frustrating the view can be. Let’s discuss one of the most overlooked opportunities in garden design: the humble fence line. I see it time and time again in my design consultations, gardeners treating […]

Gothic gardens aren’t about creating something frightening or forbidding. Rather, they’re about embracing the romance of shadows, the elegance of deep colours, and the theatrical beauty that comes from bold contrasts with your plant choices and landscaping design choices. These spaces evoke an atmosphere of sophisticated drama, that Gothic mystery which many of us love. […]

Prairie planting has absolutely taken the UK gardening world by storm, and for excellent reasons! Although many prairie plants are not native to northern Europe, many have been part of our garden history for almost 200 years, and, with a few exceptions, they have behaved well. What started as an American phenomenon has evolved into […]

If you’ve ever stood in your garden watching your beloved pooch systematically destroy your prize Dahlias whilst simultaneously wondering if those mysterious holes appearing overnight are the work of garden goblins or your ‘innocent’ terrier, then you’re in exactly the right place. I’ve seen it all in my years designing gardens for dog owners and […]

Dream of creating a stunning coastal garden but worried about battling relentless winds, salt spray, and sandy soils? Perhaps you’ve moved to a beautiful seaside location only to discover that your favourite garden plants simply won’t survive the harsh coastal conditions. Maybe you’re standing in your windswept garden, wondering if you’ll ever achieve that picture-perfect […]

As an award-winning garden designer, I love creating beautiful paths that guide people around their gardens. However, new gardeners often struggle to design or choose the right materials for garden paths. This guide will help you discover the professional secrets to creating stunning garden paths that last for decades, plus the seven costly mistakes that turn DIY […]

August arrives, and suddenly your garden feels tired. Spring’s enthusiasm has worn off, summer’s peak has passed, and you’re left staring at gaps where earlier perennials have finished flowering. Meanwhile, the weeds seem to have endless energy, popping up everywhere you don’t want them. Sound familiar? I’ve been there too, and it’s exactly why I’ve […]

You’ve chosen beautiful plants, spent good money on quality specimens, and carefully planned your garden design. Yet something’s not quite right. The garden looks off. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone! Even experienced gardeners can fall into plant placement traps that sabotage their best intentions. Let me, the Garden Ninja, walk you through the […]

Before we roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty, let me give you the essential information you need to know about planting hedges. I’ve spent over thirty years working with hedges in gardens across the country, from exposed coastal sites to sheltered urban plots. These are the fundamentals that will determine whether your […]

One question I get asked frequently on this site is, ‘Why is garden design expensive?’ and my answer is that garden design isn’t expensive; it’s good value for money given the vast multidisciplinary skills that go into making a successful garden design. Garden designers should not be cheap. Combining plant knowledge, design skills, project management, […]