Getting Back to the Roots

I recently wrote a brief article for Treehugger: Why We Should Think About Roots. In this piece, I look a quick look at why it is so important to delve deeper, both when thinking about gardens and garden design, and when trying to live a sustainable life in general. We can learn a lot fromContinue reading “Getting Back to the Roots”

Updating Traditional Cottage Garden Style for Your Specific Location

Certain styles of gardens are perennially popular around the world. The English cottage garden is one typical example. But achieving a certain style does not mean copying the design exactly, down to the specific plants that you choose. So good design often means updating traditional garden styles with native plants – to make them moreContinue reading “Updating Traditional Cottage Garden Style for Your Specific Location”

Become a More Sustainable Gardener in 2022

As a garden designer, I have been heartened to see so many people embracing sustainable organic gardening over the past couple of years. But even those who set out with the best intentions could still do more to make sure they are doing the right thing for people and planet in their gardens. Here areContinue reading “Become a More Sustainable Gardener in 2022”

Lawn Looking Bad Over Winter?

Are you used to your lawn turning into a muddy mess over the winter months? Fed up of bare patches and weeds in spring? There is a simple solution – get rid of that lawn and replace it with a more eco-friendly, vibrant and biodiverse planting scheme that looks good year round. Lawn care isContinue reading “Lawn Looking Bad Over Winter?”

Where and How to Grow Herbs

From a sunny windowsill where you can grow herbs year round, to dedicated herb gardens outdoors, from annual polyculture beds in a kitchen garden, to fabulous forest garden schemes, there are plenty of options when it comes to herb cultivation. I recently shared some of my tips for starting a herb garden on Treehugger: MyContinue reading “Where and How to Grow Herbs”

Winter Planning For Spring Planting

Even if you are not growing year round, there is still plenty to be done over the winter months to prepare for spring planting. Planning and preparation are important for a successful gardening year. When many people think about garden planning, they begin and end with deciding on and ordering the plants and seeds theyContinue reading “Winter Planning For Spring Planting”

Choosing an Attractive Tree For a Garden

All too often, those looking for garden inspiration seem to divide plants for a garden into two categories – edible and useful plants are placed in one category, and ornamental plants in another. Unfortunately, this type of segregation blinds people to the beauty of edible and useful plants, and to the culinary or other usesContinue reading “Choosing an Attractive Tree For a Garden”

Gardening Helps Fight the Winter Blues

In winter, as the nights draw in, it is easy to feel despondent. You may sometimes get the feeling that things have stalled. Taking on a gardening project can help you avoid that slumped winter feeling – giving you purpose and a sense of drive over the coldest months. Even when plants in your gardenContinue reading “Gardening Helps Fight the Winter Blues”

It Might Not Be Too Late to Start Growing This Year

If you have an undercover growing area, or live in a warmer temperate climate zone, growing edible produce is not just something which is confined to the summer months. Even in a cooler temperate climate, you can still get growing if you consider options for windowsill growing indoors. In November, there is still time toContinue reading “It Might Not Be Too Late to Start Growing This Year”

Projects to Aid Winter Growing

While winter can still seem quite far off some days, we are nearly in October, and for us where we live, that means that we are likely to experience the first frosts in around a month to two months time. It can vary quite a lot. Sometimes our first frosts are in late October, sometimesContinue reading “Projects to Aid Winter Growing”