Pot Pads

I love this product I have found http://containergardening.about.com/od/reviews/gr/PotPads.htm It’s rubber feet for pots and containers. I was recently overhauling some troughs planted on a deck 3 years ago – underneath some of the troughs it was very wet and some white mould was growing there.  I decided they could do with raising up a little …

Tree delivery

Yesterday we took delivery of 3 of these Standard Quercus ilex trees (Evergreen Oak), for a garden I am working in. They have a 6ft clear stem so that the foliage will start at the top of the 6ft wall, and provide screening.  They have a dark green holly-like leaf, with grey undersides. We also …

Back to work

After the extended Christmas break due to the snow, I am now ready to kick into action again! People often ask me ‘What do you do in the Winter?’ Well work does slow down, but it certainly carries on. Quotations, planting plans, and on-going maintenance and tidy-ups are in store for me this week. In …

Walled patio

Above is the ‘after’ shot of patio in a garden I designed earlier this year. Note the overhangng pear tree, large bay tree, and the side of the house – all present in the ‘before’ shot, below: The old shed and greenhouse were removed, along with the old paths in the lawn. The banked lawn …

Inviting steps

This is a garden which I designed and was built earlier this year. Previously (see below), the steps were too small and in the wrong place. They now lead invitingly from the house to the garden. The paving stones used are Stonemarket ‘vintage stone frost’ – a blue/grey limestone.

Steeply sloping garden

This is the steps and patio of a very steeply sloping back garden in Dorking that I designed recently. As there is quite a drop from the patio and path to the level below, railings have yet to be installed, and the planting is also yet to be completed. The rendered walls give a Mediterranean …

Successful Winter interest

I recently visited a client’s garden to carry out a twice-yearly maintenance session. I find these visits really interesting to find out how the garden has fared and matured. The client informed me that her Clematis cirrhosa balearica, pictured above, had flowered all through the snowy winter, and had been a mass of yellow flowers, …

Bedding Season!

I have just bought some trays of trailing geraniums, felicia and violas for containers and hanging baskets. These get snapped up early in the season, and although it is recommended not to plant these out till late May when the risk of frosts have passed, I have mine planted out in my own garden already …

Sarah Raven veg growing course

I recently visited Sarah Raven’s farm at Perch Hill, West Sussex, to attend her ‘all year round’ vegetable growing course. I was very impressed with Sarah’s knowledge and enthusiasm, there was not a dull moment! I will definitely be taking her advice in growing her tried and tested tomato varieties – ‘Black Crim’ – a Russian …