A water feature can be a beautiful addition to your garden, bringing a focal point and attracting wildlife. The right choice will enhance your enjoyment of the garden with a sense of tranquillity, and the opportunity to add some attractive aquatic plants.  Here’s a guide to help you decide whether a pond, a fountain, or even a cascading waterfall would be the best fit for your outside space.  Consider the size of your garden There’s a type of water feature for any size of garden. A large pond will be impractical for a compact backyard, but even the smallest space such as a balcony or ..read more

Spring has finally sprung, and if you are beginning to turn your attention to the outdoors, you might notice that your garden is in need of some TLC. Whether it’s an overgrown jungle or just a flat and uninspiring patch of lawn, your garden could be transformed into a haven for wildlife, or an outdoor ‘living room’ where you can relax and socialise all summer.  The thought of redesigning or landscaping your garden might seem to be rather overwhelming, but it’s also an exciting project that can really enhance your enjoyment of your home, and help you to appreciate nature or just have a gre ..read more

The summer blooms may be starting to fade away, but that doesn’t mean we have to resign ourselves to a drab looking garden for the rest of the year. With some planning, it is possible to have an outdoor space that looks colourful and attractive all year round. Here are some top tips.  Plant evergreen shrubs and trees Evergreen species that keep their colour and foliage all year round will ensure that it looks alive and attractive throughout the winter months. Opt for species that also produce seasonal flowers or berries. For example, certain species of the holly plant produce characterist ..read more

A beautiful garden to relax in can be a place to treasure, but the reality is that maintaining an outdoor space can be very time consuming. While gardening is a pleasurable activity for many people, if you are busy juggling a job, a family, and other interests, then weeding and mowing the lawn can take a back seat. Garden is a very physical activity, and it can be burdensome for people with arthritis or other health problems or injuries. However, it is possible to take the hard work out of gardening, and create a low-maintenance outdoor space that is both aesthetically pleasing and practical ..read more

As we stand on the threshold of spring, many of us will be welcoming the unfurling of new life among the brown and barren garden borders. The soil is beginning to get warmer, and soon it will be time to sow seeds and prepare plants ready for the growing season. Here are some top tips to help you get your garden shipshape for the joys of spring.  Clear up winter debris Here in the UK, we have been battered by a string of storms strong enough to be named by the Met Office since September 2023, with winds of up to 100 mph and torrential rain.  It’s normal for us Brits to endure six to s ..read more

It’s the start of a new year, and many of us will find our thoughts turning to home improvements. We now see our outdoor spaces as extensions of our homes; places where we work, relax, and socialise, and connect with nature.  This has led to some interesting new developments in the way we plan and design our gardens. Here’s a look at what lies ahead in 2024.  Eco-friendly gardens There is already a strong emphasis on environmentally friendly and sustainable gardens, and this trend is set to continue in 2024. There will be an increase in practices such as mulching and composting and l ..read more

Hardscaping includes man-made features such as paths, patios, and driveways that help to define a landscape, and also make it practical to use. As well as being functional, hardscaping can enhance the natural beauty of your outdoor space, especially when it is well thought-out and designed. Here are some points to consider. The material matters The material you choose should be in harmony with the surrounding environment, including soft scaping such as trees, grass, and borders, and also the style of your house. For example, if you have an older property with a country cottage-style garden, th ..read more

It’s almost winter and our gardens will be powering down for a few months. The beauty of autumn foliage can still bring us joy at this time of year, and it’s an ideal time to get outdoors and bed your garden down for winter. Some simple jobs now can save time later and ensure that your garden is in great condition and ready to thrive in spring time. Here are some top tips to help prepare your garden for the colder months ahead. Have a general tidy up At the end of autumn, clear up leaf fall and other debris so that your outside space looks tidy, and trim back straggly perennial plants. If you ..read more

Many of us here in Britain take pride in maintaining a lawn that is lush, verdant and weed-free. For those of us with gardens, feeding, watering and mowing the grass is a weekly summer chore. However, on the Swedish island of Gotland, they have very different ideas about lawn maintenance.  In fact, the less work the better is the ethos of the Gotlanders. The Guardian reports that they have just held their annual ‘Ugly Lawn Competition.’ The reason that the islanders compete for this unusual distinction is an attempt to save water.  Gotland, which is located in the middle of the Balti ..read more

Hedges are a versatile garden feature that can be used to define boundaries or different zones within the garden, screen for privacy and noise, shelter from wind, screen fencing or walls, or to attract and provide a home for wildlife.  Autumn is the ideal time to plant a hedge because the ground is warmed up from the summer and also has a good moisture content (particularly this year). Now is the time to act before the first frosts begin to bite. Here is a guide to the different species that will be most suitable for hedges.  If you want a hedge to define a boundary or create extra p ..read more