During lockdown, our gardens and the wildlife they contain have been a lifesaver for some of us, and now it’s our turn to help nature thrive.   One of the perks of being in lockdown is that more people have discovered the importance of nature and have developed their green thumbs. I have also seen a growth in people wanting to enhance their green space. So, why not do so on top of improving habitats for our local wildlife? One way to do this is by creating new homes for all manners of creatures. Log piles do just that. Piling up logs and sticks in a damp, shady area in your garden c ..read more

January and February can be dreary months. With the festiveness of Christmas left behind and the charm of the lights and decorations put to rest for another year the beginning of the calendar year can feel somewhat dull and empty with no sense of sparkle or excitement. Very often it is the grey and damp weather in particular that makes us reluctant to embrace the great outdoors, and with that some rewarding and enjoyable hands on gardening tasks may be left for another day! But now is the chance to counteract the overindulgence of the past seasonal festivities!  Gardening guarantees goo ..read more

Here at Turning Leaf Garden Designs we don’t confine ourselves to single private residential gardens, we also take on commercial work too, where it has a residential requirement. Ensuring the quality of both private and communal landscape spaces is our number one priority and working to developer’s timeframes and liaising closely with other contractors ensures the new occupants enjoy a swift transition into their new homes and start enjoying their gardens from day 1. Here is the story of our latest venture! Setting out All Saints Primary School The old primary school building is a Grade ..read more

Following on from our articles on Early and Mid-Spring work in the garden, here are some top tips as we move into late April and the beginning of May… Pruning Source: gardenersworld.com By now days and nights should be frost free which means pruning can be done without harming plants and compromising this years’ growth. Prune spring-flowering shrubs after flowering, clip box hedges and topiary as well as evergreen shrubs and hedges. Remember to check for nesting birds before cutting any shrubs or hedges to avoid harming our regular garden visitors! Grass growth within lawns will be we ..read more

Following on from our article on Early Spring work in the garden, here are some top tips as we move into April… Mid Spring If warmer weather persists some plants, especially climbers, may have put on a decent amount of growth already and will require tying in. The waterlilies in your garden pond are now ready to be divided, perhaps as part of a pond tidy up. Don’t forget to start feeding your fish again. Apply a lawn ‘Weed and Feed’ in dry weather and start cutting your lawn a few days afterwards. This will encourage new growth and develop string root systems. Repair lawn areas where requ ..read more

With most of the cold weather hopefully passed, increased hours of daylight and the first garden ambassadors of spring showing off, it is time to give your garden a head start to the gardening year that surely promises to be full of horticultural excitement! There never seems to be a lot to do this time of the year as the garden is just ‘waking up’ and nothing much has put on growth. However this is deceptive! Here is a collection of tasks to be done… Early Spring Thorough work in the garden now will pay off during the following months. Once the ground has reasonably dried up, remove leaf ..read more

The winter season can be particularly challenging for the wildlife visiting our gardens. Recent weather has brought with it freezing temperatures and even snow! Water sources for bathing and drinking are hard to find and food is limited, especially if the cold weather carries on for longer than expected. So what can be done to give our garden wildlife a hand? A few simple and inexpensive actions can make a huge difference and give us plenty of joy. By the way, looking after our wildlife is certainly one of the essential ‘garden jobs to do’ during the winter months when plants as yet require ..read more

With February often being the coldest month of the year spring seems far away but with increasing hours of daylight and birds starting their nesting behaviours perhaps it’s time to think about early flowering plants or enjoy a few ‘garden treats’ while we wait for warmer weather. Early flowerers don’t just include the obvious spring flowering bulbs such as tulips and daffodils which are often planted in pots so that there is no long wait for their foliage to die back within borders and, primarily, so they can be enjoyed right outside the window or patio door! There is a range of plants, incl ..read more

As we take down the lights and the Christmas decorations many of us wonder what is there is to look forward to in January? Of course, the garden, for most, wouldn’t be the first place to escape during these dull, late winter months. Surely, we must wait till spring before there’s any glimmer of life in the garden? With frost settling in there are many plants with features that can be utilised in Garden Design to give a fantastic display in the winter. Here at Turning Leaf in Essex we choose the best combination of plants to keep a garden looking bright and magical, even after the lights have ..read more

Now, in late-October the shortening of daylight and inevitable drop in temperature has most definitely begun. Autumn is in full swing, leaving behind all the fabulous blooms of summer. However, autumn and winter are the seasons for some more obscure beauties to come out. At Turning Leaf we pride ourselves on designs that last through every season by establishing the many late flowering gems that shine colour into gardens throughout autumn and winter. Just Emerging Cyclamen Source: Turning Leaf Garden Designs As summer draws to a close and leaves begin to fall the soil begins to erupt with ..read more