Garden advice & ideas
Practical advice from our garden team
Honest, useful guidance on planning, building and looking after a garden, written from experience working across Surrey and South West London.
Book Your Spring Garden Project Now: Why Winter Is the Best Time to Plan Landscaping
A spring garden is won or lost in winter. Design, permissions, materials and groundwork all take time, and starting now gives you the best chance of a finished garden the moment the weather turns.
9 November 2026Read article →
Slippery Patios, Paths and Decking in Winter: Safety, Cleaning and Prevention
Algae, wet leaves, frost and ice turn garden surfaces into slip hazards every winter. Here's why it happens, how to clean and treat surfaces safely, and how to stop it coming back.
7 November 2026
Can You Do Landscaping in Winter? What Can and Can't Be Built Between November and March
Yes, a lot of landscaping can go ahead in winter, but not everything. Here's which jobs suit the colder months, which are better left until spring, and how to plan so your garden is ready when the weather turns.
5 November 2026
Garden Clearance in Winter: Green Waste, Old Structures and Overgrown Borders
Winter is one of the best times to clear an overgrown or cluttered garden, while plants are dormant and the structure is visible. Here's how to do it safely, legally and with a plan for what comes next.
3 November 2026
Winter Lawn Care: What to Do (and Not Do) Between November and February
A lawn doesn't need much in winter, but a few well-timed jobs and some important things to avoid make a big difference to how it looks come spring. Here's a month-by-month guide.
1 November 2026
Winter Tree Pruning in London: When It's Safe to DIY and When You Need Permission
Winter is a good time to prune many trees, but in London, protected trees and conservation areas mean permission is sometimes needed first. Here's how to tell what you can do yourself and when to check or call a professional.
30 October 2026
Storm-Damaged Fences and Garden Structures: What to Do After High Winds
After a storm, a flattened fence panel or a shifted shed can feel like an emergency. Here's how to stay safe, document the damage, make temporary repairs and decide what to fix or replace.
28 October 2026
How Long Does a Garden Room Take to Build?
The build itself may take days or weeks, but the full journey from first enquiry to finished room is longer. Here's what affects each stage and how to plan a realistic timeline.
26 October 2026
How to Find a Reliable Gardener in Surrey or West London
A good gardener is worth keeping for years, and a bad one can leave you worse off than before. Here's how to find someone dependable, what to check and which warning signs to heed.
24 October 2026
How Long Does a New Patio Take to Install?
A small patio can be done in a few days, while a larger or more complex one can take considerably longer. Here's what affects the timeline, what happens at each stage and how to plan around it.
22 October 2026
Garden Maintenance in Epsom: Seasonal Care Guide for Surrey Homeowners
Chalky, free-draining ground near the Downs and heavier clay in the valley mean Epsom gardens need different care. Here's a season-by-season guide to keeping yours in good shape.
20 October 2026
Garden Maintenance in Kingston upon Thames: A Year-Round Guide
Riverside gravel, low-lying plots and a mix of period and suburban homes mean Kingston gardens need a seasonal approach. Here's what to do and when, from spring through winter.
18 October 2026
Garden Room Installation in Surrey: What Homeowners Need to Know
From ground conditions and bases to planning, electrics and choosing an installer, here's what Surrey homeowners should know before a garden room goes up.
16 October 2026
Party Wall Act and Garden Work: What You Need to Know Before Starting
Most garden projects don't trigger the Party Wall Act, but some do, particularly deep excavation near a neighbour's building or work to a wall on the boundary. Here's a general guide to when it may apply and what to do about it.
14 October 2026
Landscaping in Esher and Walton-on-Thames: Common Projects and Costs
From drainage and patios to driveways, fencing and garden rooms, here's what homeowners in KT10 and KT12 most often have done, and what actually drives the cost of each project.
12 October 2026
Garden Design Ideas for Chelsea and Kensington Townhouse Gardens
Tall walls, limited light, tight access and high expectations: townhouse gardens in Chelsea and Kensington are small but demanding. Here are the design ideas that work best in these spaces.
10 October 2026
Permitted Development Rights for Gardens: What You Can Build Without Planning Permission
Many garden buildings, fences and surfaces can go up without a planning application, but only within certain limits. Here's a general guide to how permitted development typically works for gardens in England, and where the common catches are.
8 October 2026
The Best Landscapers in Surrey: What to Look For and How to Choose
Surrey's gardens range from heavy river-valley clay to free-draining heathland, often within a few miles of each other. Here's what genuinely separates a strong local landscaper from an average one.
6 October 2026
Landscaping in Cobham and Oxshott: What High-End Garden Projects Look Like
Large plots, mature woodland and genuinely substantial budgets set Cobham and Oxshott apart. Here's what a considered, high-end garden project in this part of Surrey actually involves.
4 October 2026
When and How to Prune Wisteria: The Complete Two-Cut Guide
Wisteria that won't flower is almost always a pruning problem, not a plant problem. Here's the proper two-cut method that keeps growth under control and encourages a genuinely spectacular display.
2 October 2026
How to Create a Low-Maintenance Garden That Still Looks Great
Low-maintenance doesn't have to mean boring, bare or artificial. With the right design choices, a garden can look genuinely impressive while asking very little of your time.
30 September 2026
Landscaping in Wimbledon: Design Ideas for SW19 Gardens
From Victorian villas near the Common to sloping plots on Wimbledon Hill, SW19 gardens have real character. Here are the design ideas, materials and planting choices that suit them best.
28 September 2026
Building Regulations for Garden Rooms: When They Apply
Planning permission and building regulations are two separate things, and a garden room can be exempt from one while still needing to satisfy the other. Here's a general guide to how the rules typically work.
26 September 2026
Garden Maintenance in Richmond: What Local Gardens Need and When
Richmond's riverside plots, Georgian townhouse gardens and the wildlife pressure of living near Richmond Park all call for a slightly different approach to maintenance. Here's what that actually looks like through the year.
24 September 2026
Signs Your Garden Has Been Neglected, and How to Bring It Back
Neglect creeps up gradually, a few missed weeks becomes a few missed months. Here's how to spot it early, what genuine recovery looks like, and how to stop it happening again.
22 September 2026
Protecting Plants From Frost: What Needs Covering and What Doesn't
Not every plant needs fleece the moment temperatures drop. Here's exactly which plants are genuinely at risk from frost, which shrug it off, and the protection methods actually worth using.
20 September 2026
Leaf Clearance: Why It Matters and How Often to Do It
Fallen leaves look harmless enough, but left on a lawn or blocking drainage they cause real damage over a wet winter. Here's what to clear, what to leave, and how often.
18 September 2026
Fire Pits and Outdoor Heating: Extending the Garden Season
A well-placed fire pit or heater turns a garden from a summer-only space into somewhere usable most of the year. Here's how to choose, position and build one properly.
16 September 2026
Winter Interest: Plants and Structure for a Garden That Doesn't Disappear in Winter
Most gardens are planned for spring and summer and then quietly abandoned for the colder months. Here's how to design one that still has genuine presence through winter.
14 September 2026
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Landscaper
A garden project is a significant investment, and the wrong landscaper can turn it into a costly, drawn-out headache. Here are the questions worth asking before you commit to anyone.
12 September 2026
How Often Should You Have Your Garden Maintained?
Weekly, fortnightly or monthly? The right frequency depends on your garden's size, planting and the season, not a fixed rule. Here's how to work out what your garden actually needs.
10 September 2026
Preparing Your Garden for Winter: A Full Autumn Checklist
A few focused weekends in autumn save a lot of trouble come spring. Here's a complete, room-by-room checklist for getting a garden properly ready for winter.
8 September 2026
Composting at Home: A Beginner's Guide
Composting turns kitchen and garden waste into free, genuinely excellent soil improver. Here's everything a beginner needs to get started properly and avoid the most common early mistakes.
6 September 2026
Which Herbs Should Come Indoors for Winter, and Which Can Stay Outside?
Not every herb needs rescuing from the cold. Here's exactly which herbs need protecting as temperatures drop, which are tough enough to stay outdoors, and how to move plants inside without bringing pests with them.
4 September 2026
Shed vs Summerhouse vs Garden Room: What's the Difference?
The three terms get used loosely, but they're built for different purposes and priced very differently. Here's how to work out which one your garden actually needs.
2 September 2026
Maintaining a Timber Shed: Treatment, Repairs and Preventing Rot
A well-maintained timber shed can last decades; a neglected one can start rotting within a few years. Here's exactly what to do, and when, to keep yours sound.
31 August 2026
How Much Does a Garden Shed Cost? A Realistic Price Guide
Shed prices range from a modest flat-pack storage box to a fully insulated garden room costing many times more. Here's a realistic breakdown of what drives the cost, so you know what you're actually paying for.
29 August 2026
How Much Does Landscaping Cost? A Realistic Price Guide
Landscaping costs vary hugely depending on scope, materials and your specific garden, but there are realistic price ranges worth knowing before you start planning or requesting quotes.
27 August 2026
Porcelain vs Natural Stone Paving: Which Is Right for You?
Both make beautiful patios, but they behave differently underfoot, over time and on maintenance. Here's a full comparison of cost, durability, style and upkeep to help you choose.
25 August 2026
Garden Lighting: How to Light a Garden Well
Good lighting doubles the time you can enjoy a garden and transforms it after dark. Here's a full guide to lighting one tastefully, the fixture types worth knowing, and how to avoid a glaring floodlight nobody enjoys.
23 August 2026
Slopes, Steps and Split Levels: Landscaping a Sloping Garden
A sloping garden is an opportunity, not a problem. Here's a full guide to how good hard landscaping, terracing, retaining walls, steps and decking, turns awkward levels into usable, characterful space.
20 August 2026
How to Make Your Garden More Wildlife-Friendly
A garden buzzing with birds, bees and butterflies is healthier and more alive. Here's a full guide to welcoming wildlife, season by season, without letting things go wild.
18 August 2026
Why Moss Takes Over a Lawn, and How to Deal With It
Moss is a symptom, not the disease. Here's a full breakdown of what it's telling you about your lawn, the correct order of treatment, and how to get grass to outcompete it for good.
16 August 2026
Choosing the Right Hedging Plant for Your Garden
The best hedge depends on what you want it to do. Here's a full guide to choosing between formal, evergreen, native and flowering hedging, with popular UK species, spacing guidance and planting tips.
13 August 2026
What Can (and Can't) Be Pressure Washed Safely
A pressure washer is powerful, sometimes too powerful. Here's a full breakdown of what it's great for, what it can damage, the technique that avoids mistakes, and when it's worth calling in a professional instead.
11 August 2026
Does Landscaping Add Value to Your Home?
A good garden is more than a nice-to-have, it can genuinely affect how a home sells and for how much. Here's an honest, detailed look at what adds value, what doesn't, and where to focus if you're thinking about selling.
9 August 2026
Choosing a Driveway Surface: Block Paving, Gravel or Resin?
Each driveway surface has its place, block paving for durability, gravel for budget and drainage, resin for a clean modern finish. Here's a full comparison to help you pick the right one.
7 August 2026
Why Autumn Is the Best Time to Plant Almost Anything
Warm soil, reliable rain and months of quiet root growth, autumn planting gives hedges, trees and borders a head start spring can't match. Here's the full case for planting now rather than waiting.
5 August 2026
What To Plant, Prune and Avoid in Your Garden This August and September
Late summer isn't the end of the gardening year, it's when next spring's display gets decided. Here's what to plant, prune, avoid and fix over the next few weeks.
3 August 2026
Best Climbing Plants for Shade
Not every climber needs full sun. These four cope well with a shaded wall, fence or pergola, and each brings something different to the garden.
1 August 2026
How Can You Grow Dahlias From Seed?
Growing dahlias from seed is slower than starting with tubers, but it's cheap, easy and gives you plants you won't find in any catalogue. Here's how to do it properly.
30 July 2026
Why Your Garden Floods, and How to Improve Drainage
A garden that turns to a bog every winter usually has a drainage or soil problem. Here's what causes it and the realistic ways to fix it.
28 July 2026
Planting for Privacy: Screening Your Garden Without a Fortress
Privacy doesn't mean walling yourself in behind a six-foot fence. Hedges, climbers, trees and tall planting can screen a garden beautifully while keeping it soft, green and alive.
25 July 2026
Designing a Garden That Works for the Whole Family
A family garden has to do more than most, safe for small children, durable enough for daily use, and still a space adults actually want to relax in. Here's how to design one that genuinely works for everyone.
23 July 2026
Keeping Your Lawn Green Through a Dry Summer
A few simple habits keep a lawn healthy through hot, dry spells, and most involve doing less, not more. Here's how to help your grass through summer.
21 July 2026
Front Garden Makeover Ideas That Add Kerb Appeal
The front garden is the first thing anyone sees, including buyers. Here's how to make yours smart, welcoming and low-maintenance.
19 July 2026
Reclaiming an Overgrown Garden: Where to Start
An overgrown garden feels overwhelming, but there's a sensible order to reclaiming one. Here's how to get from jungle back to garden.
17 July 2026
Choosing the Right Garden Fence: Styles, Materials and Privacy
From closeboard to slatted screens, the right fence balances privacy, looks, durability and budget. Here's how to choose one that suits your garden.
15 July 2026
How to Maintain Decking: Cleaning, Treating and Repairing Timber and Composite
A deck that's looked after can stay safe and good-looking for many years; one that's ignored can turn slippery, grey and splintered in a few. Here's a practical, season-by-season guide to keeping timber and composite decking in shape.
13 July 2026
Small Garden Design Ideas That Make the Most of the Space
A small garden doesn't need to feel small. Good design, the right planting and a few clever tricks can make a compact courtyard or terrace feel genuinely spacious and properly usable.
11 July 2026
What's Included in a Regular Garden Maintenance Visit?
"Garden maintenance" means different things to different providers. Here's a clear breakdown of what's typically covered on a routine visit, what's seasonal, and what usually falls outside it.
9 July 2026
Garden Room Ideas: Home Office, Studio or Gym?
A garden room can genuinely change how you use your home, extra space for work, creativity or fitness without the cost and disruption of an extension. Here's how to plan one that actually gets used.
7 July 2026
How to Fix a Patchy, Bare or Worn Lawn
A patchy lawn is almost always fixable, but the right fix depends on the actual cause. Here's how to diagnose the problem properly and bring the grass back.
2 July 2026
Composite vs Timber Decking: Costs, Looks and Longevity
Timber gives natural warmth and a lower starting price, composite gives near-zero maintenance and a longer working life. Here's a full comparison to help you choose the right one.
25 June 2026Got a project in mind?
Reading up before a garden project? When you're ready, we'll arrange a free visit and written quote.