Essays
Don't be a plant hypochondriac
I am consulted on a daily basis by people who are concerned about the health of their plants. It's time to stop worrying.
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Essays
The Unacknowledged Alan: A British Horticultural Hero You Should Know
We already have one great Alan who has stolen our horticultural hearts, but I am proposing there is another one, little known, whose legacy deserves to be celebrated.
Essays
A Parallel World
The nature outside our windows is the perfect antidote to the daily sequence of grim and depressing news stories from around the globe.
Essays
The Good of Small Things (With Apologies to Arundhati Roy!)
It is the unexpected, unplanned and unplanted treats that draw my eye in the month of April.
Essays
Garden Therapy: Prospect and Refuge
Why does your favourite space feel just right for you? I might just have the answer for why the secret to a garden feeling perfect is in your mind.
Essays
Companion Planting and Why I Ignore It
Companion planting is popular, but much of it is built on myth, not science. Here’s why trusting nature - and a little intuition - might be the best planting guide of all.
Essays
The Principles of Good Planting
Learning lessons from some great private gardens around Europe.
Essays
Meadows - Not Just for the Countryside
Wildflower meadows are seductive for those with larger country gardens. But achieving good ones is difficult, and even then, they can still fail to satisfy. So, how can we make the most of them?
Essays
Is Gardening Just Outdoor Housework?
Ever felt a little bit overwhelmed by your gardening tasks? Or ever spent longer looking for your secateurs than pruning? Let's talk.
Essays
Finding a Relaxed Approach to Home Gardening
There is no need to be brow-beaten by rules and complexities. Settle into your own rhythms and routines.
Essays
Yours Looks Better Than Mine
The allure of perfectly curated gardens in print and on social media often leaves gardeners comparing their own efforts to images that seem flawless.
Essays
Unlocking Kitchen Garden Success: A Flavourful Guide
The success of your kitchen garden owes almost everything to what you do sat on your backside before you start. Be bold, prioritise flavour and pleasure, and set your sail on a path for deliciousness to come.