Did you know that the average homeowner spends nearly 50 hours a year just on lawn and garden care? That’s a shocking amount of time, especially when you factor in tools that constantly fail, run out of juice, or just don’t cut it. I used to be one of those…
A contemporary cottage garden fuses traditional cottage style with ‘naturalistic planting’, according to garden designer, Tim Pilgrim. ‘It uses common plants – both edible and ornamental – as in traditional cottage garden planting, but planted in larger drifts. And there’s more thought to colour palette and repetition,’ he says. He’s…
Eco-friendly garden design can save you money on landscaping. It can also make your garden look more individual, reflecting your personal style. And if you want to be more sustainable or encourage wildlife and biodiversity, then the design of your garden is an essential starting point. So I visited the…
Garden art and sculpture creates year-round atmosphere and interest in your garden. A sculpture will look as beautiful in the winter as in the summer. It can create a focal point or define a part of the garden. Or it can add contrast or highlight a theme. And when you…
The best cottage garden plants have pretty blooms. They flower for a long time and are often fragrant. And above all, they are plants which grow well in your climate and soil. But there are no rules in cottage garden style. You can adopt a colour theme as Tim Pilgrim…
Recycled garden furniture, landscaping and planters can save you money. And they always add character and individuality to your garden or backyard. Plus it’s the most sustainable way of living. Even if your recycled garden isn’t cheaper than buying new, it’s still a better use of world resources. Recycling can…
Snowdrops (Galanthus) are the flowers that say ‘winter is ending’. They symbolise a garden about to spring into life again. And these tiny, pretty white flowers are almost completely maintenance-free. Plant them and they will grow. Snowdrop days or ‘snowdrop walks’ are the first events of the garden visiting season.…
Alright, let’s talk real for a minute. I’ve been doing this design thing, in one form or another, for over two decades. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: most people completely misunderstand what "good" interior design actually is. They think it’s about copying the latest Pinterest aesthetic,…
Greenhouse gardening can stretch the flowering season, giving you blooms up to six weeks earlier than usual. And although a full size greenhouse can also be a living space – a haven away from the world – you can get the same growing benefits from lean-to greenhouse shelving, cloches and…
Scented plants tap into the brain’s emotions. They trigger nostalgia, calm, happiness or other memories. And scent is vital for wildlife. Foraging pollinators use scent to help find their way to nectar and pollen. Yet many of today’s plant varieties have had scent bred out of them. While we were…
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