The Garden Editor

08/05/2026

This row of trees grabs my heart and twists it into a billion pieces every single year.

In an era of instant impact and fast gardening, this is your screen-cleansing antidote and challenge.

05/05/2026

Facing Up Front

This week on Basingstoke Community Radio, it's all about front gardens! What are the practical things we need to think about - like bins, parking and EV chargers? And how can we get plants and plans in place that don't take up more time than we want to?

As a gardener, I don't apologise for the fact that my own front garden doesn't follow a lot of these guidelines. But from "what to do with the tiny lawn" to "how do I cope with the bin shuffle", have a listen and see what you think.

Link below!

04/05/2026

"It’s a bit like when we go clothes shopping,” she says. “We just think, ‘Oh, that's gorgeous.’ But buying the wrong size plant is like trying to make a rugby player fit inside a babygrow."

I was delighted to be featured for expert advice in this article on 5 plant-buying mistakes to avoid. Know your soil; know your space; don't buy in flower; and shop wisely from the bargain bin; and don't buy one of everything!

Link below for those dashing out for a retail fix today.

02/05/2026

And at last, the rain came, and the garden breathed. And like a moth, I crept out in the crepuscule, drawn to the white things.

01/05/2026

01/05/2026

Shopping for plants this bank holiday?

Here are my three top tips if you're a beginner and feeling overwhelmed.

30/04/2026

Allium floof!

Join us this Saturday 2nd May at 11am for our latest community gardening volunteer session. We'll be at the beds which are just popping with alliums and more.

No experience needed - just bring sturdy shoes, gloves if you have them, and an adult for U18s.

29/04/2026

I go away for 48 hours, and in that time it seems I have some new sub-editors in the potting shed! Does anyone know what type of birds I have here? They look very small to me - wrens, robins?

The window at the back of the shed is open, and I've seen both parents come and go safely in and out with stuffed beaks.

Now all I need to do is extract my basic gardening kit and leave them in peace for a while...

27/04/2026

We lost a giant in the horticultural world this week. Nigel Dunnet was a total hero for those of us steeped in naturalistic plantings. If you went to London 2012, have passed the Barbican, strode the streets of Sheffield or even wandered around Bergamo, you will have seen his work. When I started the Garden Editor, and started to design projects such as the meadow below, I hoovered up every one of one of his many, generous, insights to improve my knowledge and ways of working. I also loved that he designed with music and immersive practices.

One of his recent projects was to create a new outdoor living intensive care unit in Kings College hospital. I can't think of a better way to be looked after when critically ill than being surrounded by nature. What a legacy he leaves us.

27/04/2026

We lost a giant in the horticultural world this week. Nigel Dunnett was a total hero for those of us steeped in naturalistic plantings. If you went to London 2012, have passed the Barbican, strode the streets of Sheffield or even wandered around Bergamo, you will have seen his work. When I started the Garden Editor, and worked on projects such as the meadow below, I hoovered up every one of one of his many, generous, insights to improve my knowledge and ways of working.

One of his recent projects was to create a new outdoor living intensive care unit in Kings College hospital. I can't think of a better way to be looked after when critically ill than being surrounded by nature.

He inspired so many people, often unbeknownst to themselves.

24/04/2026

Friday night floof, anyone?

My clients have asked for even MORE of these tulips for next year. Can you even have too many bulbs?