​Over the years i’ve tried and tested many spades, forks, secateurs & cultivators and i’m guilty of buying some which look lovely but just can’t withstand more than an occasional bit of light work!  So i thought i’d share with you my favourite tools, those we use for planting our projects and those worth buying to help you maintain your new garden. 

Spades and forks are the key tool.  They need to be hard wearing, light enough for use all day and easy to clean up and keep in good shape. I learnt several years ago that the beautiful looking wooden handled types you see in all of the garden centres are just not strong enough for regular soil preparation on our local heavy soils. I’ve broken more than i care to mention! So i now choose those with stronger handles and avoid metal handles which tend to be too heavy . Stainless steel blades & tines are a must, the very cheapest spades and forks you’ll find in the garden centres have carbon steel blades which are strong but their surface isn’t as smooth as stainless steel so it is more difficult to slice into the ground and to clean the blade afterwards.
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For planting borders we opt for 'border' spades which have a smaller blade than a traditional 'garden spade'. As they are light weight  they are user friendly for long-lasting planting jobs. We will use a larger garden spade for planting large shrubs or trees. We tend not to use forks for planting. These are kept for breaking up ground or mixing manure/ compost into the soil.  I recommend Draper 'expert' range as i find them durable and long lasting. 

​Soil – the stuff we should all have beneath our feet unless we are living in a high-rise. The typical garden soil in our region is a heavy clay loam, although there are areas with exception. Clay loams are nutrient rich due to the ability of the clay particles to hold on to useful nutrients. Unfortunately clay also has it’s down sides. If compacted it can drain poorly and be very wet in winter whilst dry rock hard in summer. The best way to improve clay soils is to add manure or garden compost along with grit of sharp sand, something we do on every Planting Project or Full Garden Transformation. It is essential to have soil in ‘good-order’ when we plant the garden, to ensure that the plants have everything they need to survive and thrive.  When we’ve incorporated raised beds / planters into out projects, we source good quality top-soil and mix this with compost. The topsoil needs to be weed free and screened to remove any large unwanted materials.

The variety of plants available to gardeners is almost limitless, and can seem daunting when you are learning their names and how to care for them. Here we provide a basic guide to climbing plants and their attributes.
 
Climbers - As their name suggests, these plants climb up a structure or surface, there category refers to the fact they climb as opposed to their habit. Consequently they can be annual, perennial or shrubby.

Annual climbers include Sweetpeas, Morning Glory and Thunbergia.

Perennial climbers include some but not all of the Clematis, the perennial Sweetpea and Hops...

​The variety of plants available to gardeners is almost limitless, and can seem daunting when you are learning their names and how to care for them. Here we look at two of our favourite textural foliage plants - Ferns and Grasses. 

​​Ferns - A favourite of ours, Ferns offer wonderful textural foliage in a range of shapes and sizes. Generally suited to shady spots, several will cope with a sunnier aspect in the soil remains moist. Most ferns are clump forming, and a few which we use will creep gently too. 
Ferns are easy to maintain - just requiring old fronds to be removed, generally in the spring prior to the new fronds emerging.
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Grasses - Another favourite of ours, ornamental grasses offer a wonderful array of textures, colours and forms. They can be diminutive tussocks at the front of a border or giant feathery plumes at the back. They offer long term interest for very little input...

The variety of plants available to gardeners is almost limitless, and can seem daunting when you are learning their names and how to care for them. Here we examine the difference between Shrubs, Sub-Shrubs, Wall Shrubs & Trees.

Shrubs - Often used as anchor plants within a border, they provide the structure which perennials lack. Shrubs grow a woody framework which they retain year on year. This framework is generally pruned to shape rather than being cut back to ground level like perennials. The woody framework bears the foliage and flowers on it’s stems. Roses are a classic example of a shrub (although often you see them classified into their own category)...

The variety of plants available to gardeners is almost limitless, and can seem daunting when you are learning their names and how to care for them. So what are Perennials and how do they differ from Annuals and Biennials? 

I have been a professional Plantswoman for 21+ years. The term 'Plantswoman' refers to a woman with a keen interest and wide knowledge of plants and their cultivation, and I have more than most! What sets me apart from many garden designers is my extensive knowledge of plants, which is unrivaled locally. I design gardens too of course but what really sets me apart is the two decades worth of experience working on plant nurseries and my garden expertise and know-how gleamed from growing, tending, sell plants and advising those wanting to create their own little oasis in their gardens. That's why I call myself a Plantswoman rather than just a Garden Designer. 
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Following 21+ years of intense immersion in all things horticultural, i have developed an encyclopedic knowledge of garden plants, their habits, needs and how to use the right plant in the right place. I use this expertise on a daily basis to design, create and manage gardens across Leicestershire. The story of my career goes some way to explaining how and why I became a plantswoman, how I have gleamed my knowledge and reputation as a garden and plant expert and why I love doing what I do.....