Pyracantha espalier
Nothing is easier to train into an espalier form than the Fire Thorn (Pyracantha). If you want to get in some practise before launching into espalier apples and pears, then this is a good way to start. An espalier is …
Garden Features
Renovating the Vegetable Garden
Background Ideas I am in the process of repurposing and revamping the vegetable garden. It’s not really going to be a vegetable garden anymore. I’ll suppose that means I’ll have to rename it. The pond-garden perhaps? Why the change? Well, …
How to make trellis panels
Three examples of sturdy, long-lasting, DIY trellis panels TRADITIONALLY, trellis is any open framework used to partition areas of a garden or support climbing plants. In principle trellis — which comes from the latin for “arbor” or “summer house” — …
Using Trellis Panels in Fences
Trellis Panels in the top section of this 2m fence improve the look, adding texture and visual interest. I used trellis panels to reduce the visual impact of the 2m fence that runs along one side of my garden. The …
Accoya – the best new timber for garden design?
This is the latest bed I have added to my garden. It is made out of a new kind of wood called Accoya which is effectively rot-proof. But before I talk shop, here is a bit about the design ideas… …
Outdoor kitchen (new)
The new outdoor kitchen with gas BBQ, sink and tap is finished and christened. (Well, nearly finished: there’s still the cupboard to finish, but it’s pretty well there!) We have had a couple of meals outdoors using it, and hope …
Creating an ornamental lawn
Recently we had some friends over for a lunch party and without prompting, two of the male guests, (why is it a bloke thing? I don’t know why it’s a bloke thing, but it’s a bloke thing) quite independently, gazed at …
Cloud pruned hedges & topiary fun
Out and About in Sussex, England: musings on creative pruning Most of the hedging in my garden is in the formal, rectilinear style, but I really like cloud-pruned hedges too. Here are a couple that are on public display, that I pass on …
Formal pond in the vegetable garden
The centre piece of my vegetable garden is this formal pond, which was started in 2012. It’s overall size is about 6′ x 11′, but this is an illusion as it is actually two ponds, with the bridge covering the …
Paving the Potager
We took advantage of the fine weather over Easter to begin paving the paths around the raised oak vegetable beds. This had always been part of the original plan but as the gardens are almost entirely DIY we can only undertake …