Welcome to my website. I offer planting design and gardening services, based in Burwell and covering the Cambridge, Ely and Newmarket areas for gardening (further afield for design work).

Planting design at gardeners rates

Most garden designers will produce a carefully constructed and detailed plan for you on a large sheet of paper. This obviously makes sense where hard landscaping is involved. However, I believe that in practice, effective planting schemes can be created without one. I do make working sketches (as a way of making sure that the plants will work together in practice), but I can keep the costs to you down by not providing a formal plan. That way I can spend more time choosing the best plants.

Plans can be provided for an additional fee depending on the level of detail required and the size of garden.

But surely it is expensive to get someone in to do this for me?

By seeking advice from someone with good plant knowledge, mistakes can be avoided. Too often plants are bought because they look pretty in the Garden Centre, but may not perform well where they are placed at home, or may get far too big and need taking out. Money can be saved by getting it right first time.

Plants can seem expensive - but by having the right plant in the right place, they will give you years of pleasure. Expect to pay around £6 for a shrub, and £20 for a tree. Younger plants will cost less if you are prepared to wait longer for them to grow. Because I am often at nurseries, I know where the best value and best quality plants can be found.

Mistakes that are often made by the novice gardener

Spiky plants that grow large next to the path/play area.

Invasive plants that smother and kill dainty favourites, or plants that get too big and block out the small ones behind.

Tender plants not labelled as such at the Garden Centre, that then die over winter.

Plants that need lots of watering mixed in with plants that like it hot and dry.

Shrubs and trees that don't ever get berries/fruit as promised because they need a pollinator.

Plants that smell bad, placed close to the house.