Approach
Tool Kit
We will always bring the following tools: Hori Hori (a soil knife, similar to a trowel), secateurs, pruning shears, loppers, pruning saw, scissors and string, rake, dustpan and brush, broom, wooden mallet, planting spade, border fork, buckets and first aid kit.
We will bring ladders, power tools, wheel-barrows, long-arm loppers and steps in conversation with you. Our tripod ladder is 6ft, which is usually sufficient to complete most garden tasks. The wellbeing of our team is paramount, therefore we will only complete tasks that can be done in a safe and comfortable manner.
Please advise us in advance of a visit if you feel any of these additional tools may be needed. For ladder work and use of power tools will need a minimum of two gardeners on site for health and safety reasons.
Weeding
We will work methodically and thoroughly to remove annual and perennial weeds, taking care to clear any persistent roots to prevent re-growth. We believe this initial investment of time represents value for money and a quality service.
This being said, weeds are opportunists and it is unlikely areas will stay weed free for long!
In areas where weeds have been established long enough to set seed they will have built up a seedbank in the soil from which to germinate anew. Where roots have spread unheaded it can be difficult to extract them all without some breakage, leading to minor re-growth. This is especially true in areas planted with mature shrubs or perennials, where weed roots have grown interlaced with desired planting.
Alongside weeding often and with care, planting densely and mulching to cover bare soil will limit opportunities for weed growth, both of which we are happy to advise on.
Japanese knotweed: If we identify this plant in your garden we will let you know as soon as possible. A specialist will be required to remove this plant.
Mares tail and Ground elder: If we identify this plant in your garden we will let you know as soon as possible. We will do all we can to decrease the presence of these weeds but complete eradication is unlikely and if possible will take many seasons.
Pesticides / herbicides / fungicides - if we identify a weed that we cannot practically extract or control by other means we will discuss this with you. We reserve the right not to use pesticides.
Weed suppressant matting: in our experience, the use of black plastic matting is often more trouble than it is worth. Whilst it may offer temporary respite from weeds, in the longer term we find that organic matter often builds on the surface (from fallen leaves for example) allowing weeds to germinate anyway, but making their removal all the more tricky! Add to this the water run off, plastic particles and soil degradation (which is crucial to plant health) and you’ve got yourself a pretty unsustainable option. This is why we choose to steer clear of this type of matting where possible.
To prevent weeds in the long term we recommend the methods mentioned above, along side a healthy dose of mulch. Another alternative is to use a Jute based matting which will biodegrade over time.
Pruning
At first glance pruning can seem like a simple and exact science - learn the methods and the best time to cut each plant and apply like clockwork. In reality pruning takes these principles as its base alongside a hefty dollop of experience and pragmatism.
Our team are confident and experienced at pruning. Much thought, research and care will go into bringing the best out of your shrubs and climbers. Where you have a certain aesthetic preference in mind please let us know and we will work with you to create this result, otherwise we will take our lead by the style of your garden and the health of the plant.
Trees
Depending on the size of the tree we may be able to garden or plant trees. However, if the tree is over 2.5m tall and / or we deem it to need the attention of a tree specialist we will discuss this with you. Our team does not operate chainsaws.
Aesthetics
What defines a garden is subjective and often changeable. We will work in collaboration with you to understand your garden and how you want to use the space. This could include: which plants are characterised as weeds, or how tidy or wild you want the space to be. If you feel we are not striking the right balance for your tastes please let us know and we will attune our approach accordingly.
Planting
We will work in conversation with you to creatively develop the garden. This could include the introduction of plants such as perennials, shrubs, annuals, bedding, bulbs, self-sowers and green manure, as well as advising on soil quality and existing plant health.
Significant garden development work, including planting plans, sourcing plants, plant lists and setting out of new planting designs will be billed at our garden design rate of £40 an hour. Should there be garden design work to be undertaken we will inform you ahead of undertaking any work to agree on a budget for the planting and labour.
Everyone loves to buy plants (we certainly do!) and we embrace you choosing things to add to your garden.
Our top tips for plant buying are:
Unless you are planting a one-off 'showstopper' plant, buy multiples of whatever plant you buy, preferably in uneven numbers, for planting in groups or to create a natural rhythm. It is really worth checking the ultimate size and spread of the plant to make sure it is suitable for the space you have in mind. Water plants in well and continue to water until well established, especially in dry weather. If you would like our advice about a planting purchase you are considering, or you have invested in a garden design and want to ensure your additions fit within the scheme do get in touch, we will be happy to discuss the plant with you.
Plant care
We will identify plants in your garden and care for them according to our training and research. New planting schemes should ideally be implemented in Winter, Spring or Autumn to avoid any extremes in weather and give plants the best chance to establish.
Timeframes
The garden cycle we work on is approximately three years, running from the start of the gardening year in September. Reducing the weed burden of a garden, shaping and restoring shrubs, adding and editing plant displays and allowing time to establish new plants all takes multiple seasons. It is not guaranteed but it is usual for the garden to measurably improve month by month.
Working with Nature
Plants can be unpredictable and what works in one garden may not work in another. Gardening is a creative and wild process and whilst we will work to revise and collaborate with you nature will always have the last laugh on what actually happens. A dry, wet or cold Spring and plants will grow quicker, slower, taller, shorter or not at all. A cold, wet or hot summer and some shrubs will stall, sulk or crisp their leaves. A wet winter without any really hard frosts and some seeds and plants will defer their usual activities entirely. A cold winter with a beastly wind and some plants previously considered hardy will give up the ghost entirely. Add to this the heartwrenching unpredictability of climate change and the activities of wildlife and it is fair to say some best laid plans meet roadbumps. However, there are often handy options to mitigate their effects and the longer we work in this field the more practised we are at optimistic and pragmatic resolutions.
Weather
We will work in all wind and rain unless we assess the conditions to be dangerous to us or deleterious to the health of the garden.
If the weather is wet, we will not use the lawnmower as mowing in the wet can damage the lawn. We will update you by text on the day if mowing is inadvisable. In some instances (if there is time in the schedule) we will liaise with you about an alternative day to come and mow between appointment slots.
Hot weather. We will update you by text message and/or email on the day of our visit if the weather is unsafe for us to work. In some instances we may suggest a change to our normal working hours (working earlier or later) to avoid the hottest point of the day.
Wind. We will update you by text message and/or email on the day if the weather is unsafe for us to work.
Values
As a team we work in this field because we love it and care greatly about the art and craft of gardening. Not only do we want to be the best gardeners we can be, we also want to train and support others to find fulfilling work in the horticultural industry.
We are an organisation with diversity and intersectional feminism as a founding value. We employ people of any gender, ethnicity and background, we pay on or above the national living wage and strongly believe beautiful gardens are made by contented and curious gardeners.
We are always learning and researching our subject, both to keep amassing knowledge about some of the 300,000 or so known plants on this beautiful planet as well as to keep up-to-date with the latest movements and improvements in horticulture.