Be bold and adventurous!

An assertive approach to gardening

When I started out, I was always afraid of removing plants, but I've come to be much more ruthless in my approach – giving plants the space they need to thrive and cutting back those that are – past their best in order to champion the newcomers. On the whole, we leave as much vegetation standing for as long as we can so that wildlife has somewhere to hide over the winter and to maintain biodiversity. The garden is always full of birdsong, so it has definitely paid off.

There is a lot of trial and error in gardening, so it's good to accept that we are always learning and to be adventurous and bold in decision-making. There is a balance to be struck between looking at the minutiae as well as the bigger picture. You can get lost in weeding tiny seedlings from gravel paths, but you also need to pay attention to the overall balance of mass and void in the garden.

Designing with intention

Creating immersive seating spaces with thoughtful planting

My main line of work is garden design and when I specify a swing seat, I always surround it with plants so that you feel enveloped in your garden. Mat-forming plants which do well in partial shade work well underneath the seat such as Galium odoratum (Sweet Woodruff) and Soleirolia soleirolii (Mind-your-own-business). If you have well-drained soil, I like to add some creeping thyme around where your feet will be in order to release the scent when you walk over them.

For around the seat, I usually mix some soft, swaying grasses like Stipa tenuissima or Pennisetum, planted through with some flowering perennials like Persicaria or Achillea so that you can enjoy the sound of the bees. It's good to have something scented nearby like Sarcococca or Osmanthus so that all your senses are catered for.

An ever-evolving garden

Balancing beauty, wildlife, and practical care

The Sitting Spiritually Garden has a high proportion of plants, most of which are perennials, so it is constantly evolving. As and when gaps open up in the planting, we will make decisions on which self-seeded plants to transplant and which plants to divide and conquer. Martin has a penchant for topiary, so we have introduced some more over the years which look great in the winter.

We've created homes for new seats by introducing new zones and giving each its own character, and the willow tunnel has just had a big renovation with the help of willow weaver, Jo Sadler. There have been some casualties over the years, so we are always thinking about new robust plants to take their place, whilst still being in tune with the rest of the planting scheme.

Timing is everything

Knowing when to plant

We mulch the beds with homemade compost to retain moisture and suppress weeds. This reduces the need to irrigate. However, most of the plants in the garden are robust and drought tolerant. Move plants and introduce new ones in the autumn; that way, the plants have time to get their roots down before the weather heats up again, reducing the need to irrigate.

Choose plants appropriately for the level of light, wind exposure, and soil conditions – this will mean less irrigation and faster establishment, which your wildlife and soil will be thankful for. Hold off from doing the big cutback until February/March – your garden's wildlife will benefit hugely. The trick is to learn to relinquish control over the winter and embrace a slightly more unkempt look. The garden's architecture, such as evergreen topiary or the stems of multi-stem trees, will hold the garden together over this period.

Nature knows best

Letting the environment guide your gardening choices

Finally, let nature be your big boss. We can't ignore climate change and its effects on our gardens. Adapt to those changes and be innovative.

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If you would like to contribute a guest blog, please contact Sitting Spiritually at info@sittingspiritually.co.uk