Buying and Managing Your Plants

Here are some practical tips for choosing and managing your plants more sustainably:

  • Just because a plant looks overgrown and untidy it does not mean it has to be removed, a considered prune can get a plant back into shape and productive again.
  • Consider the possibility of raising the canopy of a mature tree or shrub instead of removing and starting again.
  • Purchase plants grown in the UK, they will grow away more successfully than many grown and imported from warmer climates such as Italy and France. They will also have travelled less, and there is less risk of importing pests and diseases from overseas. Ideally, use a local nursery that propagates its own plants.
  • Choose plants that have been grown in peat free compost if possible.
  • If you are removing plants from a garden, see if anyone local wants them, e.g through a website such as Freecycle, or donate them to local charity projects.
  • Ensure plants used are suitable for the conditions in the garden, so that they do not get discarded, wasting the energy that had been used to raise the plant and create/dispose of the pot/label.
  • Use smaller plants which will adapt better than larger specimens. 2 litre for perennials and 3 litre for shrubs are ideal.
  • Plant in autumn to reduce water usage. In a mild winter plants will put on root growth and become more resilient for the following year. Failing that, early spring is the next best time,
  • Avoid using annual bedding unless you sow your own seeds, as it uses lots of packaging.

“We were really impressed with the design service offered by Jayne. Jayne was able to take our initial brief and translate this into a stunning contemporary design that really made the most of the small space we had and provided a great backdrop to our new kitchen extension. The combination of hard landscaping and planting have completely transformed the garden. Over several meetings she was able to communicate the concepts and hone the design and even sample materials. She then recommended and then liaised with the landscaper to ensure the implementation went to plan before completing the final planting.”

Mrs Fenner
Marston Moretaine

"I found Jayne to be very friendly and pleasant to work with. The design is lovely - very attractive. I was impressed with Jayne's willingness to adapt to and take account of our cost constraints and likes and dislikes regarding plants. All work was carried out efficiently and pleasantly. Jayne was always ready to discuss and advise about design and plants and has transformed a boring and rather difficult small garden into an interesting area which will only improve as the plants grow and mature."

Mr & Mrs Barwell
Welwyn Garden City

We love our garden now. Our two dogs had pretty much destroyed it and it had become an embarrassment. We never used it, not even just for ourselves. It now has structure and a proper patio area and is always good to look at even in this bleak weather!

This will be our second spring with it and I'm really looking forward to seeing everything grows again and how it will change this year.

Mr & Mrs Crooke
Flitton

Jayne was always totally reliable, whether coming out to look at the garden or providing plans and ideas, and is a very knowledgeable plantswoman.

She had a good understanding of what I wanted to do with the garden, and always listened to my ideas and then made suggestions that were appropriate to the location and aspect.

Mr & Mrs Townsend
Houghton Conquest

Jayne's ideas of how to transform a long straight garden into something more interesting were quite inspirational. By introducing shape and perspective the garden now has structure.

The planting plan she suggested has added interest and constant colour which changes with the season.

Needless to say we are delighted.

Mr & Mrs Collier
Pulloxhill

We were delighted with Jayne's approach to our garden and her understanding of what we were trying to achieve.

Her knowledge of plants and what will actually work is fantastic.

Three years on we are still delighted with our garden.

Mr & Mrs Bryant
Pulloxhill

Jayne has a real passion for gardening and her knowledge of plants is highly impressive. She seems to know exactly which plant will thrive in a particular part of the garden - sunny, shady, soil type and so on. She also thinks about the proportions and overall effect.

To work with, she is extremely flexible and happy to give you just the bits of advice or help you need.

Mel Henson
Welwyn Garden City