Andy Burnham’s conference speech put housing and “good growth in every postcode” firmly on the agenda. But if Britain is going to embark on another major period of housebuilding, we need to ask another question: what are we going to build around all those homes? Because a collection of houses does not automatically create a good place to live.
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The Problem With ‘Drought-Tolerant’ Planting in the North West
We're increasingly being told to plant for hotter, drier summers. But in the North West, surviving a dry July is only half the job. The same plant may then have to survive months of cold, saturated soil. Perhaps we shouldn't be designing simply for drought – but for extremes.
Read MoreIs ‘Low-Maintenance Garden’ One of the Biggest Myths in Landscaping?
"Can we have a low-maintenance garden?" It's one of the most common requests in garden design. But does a genuinely low-maintenance garden actually exist—or are we simply swapping one type of maintenance for another?
Read MoreSeptember Is the Time to Look at Your Garden Differently
Before autumn really takes hold, September gives us one last opportunity to look at how our gardens actually performed through summer. Where did you sit? What planting worked? Where did water collect? And which parts of the garden did you barely use? Those answers can tell you far more about your next garden design than any trend ever will.
Read MoreWhy We Love Planting Gardens in Autumn
Spring gets most of the attention in gardening, but autumn can be one of the best times to plant a garden. Cooler weather, warmer soil and increasing rainfall give trees, shrubs and perennials an opportunity to establish – and remind us that a good garden is designed for years, not just the day it is finished.
Read MoreI Never Really Planned to Become a Garden Designer
“A garden without plants is really just a collection of materials….“
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