Journal
Guides from the yard
What things cost, when to do them, and how we do them. Written by the people who build the gardens.
Costs · 6 min read · 14 August 2026
What a new patio really costs per square metre
Stone is only a third of the price. Here is where the rest of a £165 to £230 per m² patio goes, and which savings come back to bite.
Read the guide
Seasonal · 5 min read · 20 June 2026
Twelve garden jobs for a cold, quiet winter
Winter is when the best gardens are planned and the bare-root planting goes in. Twelve jobs for December to February, in the order we do them.
Planting · 4 min read · 2 April 2026
How to plant a border that looks good in its first year
A new border does not have to look thin for three summers. Plant sizes, spacing and a few fast fillers make the difference.
Three jobs for every month
Opens on this month. Tap another to plan ahead.
Jobs for January
- Plant bare-root hedging while it is dormant
- Keep off frozen lawns
- Book spring patio and lawn work now
Jobs for February
- Prune late-flowering clematis and shrub roses
- Cut back grasses before new growth
- Service mowers and sharpen shears
Jobs for March
- First light mow with the blades high
- Mulch borders while the soil is moist
- Lift and divide crowded perennials
Jobs for April
- Spring lawn feed and moss treatment
- Sow new lawns once the soil reaches 8°C
- Stake tall perennials before they flop
Jobs for May
- Watch for late frosts before planting tender plants
- Trim box and yew for a sharp early edge
- Clean and re-point patios before summer
Jobs for June
- Water new planting deeply, twice a week
- Deadhead roses to keep them flowering
- Raise the mower in dry spells
Jobs for July
- Summer lawn feed with a wetting agent
- Cut back early perennials for a second flush
- Check lighting timers for longer evenings
Jobs for August
- Trim hedges once nesting season ends
- Collect seed from perennials you want more of
- Plan autumn turfing and planting
Jobs for September
- Scarify and aerate the lawn
- Lay turf and sow seed into warm soil
- Plant spring bulbs and new borders
Jobs for October
- Autumn lawn feed, high in potassium
- Move shrubs that are in the wrong place
- Clear leaves off lawns every week
Jobs for November
- Plant bare-root trees and roses
- Protect pots from frost with feet and fleece
- Last mow of the year, blades high
Jobs for December
- Check fences and pergolas after storms
- Keep bird feeders topped up
- Walk the garden and note what to change