Published writing from Andrew Staib on garden design, planting, wildlife gardens, sustainable materials and the craft of making outdoor spaces feel alive through the seasons.
Andrew's published articles range from practical planting advice to deeper research on materials, wildlife and the environmental questions behind modern landscaping. They remain easy to update as normal WordPress posts.
Colour theory, as an idea, is thought to be over 300 years old, stemming from Isacc Newton’s work with prisms in the 1660s. He [...]
Stopham success story Simon Woodhead had a thought whilst living in Spain. That he would come back to the UK and import Spanish [...]
Get a chair and a notebook, to make each visit to your pond an exploration Ponds host a range of wildlife from the [...]
The history of the UK garden is a reflection of the changing cultural attitudes towards nature, beauty and leisure, which is in turn shaped [...]
Longer, drier summers are becoming a familiar challenge here in the south of England, and it’s only expected to get worse. The Met Office [...]
Introduction Creating a tropical or exotic garden is a great way to make your small space more interesting, unique and appear much larger. In [...]
Using climbers in your garden design is a great way to utilize your space, particularly in a small garden, as well as bringing in [...]
In our fast-paced world, low-maintenance gardens are certainly required by many of my clients, with a garden that demands minimal upkeep ideal for many [...]
Joe Whelan walks with me along a heather lined path though Nyman’s gardens. He suddenly stoops to move a wooden bench a bit further [...]
Hedges are such a versatile feature that can be used to amplify your gardens design. They’re great at not only add structure and definition [...]
Most of my clients love Indian Sandstone, with its rich varied colours, textures and ability to age gracefully. Historically in the UK we enjoyed [...]
Using climbers in your garden design is a great way to utilize your space, particularly in a small garden, as well as bringing in [...]
Nestled in a broad valley of West Sussex, Arundel Castle stands as a testament to centuries of history and architectural grandeur. Founded in 1067 [...]
As Winter deepens, little creatures in our gardens curl up and go to sleep. They are the woodlice, maligned by many, appreciated [...]
When designing a new garden, or looking with fresh eyes at your old one, its useful to understand the key elements and principles that [...]
Sustainability is the practice of meeting our current needs without compromising the ability for future generations to meet their own, this involves protecting natural [...]
The concept of an edible garden right outside your kitchen door offers convenience and an array of fresh and flavourful ingredients that can enhance [...]
Hedges are such a versatile feature that can be used to amplify your gardens design. They’re great at not only add structure and definition [...]
Sustainability is becoming more important than ever as fast paced consumption has led to the worlds finite resources being stretched to their limits. [...]
We are frequently asked to design gardens on chalk. Some plants we know will thrive, some will go yellow and fade away. I thought it [...]
I have written before about how to attract birds into your garden. I am always inspired by migration. Hopefully you will be inspired to [...]
When you go to bed tonight you might wonder what that noise is. Beneath your pillow, beneath your bed, beneath your house, lives [...]
A review of oak timber imports into the UK and whether oak timber should be classified as a sustainable resource. Compiled my Director [...]
A review of the literature on the environmental and human cost of mining Indian sandstone and the transportation of the stone to the United [...]
Creating a canopy atmosphere in your small garden Some people are frightened of trees, fearing they will grow too big, involve annual costly pruning [...]
A dry garden doesn't rely on rainwater, irrigation or feeding to survive. Instead, plants are chosen for their drought-tolerance. If you have a busy [...]
The Knepp Estate in West Sussex is now world famous for its rewilding experiment, with two farmers giving over their 3,500 acre farm to [...]
Like all Head Gardeners, Tom Brown can’t speak without stooping to pull out the odd weed as we make our way around West Dean [...]
Shelley, better know as Cornu aspersum, haunts our dreams with their savage leaf destruction. So rather than be terrified of them I set out [...]
When I left Sarah and Jeremy Bray, owners of The High Beeches Woodland and Watergardens, I had the feeling I was waving goodbye to [...]
If an article sparks an idea for your garden, Andrew can help turn it into a practical design, planting plan or full garden redesign.