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.
Roses have been in cultivation since 500BC in the Mediterranean, Persia and China though the first appeared on earth about 50 million years ago. [...]
Borde Hill Gardens is a mecca for those interested in beautiful views, rare plants and Champion trees. Colonel Stephenson Clarke, who created the garden [...]
Now is the time to look through your windows at your garden, and walk amongst the last of the fallen leaves assessing whether it [...]
A garden has many more dimensions than we could possibly fathom. We are more and more finding out about the intricate communication systems trees [...]
Now is the best time for sowing your seeds directly into your veg beds. If you haven’t already done so you can dig in [...]
Every year, Southern England becomes the stage for a remarkable sight when 3.5 trillion flying insects, equaling the weight of 20,000 reindeer, migrate across [...]
Bees are the golden angel-engines of nature. Under severe threat from our agricultural practices, you can provide them a safe haven in your garden [...]
Joe Whelan strides though Nyman’s gardens. He suddenly stoops to pick up a piece of paper from the side of a path. This is [...]
The news can be depressing about the destruction of nature the world over and the UK has seen a massive decline in most species [...]
Designing new trees into a garden can fill people with trepidation. The wrong tree can outgrow its space, casting shade, or in can drop [...]
Japanese gardens are renowned for their harmonious, playful blend of nature, spirituality, and artistry. They are designed to evoke tranquility, balance, and a deep [...]
During lockdown we bought some chickens which delighted the children and then shocked them in equal measure when we got home one evening and [...]
February is an important month for your garden. It is the last month where there are not absolutely urgent tasks, yet if these February [...]
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 [...]
Native flowers are indigenous to the UK, meaning they have evolved to be perfectly suited to our soil, climate, and local wildlife. When we [...]
Rose gardens have been around for thousands of years, with mention of them in the gardens of Babylon and illustrations of rose gardens found [...]
Despite all the rain and cooler temperatures this Summer plant life has exploded. Normally August is a time to put your green feet up [...]
There are Spring moments where our chests want to burst at their seams. We ask ourselves are we dreaming, or have we been asleep [...]
February- The Set-Up Month February is an important month to really set up your garden. With Covid keeping us at home, our gardens can [...]
8 Sussex Garden Gems Arundel Castle and Gardens Beginning life in 1067, many of Arundel Castles original features such as the Norman keep and [...]
Building a Natural Pond Benefits Nearly 70% of ponds have been lost from the UK countryside, meaning garden ponds are more important than ever [...]
Garden Design Ideas for this Autumn Autumn redesign Autumn is the perfect time to redesign any areas of your garden that you desire in [...]
Bulbs for October Autumn bulbs bring our gardens joy and colour in an unlikely season. There are many different and beautiful varieties to consider [...]
Bird Boxes Why do we need bird boxes? Bird boxes are becoming increasingly important in our woodlands, as deforestation is causing rapid loss of [...]
Chilworth Manor- A Musical Space The intense care for Chilworth Manor that Head Gardener John McRae has is evident in his smiling eyes. He [...]
The Wild Heart Of West Sussex Twenty years ago Isabella Tree and Sir Charlie Burrell threw up their hands up in despair at their [...]
Ridgeview When Simon watched the 25 year old Chardonnay grape vines being pulled out of the ground recently he couldn’t help feeling emotional. These [...]
Rewilding your garden- 8 easy steps Firstly, what is rewilding? Rewilding is returning outdoor spaces to a natural state where nature can evolve without [...]
Petworth is famous for its majestic 17th Century English Baroque mansion and art work collections, but it is its fusion with the surrounding pleasure [...]
Where does our green waste go that we painstakingly take to the tip or put in our recycling bins every week? Andrew Staib, Principle [...]
If an article sparks an idea for your garden, Andrew can help turn it into a practical design, planting plan or full garden redesign.