From a garden health check and plant ID to garden design advice

We can all run into problems and obstacles when it comes to managing and maintaining our gardens and this is where I can help with a local and independent garden consultation. My advice will be tailored specifically to you and your garden, with its particular climate, soil, plants and views. I will provide a fresh pair of eyes, an unbiased opinion and advice based on a lifetime of professional gardening and of managing garden projects. The aim is to save you time, money, and frustration.

There can be many reasons for wanting a garden consultation; you may have a design-related query or a specific practical problem, or you might just want to learn about the plants you have found in your new garden. I will use my extensive experience to help you find solutions to get your garden working for you again.

General Garden Design Issues

Perhaps you know that your garden is not working for you, but you are not sure what to do about it. Is the garden outdated and overgrown, or perhaps it is a ‘blank canvas’? On my visit, I will assess your garden and we will talk about what you want to achieve. Then, we’ll think about the options available and finally, we’ll look at the best ways of making it happen.

I will follow my visit with a written summary of my recommendations.

There will be no expectation of further work following the consultation but, if appropriate, you may wish to consider my other services: planting design or a full garden design.

GARDEN MAINTENANCE ISSUES

I can help you deal with a range of problems commonly encountered by garden owners. For example:

  • I’m new to gardening and don’t know where to start.

  • How to tame an overgrown garden?

  • How can I make my garden safe and more interesting for young children?

  • How can I make my garden more attractive to birds, bees and other wildlife?

  • What’s the best way to screen an unsightly view?

  • How do I choose the best trees and plants?

  • How can I improve poor soil or get my grass to grow?

  • How can I set up a vegetable garden?

  • How do I get rid of the weeds, or the pests?

  • How can I make my garden more attractive to potential buyers?

Whatever your problem, I can help you make sense of it all and can provide action plans or be on hand to help you manage your garden moving forward.

Plant Identification

It pays to know the names of your plants so that you can find out more about them. I will start you off on that journey by identifying all the 'mystery' plants in your garden (including the weeds, if required) and putting small labels on them.

If any more plants (e.g. spring-flowering bulbs) emerge after my visit, I will identify them for you free of charge from photographs.

Consultation Price

My 2023 rate is £70/hr, with £70 minimum fee per visit, plus travel expenses for longer distances. I find that a consultation of 1 to 2 hours duration is usually sufficient for an average-size urban garden.

The fee includes my preparation time at home, a basic soil test and - following our meeting - a written bullet-point summary of my recommendations.

For plant identification, the price includes the labels and a list of all your plants emailed to you after our meeting.

Please, contact me for further information or to make an appointment.

"I asked Eva to help me with a few queries about some of the plants in my garden. She was really helpful. We discussed pruning, lawn care & moving plants around the garden. She also advised me on how to improve the soil. She was a true fount of knowledge, and so nice, too. I would happily recommend her.” Helen A., Chatham