Gardening advice – blogs

Practical gardening advice, seasonal tips and expert guides from the Flourish Landscaping team in Kingston and Surbiton, helping you keep your garden looking its best all year round.
  • Gardening is good – and does good

    Gardening is good – and does good What the RHS 2025 report means for UK gardens Gardening is often seen as a hobby, but the Royal Horticultural Society’s first ever State of Gardening Report 2025 confirms something much bigger. For the first time, the true scale and impact of gardening across the UK has been…

  • Garden centres

    Garden centres How to get the best out of your local garden centre visits. If you enjoy gardening – whether it’s planting out borders, refreshing containers, or just browsing for something new – a good garden centre near is your best friend. And here in southwest London and Surrey, we’re lucky to have some fantastic…

  • Garden pests and diseases

    Garden pests and diseases How to spot, prevent, and deal with common garden problems. Don’t let garden pests and diseases ruin your hard work! In this blog post, we’ll help you identify and tackle some of the most common issues that can plague your plants. From pesky aphids and slugs to fungal infections like powdery…

  • Echinacea

    Echinacea A tough, reliable perennial that looks great and supports pollinators. Discover the best Echinacea for Kingston gardens, which varieties actually last, how to improve clay soil, and why spring planting makes all the difference. Echinacea is not a shy plant. When it is happy, it stands tall, holds its head high and flowers for…

  • Small gardens

    Small gardens Big ideas for making the most of a small garden. In London and its suburbs, our gardens are precious spaces. While they may be getting smaller, our ambitions for them are not. A modern garden needs to be a dining room, a lounge, a playground and a tranquil escape, all within a compact…

  • Growing climbers

    Growing climbers How to use climbers to soften walls, fences, and pergolas. Annual climbers are the extroverts of the garden. Loud, fast, occasionally unruly, and utterly joyful. They take a bare fence or pergola and turn it into something theatrical within weeks. No long-term commitment, no digging out woody roots later, just one glorious season…

  • Garden costs

    Garden costs What really affects the cost of landscaping a garden. One of the most common questions we’re asked by homeowners in Kingston, Surbiton and the surrounding areas is simply, “How much does a garden cost?” It’s a fair question, and the honest answer is that it depends on far more than just the size…

  • Garden law

    Garden law The basic rules every homeowner should know about their garden. Think you know garden law? Think again. Some of the most widely believed ‘rules’ about fences, trees, and planning permissions are completely wrong—and could land you in trouble. Can you really cut down any tree in your garden? Do you automatically own the…

  • Drought tolerant gardens

    Drought tolerant gardens How to design a garden that copes better with dry summers. Helping your plants survive the summer sun with garden irrigation Summer is a fantastic season for enjoying your garden, but it can be tough on your plants, particularly when it comes to providing them with sufficient water. With high temperatures and…

  • Garden irrigation

    Garden irrigation Smarter ways to keep your garden watered efficiently. Helping your plants survive the summer sun with garden irrigation Summer is a fantastic season for enjoying your garden, but it can be tough on your plants, particularly when it comes to providing them with sufficient water. With high temperatures and limited rainfall, it’s crucial…

  • Garden privacy

    Garden privacy Smart ways to screen your garden without blocking out light. As gardens become extensions of our homes, privacy and personal retreat spaces are more important than ever. In 2025, garden privacy trends focus on natural barriers, stylish fencing, and innovative screening solutions that provide seclusion without compromising on design. Whether you want to create a…

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    Water features

    Water features Is a water feature right for your garden and what are your options? Water features are a key trend in 2025, adding elegance, relaxation, and biodiversity to outdoor spaces. From modern, minimalist fountains to eco-friendly wildlife ponds, water features are being designed to enhance both aesthetics and sustainability. Whether you’re looking for a…

  • Boost kerb appeal

    Boost kerb appeal Simple changes that make your home look better from the street. Your front garden is the first thing people see when they visit your home, and in 2025, functionality, sustainability, and striking design are shaping front garden trends. Whether you’re looking to improve kerb appeal, create a low-maintenance space, or add practical features,…

  • Victorian front gardens

    Victorian front gardens How to modernise a Victorian front garden without losing its character. Victorian and Edwardian front gardens in Kingston and Surbiton were never meant to be decorative extras. They were carefully composed entrance spaces that set the tone for the house before you reached the door. Their defining feature was the path: a…

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    Managing a flooded garden

    Managing a flooded garden What causes garden flooding and what you can do about it. Are you grappling with clay soil around Kingston area that traps water or living in a flood-prone area giving you a flooded garden Fear not! My blog unveils actionable steps and resilient plant choices to rejuvenate your waterlogged garden into…

  • Weeding guide

    Weeding guide Simple, effective ways to keep weeds under control for good. Gardens across Kingston, Surbiton, Richmond, Twickenham and Esher are wonderful places to live and grow plants. They are also wonderful places for weeds, thanks to our damp Thames-side microclimate, rich clay soil and an enthusiastic local seed bank that predates most of the…

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    Roses for London gardens: best varieties for clay soil, front gardens and walls

    Roses for London gardens: best varieties for clay soil, front gardens and walls Roses have a reputation for being temperamental, but in reality they are some of the most generous, long-lived plants you can grow if you choose the right varieties and plant them properly. At Flourish, we design and plant gardens across Kingston, Surbiton,…

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    Garden owners’s guide to Spring bulbs in Kingston and Surbiton

    Garden owners’s guide to Spring bulbs in Kingston and Surbiton Garden owner’s guide to spring bulbs in Kingston and Surbiton If you live in Kingston or Surbiton, you’ll know how welcome that first burst of colour is after a long winter. With the right mix of bulbs, your garden can stay full of life from…

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    Refreshing your borders: a naturalistic planting approach

    Refreshing your borders: a naturalistic planting approach Many homeowners in Kingston and Surbiton come to Flourish Landscaping when their gardens have been slowly taken over by vigorous plants Homeowners in Kingston and Surbiton often turn to Flourish Landscaping when their gardens are overtaken by vigorous plants like butterfly bush, cherry laurel, self-sown sycamore, and green…

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