CJ Toms Blog
Insights on ecological planting.
Expert articles on naturalistic garden design, wildflower meadows, and sustainable landscaping from an RHS-trained horticulturist with a garden design qualification from Pershore.
-
The Cotswolds’ limestone soils and gentle climate create ideal conditions for naturalistic planting. Here’s why prairie-style gardens are a natural fit for this beautiful region. A Landscape Made for Naturalistic Planting The Cotswolds is one of England’s most beautiful landscapes — rolling limestone hills, honey-coloured villages, and a gentle, temperate climate. It’s also, as it…
-
Not all landscapers are created equal. Here’s why formal horticultural training makes a real difference to the quality of your garden. Anyone Can Call Themselves a Landscaper There’s no legal requirement to have any qualifications to set up as a landscaper or garden designer in the UK. Anyone with a van, a mower, and a…
-
Every gardener wants less work. But most “low-maintenance” advice leads to boring gardens. Naturalistic planting offers a genuinely beautiful alternative that practically looks after itself. The Gravel Trap Search “low-maintenance garden” and you’ll find the same advice everywhere: lay gravel, install decking, use artificial grass, plant a few evergreen shrubs, and call it done. The…
-
A well-designed prairie garden doesn’t peak in summer and die in winter. Learn how to select plants that provide structure, colour, and texture in every season. The Problem with Summer-Only Gardens Most gardens are designed for one season: summer. The borders blaze with colour in July, look respectable in August, and then slowly collapse into…
-
From the High Line in New York to private gardens across the UK, Piet Oudolf’s naturalistic approach has transformed how we think about planting. A Quiet Revolution Piet Oudolf didn’t shout about changing the world. He just planted differently — and the world noticed. The Dutch garden designer, now in his late seventies, has done…
-
Factories, hospitals, and business parks are switching from traditional grounds maintenance to wildflower meadows. The result? Lower costs, higher biodiversity, and stunning kerb appeal. The Hidden Cost of Traditional Grounds If you manage a commercial property, you already know the drill. Grass needs cutting every fortnight from April to October. Hedges need trimming three or…
-
The traditional manicured lawn is on its way out. Here’s why naturalistic, prairie-style planting is better for your garden, your wallet, and the planet. The End of the Manicured Lawn For decades, the British garden ideal has been the same: a pristine lawn, clipped hedges, neat borders of bedding plants swapped out twice a year.…
Ready for a garden that looks after itself?
We design low maintenance gardens across the South West, Wales, the Cotswolds, and London. RHS trained with a garden design qualification from Pershore.