The Lush Garden Design Blog

The blog features news, projects and garden-related writing from Keith and Anna Barker.

Low Maintenance is not No Maintenance

by Anna | Sep 7, 2017

When you first set up in business, the temptation is to take any work you can get. One of our first gardens was a 'design and build' project, and it went very smoothly. We left behind a happy customer, and that made us happy. We discussed visiting again in the spring...

Prairie-Style Planting at Trentham Gardens

by Anna | Sep 6, 2017

Last week we paid a visit to a client in Staffordshire. While we were in the area, decided to pay a visit to Trentham Gardens, near Stoke on Trent, where we were on the look out for some prairie-style planting. First, a potted history: the Trentham Estate has seen...

Spring Bulbs for Winter Colour & Interest

by Anna | Sep 5, 2017

Here’s a question I'm always asked: “How can I get colour and interest in my garden all year round?” It’s a great question. Flowers make your garden come alive, but by the time we reach the gloomy, leaden skies of winter, flowers are pretty thin on the ground. Winter...

Iconic Gardens: Sissinghurst and Great Dixter

by Anna | Aug 2, 2017

My hubby is good to me. He recently took me on Bridget Jones style ‘Full blown mini-break holiday weekend!’ Fortunately, I arrived looking less wind-blown than poor Bridget did. This holiday was a surprise, and I didn’t know our destination until late in the day. We...

How to Become a Garden Designer

by Anna | Aug 1, 2017

How to Become a Garden Designer In 2007, when the UK economy was at its absolute peak, just before the onset of the credit crunch, we set up Lush Garden Design. Ten years later, we're still here, so we must be doing something right! During that time we've often been...

How to Choose the Right Garden Building

by Guest | Mar 29, 2017

A garden building can be a great addition to any home. The extra space can give you the room you need to transform your professional or personal life. To get the most out of your garden building, there are a few things to consider. In this guest post, the team from...

Coming Soon: A Modern Formal Garden

by Anna | Mar 7, 2017

Take a sneak peek at one of our current garden design projects – a modern formal garden, which is under construction in Hilton, Staffordshire.

What is the Best Aspect for a Rear Garden?

by Anna | Mar 7, 2017

I have been advising one of my clients on which house to buy. And no, we're not branching out into estate agency. As the advice is applicable to anyone else in a similar situation, I thought I’d share it out. The question is: if you get the opportunity to buy a house...