Today I have been planting a native mixed hedge on the last day of November.  It consists of Blackthorn (Prunus Spinosa), Hazel (Corylus avellana), Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyra), Beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus).  In addition to this basic native mix I have also added Rosa rugosa, Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus), Dog rose (Rosa canina) and Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) to add some flowering pops of colour in summer – and, as you can see from the photo above, some brilliant red from the Dogwood in the winter, to harmonise with the caramel tones of the dried winter leaves of the Beech and Hornbeam.

This is the hedging set out for planting in the pre-prepared trench, in temperatures close to freezing this morning (there was even a few specks of snow falling at one point)….

And this is the final planting – all finished and ready to become an asset to my client’s front garden.

This week and last I have been working for my super Clients,  planting a 33-plant Beech hedge…

And a 60-plant Box terrace hedge… (seen here with new Hawthorn tree also just planted)

This is what we started off with in May this year…just after the removal of a lot of ugly 1960s raised beds that had had their day.

Yesterday I was setting out almost a hundred plants for the first of three new beds – the shade bed first…

It’s always thrilling finally setting out plants, so carefully sourced and gathered together over many weeks.

By next week they will all be planted!  Watch this space.

Today I have been working on a garden I planted up last Autumn.  It’s coming on nicely.

And just a reminder of the state of neglect it was in before I took it in hand…

Today I have been tending plantings at my Architect clients.  The very contemporary plantings, with lots of very strong shapes and sharp evergreen silhouettes, designed to look good all year round, is now beautifully off-set by the new wooden cladding on the studio, in natural wood and black.

The concrete planters are looking good with the glaucous green of Euphorbia ‘Humpty Dumpty’ and Sage making a nice foil to the grey of the concrete.

A stunning Prunus serrula at my Client’s garden today glowing in the sunshine, after a good crown reduction by the tree surgeon..

This was the bed before tree surgery and clearing in September..

And today after a good autumn tidy….