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“There’s no better fertiliser than the shadow of the gardener.”
This is a Japanese proverb, often quoted by Steven Howard: eco-friendly garden designer and consultant based in Ashbourne. What he means is that if you spend time in your garden, if you become a part of it, if you make an effort to notice what goes on in it, then your garden will be all the better for it.
A few weeks ago, I invited Steven over for a chat in our garden. It’s a mature garden with an incline; quarry rock is used for steps and to support different tiers; there’s a failed vegetable patch, a shed, a tiny seating area and some grass; we have an apple tree, shrubs and overgrown flower beds, none of which we planted; and then there’s some decking which would have furniture on it if the sun ever shone! We love it but looking after it well is another matter: we know almost nothing about gardening.
Seeing our garden through Steven’s eyes was fascinating. He immediately knew what soil type we had by looking at the plants, he could tell me where we were going wrong with our vegetable patch, he advised me on how to care for the apple tree, he explained how some restructuring could make the garden flow better, he reeled off a list of appropriate plants for a barren area towards the back of the garden…
In short, Steven knows his stuff.
The main service he offers is Design Consultation. This can be for anything from small space planting to a whole garden redesign. Steven explained the process to me. First, there’s a questionnaire which allows you to share information about your lifestyle and ideal garden usage, the amount of garden maintenance you want to do, your gardening knowledge level and your tastes in colour and style. After this, Steven visits the garden so that you can discuss it in person – he helps explore your vision for the space, based on the questionnaire responses. Next, he’ll go away and come up with a set of three garden concepts for you utilising his vast knowledge and experience. They’ll include different amounts of change and will fit within different budgets. You’re then able to pick and choose the parts you like from the three options and will work with Steven to complete your final design. Finally, he creates a beautifully-drawn masterplan which a landscaper can use to build your dream garden. You’ll also receive a maintenance plan so that you know exactly how to care for your garden going forward.
Steven works closely with Sam Beckett of Wingfield Gardens. He’s a landscaper who can bring the drawings to life. Steven trusts him with his designs because they have the same ethos: he’s eco-friendly, wildlife focussed, hardworking and fair. But you can, of course, seek out any landscaper to do the work.
There are two other services Steven offers too. In his Horticultural Consultations, he provides guidance about looking after your plants and planning your garden and maintenance. Garden Coaching sessions are for people wanting to learn how to look after their garden and include 1:1 hands-on monthly sessions in your garden with Steven, with ‘homework’ tasks guiding you on what to do next.
Aside from his many happy garden design clients, Steven is a very busy man. He also runs monthly sessions for Down to Earth at Electric Daisy, covering various topics such as harvest, pruning, soil types and plant propagation. He’s also the postcode gardener for Rosehill in Derby which is a Friends of the Earth initiative with the goal of creating 50 new green spaces within the postcode in three years!
If you don’t already, we also highly recommend following Steven on Instagram @stvn_j.hwrd. Not only does he do garden Q&A sessions from time to time but he shares handy hints and tips alongside a good dose of humour (check out his ‘Plants which give me the ick’ series. On his way out of my garden, he pointed out a plant he was considering including!).
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have rather a long shopping list for my local garden centre…
For more from Steven, check out his Boom articles:
Or get in touch with him for help with your garden.
07508 216654
@stvn_j.hwrd
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