Saunders Gardening Services

20/08/2026

A busy and even wetter morning than yesterday! Trimming and taming an unruly wisteria amongst other things!

The most totally, utterly soaking job you can find in the rain is to climb under, into and amongst a load of wet leaves, shake them around as you prune them, and make sure the water all properly comes pattering down on top of you.. yep that's what I was up to today 😂.

As most gardeners are no doubt already aware, waterproof jackets are no such thing! But actually, I am really glad to have some rain again for the poor wildlife and our plants, they are getting a drink at long last.

19/08/2026

Rain at last! Soaked to the skin- but its very welcome 😆🌦

14/08/2026

I love this! Another interesting plant from Beth Chattos garden!

We are all grappling with how to garden best in this long, hot dry heat, and the big question I keep hearing is- what to plant. As this year, sadly, many if or usual reliable plants are dying, yet others that are well adapted to these conditions, are thriving. Are you thinking about changing your borders to include more drought tolerant plants?

Or are you waiting to see what kind of weather autumn brings?

Our Plant of the Week 🪴

This striking selection was chosen by Marshall Olbrich, whose nursery near San Francisco was visited by Beth Chatto. It was selected for its distinctive silvery-grey foliage, which becomes almost white during prolonged dry spells, providing a beautiful contrast to its vivid scarlet, trumpet-shaped flowers in late summer and autumn. Like many of the former zauschneria species, it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It is also known by the synonym Zauschneria californica 'Olbrich Silver'.

The taxonomy of this group has changed considerably over the years, with several species being reclassified. Epilobium is a diverse genus of mostly herbaceous perennials, although some species can be rather weedy. They typically bear four-petalled flowers, either on slender stalks (pedicels) or forming elongated tubular blooms.

Flowers provide an important source of nectar and pollen for bees and hoverflies, while the foliage serves as a larval food plant for a range of moths, including the spectacular elephant hawk-moth.

Native to the arid regions of western North America, these produce brilliant orange to scarlet tubular flowers adapted for pollination by hummingbirds. Although hummingbirds are absent in Britain, hummingbird hawk-moths are capable of accessing the nectar in the intended way. More commonly, however, bees simply bite through the base of the flower tube to reach the nectar, bypassing the flower's pollination mechanism, a behaviour known as nectar robbing.

Taxonomic revisions continue within the family, and some species that were once included in epilobium have now been transferred to the genus chamaenerion.

Shop here: https://www.bethchatto.co.uk/a-z/e-h/epilobium/zauschneria-californica-ollbrich-silver.htm

13/08/2026

Giving this poor Acer some shade from the sun!

Don't forget to mulch after watering (ideally after rain but good luck with that! 😂) but seriously - it works! Even though the incredibly dry conditions could still mean the ground drys out, a properly mulched border to the right depth will slow evaporation and help preserve precious water as much as possible.

So if you are watering plants by hand, mulching is a no brainer. An organic mulch will also improve the soil over time and.. you guessed it, that also helps with moisture retention.

11/08/2026

Some plants are just loving this weather 😄

11/08/2026

Lovely plums!
Great harvest from a dwarf Plum tree at a customers garden this year, they kindly gave me a box to take home 😍

If your Cherry or Plum trees are showing heat stress (wilting leaves) then try not to prune unless essential, and even then try to do it early morning or evening not in the heat of the day.

Give them a long drink and mulch to keep the moisture in- but leave a donut shaped hole around the trunk.

Last year I made plum rum and cherry brandy! Yum.

Not sure what to do with them this year...

06/08/2026

So nice to be out working! But boy is it dry still! Poor grass!

05/08/2026

I'm proud of what we've achieved this year under very difficult circumstances. We've kept things looking good, plants healthy and delivered a reliable service. Thankyou to all my customers for your continued support, it means a lot.

Pictured, our wonderful south downs. If you planted a meadow this year- be inspired! If you want to bring a bit of the downland feel to your garden, try achilliea millifolium (yarrow) and combine with some grasses- go bold with Stipa Giganteum 'Golden Oats'!

22/07/2026

Perovskia has been thriving and full of buzzing bees this summer.

A great choice for a sunny spot!

16/07/2026

One minute scrambling underneath hedges clearing a path for cables, next minute trimming in a shady grove, or weeding and mulching in a sun kissed flower bed. From weeding patios and strimming verges, to pruning, tidying and trimming, we get to do it all! Big or small I love the variety of gardens and gardening jobs. No day is the same for a gardener!