Contemporary Surrey garden with layered planting and stone terrace

The Journal

Garden design and landscaping insight

Practical advice, design thinking and project stories from our Surrey studio — written to help you plan a garden you will genuinely use.

All articles Garden Design Landscaping Hard Landscaping Planting Outdoor Living Garden Maintenance Garden Rooms Driveways & Patios

A fully landscaped garden featuring a spacious porcelain patio with outdoor seating, a manicured lawn, and lush planting borders, with a traditional brick house in the background

Landscaping

How Much Does Garden Landscaping Cost in Surrey?

Planning a garden transformation in Surrey? Find out typical 2026 landscaping costs and what can affect the price, from patios and planting to drainage and access.

Mekail22 September 20268 min read

A stone patio featuring a wooden dining set and potted lavender in the foreground, bordered by a sweeping lawn and dense, layered trees and shrubs that provide natural privacy, with a traditional brick house visible in the background.

Planting

Best Trees and Plants for Privacy in Surrey Gardens

Looking to create more privacy in your Surrey garden? Discover the best trees, shrubs and plants for screening, from evergreen hedges to pleached trees.

Mekail22 September 20267 min read

A mature tree in a landscaped garden showing subtle signs of damage, including a broken branch and fungal growth at the base, standing on a manicured lawn with a traditional brick house in the background.

Tree Surgery

Signs Your Tree Needs Professional Attention

Worried about a tree in your garden? Discover the signs that may indicate your tree needs professional attention, including cracks, dead branches, fungal growth and storm damage.

Mekail22 September 20267 min read

A warm stone patio featuring a wooden pergola with string lights and an outdoor sofa, surrounded by lush floral borders and a winding gravel path leading to a traditional brick house at sunset.

Outdoor Living

Pergola Ideas for Surrey Gardens

Looking for pergola ideas for your Surrey garden? Explore practical ways to use a pergola for dining, seating, shade, privacy, planting and outdoor living.

Mekail22 September 20266 min read

Fencing

Modern Garden Fencing Ideas for Surrey Homes

Looking to update your garden boundary? Explore modern fencing ideas for Surrey homes, including slatted, composite, hit-and-miss and contemporary timber designs.

Mekail21 September 20267 min read

Freshly laid turf lawn in a Surrey garden

Landscaping

When Is the Best Time to Lay New Turf in Surrey?

Planning a new lawn in Surrey? Find out the best time to lay turf, how each season affects grass establishment, and what to consider before your new lawn is installed.

Mekail21 September 20265 min read

A paved residential stone driveway after heavy rain, featuring shallow puddles of standing water and a discreet linear channel drain installed along the edge, with a traditional brick British house and mature garden in the background.

Driveways & Patios

How to Fix a Driveway That Holds Water

Is your driveway holding water after rain? Learn what causes standing water and how to improve driveway drainage for a drier, longer-lasting driveway.

Mekail21 September 20266 min read

An empty, grey stone patio leads to a raised wooden deck with an armchair, adjacent to a lush English garden and traditional brick house under a cloudy sky

Hard Landscaping

Patio vs Decking: Which Is Better for Your Garden?

Choosing between a patio and decking for your Surrey garden? Compare the key differences, from maintenance and durability to drainage, costs and garden levels.

Mekail21 September 20267 min read

A view looking down a steep, sloping green backyard in a British suburb towards traditional brick houses under an overcast sky, with a weathered wooden bench on the hill to the right.

Landscaping

How to Fix a Sloping Garden

Have an awkward or uneven garden? Discover how terracing, retaining walls, steps, planting and drainage can turn a sloping Surrey garden into a more usable outdoor space.

Mekail18 September 20266 min read

A stone path through layered planting leading to a brick house in a Surrey garden

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