Gain an insight into Great Dixter’s tropical garden. From design, plant choice, the act of planting, and maintenance, to the winter care of plants, Fergus Garrett will take you through the process step by step. Learn how to incorporate some of these plants to extend the season of colour in your own borders. The day will include slides, talks and practical sessions in the Exotic Garden. Read more
Discover the secrets of meadow gardening using the marvellous Great Dixter meadows as an example. You will be taken through the process of creating your own meadow and maintaining it. Includes slides and talks and practical sessions in the meadows. Read more
The magnificent Long Border will be used as an example of how to plan and put into practice a long season border using structural plants, underplanting and interplanting of bulbs, use of self-sowers, pockets of bedding, masking with climbers, and good maintenance. This intensive day will include slides, talks and discussion sessions on the border. Read more
Study Days are led by Head Gardener Fergus Garrett and held at Great Dixter House and Gardens. Developed by Christopher Lloyd and Fergus Garrett, this programme is in its twentieth year. Each Study Day includes a lecture in the house as well as talks and demonstrations in the garden. Subjects are tailored to provide insight into the Great Dixter ethos of gardening. Refreshments and lunch are provided and there is a 10% discount to attendees on plant sales in the nursery on the day.
The magnificent Long Border will be used as an example of how to plan and put into practice a long season border using structural plants, underplanting and interplanting of bulbs, use of self-sowers, pockets of bedding, masking with climbers, and good maintenance. This intensive day will include slides, talks, and discussion sessions on the border. Read more
SOLD OUT Learn how to combine plants using colour, shape, texture, repetition and balance. The aim is to bring you closer to designing your borders and associating plants with ease. Includes slides and talks in the Great Hall, plus sessions in the garden. Read more
The Great Dixter Nursery will host this day on propagation. You will be taken through each stage from making your own compost, to taking cuttings, sowing seeds, splitting perennials and looking after potted plants. Places are limited to 12. Read more
The Great Dixter Nursery will host this day on propagation. You will be taken through each stage from making your own compost, to taking cuttings, sowing seeds, splitting perennials and looking after potted plants. Places are limited to 12 Read more
Using the gardens and borders at Great Dixter as inspiration, Fergus Garrett talks through the varied uses of bulbs in the garden. Planting ideas will include: naturalised planting in grass and meadows; using bulbs mixed within permanent border plantings; using bulbs as pocket plantings and creating bulb displays in containers. Fergus will also give advice on how to deal with bulbs after flowering and what to consider when buying your bulbs. Read more
This look behind the scenes takes you through the preparation and planning involved in getting a complex garden like Great Dixter ready through the winter for spring and summer. It will include the garden timetable, composting and soil preparation, weeding, thinning out of self-sowers, working off of boards, splitting, dividing and planting self-sowers, timing of seed sowing and pricking out, choosing annuals for adding to the display and a brief when and how to prune. All in all it’s an in Read more
Learn how to combine plants using colour, shape, texture, repetition and balance. The aim is to bring you closer to designing your borders and associating plants with ease. Includes slides and talks in the Great Hall, plus sessions in the garden. Read more