Running from January to May 2024, Head Gardener Fergus Garrett will share his knowledge and skills with you, guiding you towards creating your own long season borders in the Dixter style, through a combination of online lectures, live Q&A sessions and tailored written support material. Read more
Great Dixter is a garden that delights and challenges. Our Behind the Scenes Tour in March provides a rare opportunity to enjoy a private viewing of the garden on a day when it is normally closed to the public. 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 plants in pots. Read more
This 3 day course led by Fergus and the garden team will take you through the planning and practical steps needed to prepare a complex garden like Great Dixter for the spring and summer display Read more
In 2020 in response to the Coronavirus pandemic Great Dixter launched a series of online lectures on Zoom. These are now all available to watch online on demand on Vimeo Fergus will look at a snapshot of the garden in September 2020 he will provide insight into his staking techniques as well as editing in the borders and how best to use a notebook. Read more
In 2020 in response to the Coronavirus pandemic Great Dixter launched a series of online lectures on Zoom. These are now all available to watch online on demand on Vimeo Fergus will look at how the work is planned and prioritised over the Winter, and how the pressure is taken off the spring... Read more
In 2020 in response to the Coronavirus pandemic Great Dixter launched a series of online lectures on Zoom. These are now all available to watch online on demand on Vimeo. Fergus will look at a range of pruning tasks in this first presentation on pruning... Read more
In 2020 in response to the Coronavirus pandemic Great Dixter launched a series of online lectures on Zoom. These are now all available to watch online on demand on Vimeo. Read more
In 2020 in response to the Coronavirus pandemic Great Dixter launched a series of online lectures on Zoom. These are now all available to watch online on demand on Vimeo. Fergus uses current examples from the garden to look at how layered planting at Great Dixter extends the season. Read more
In 2020 in response to the Coronavirus pandemic Great Dixter launched a series of online lectures on Zoom. These are now all available to watch online on demand on Vimeo Read more
In 2020 in response to the Coronavirus pandemic Great Dixter launched a series of online lectures on Zoom. These are now all available to watch online on demand on Vimeo. Fergus looks at how self-sowers add an additional dynamic element to the layered system. Read more
In 2020 in response to the Coronavirus pandemic Great Dixter launched a series of online lectures on Zoom. These are now all available to watch online on demand on Vimeo. Aaron will provide an insight into the history of the Great Dixter Kitchen, which is used to cater for house guests and Symposium attendees as it was in Christopher Lloyd’s time. Read more
In 2020 in response to the Coronavirus pandemic Great Dixter launched a series of online lectures on Zoom. These are now all available to watch online on demand on Vimeo Fergus will give the background to the biodiversity audit at Great Dixter, explain the process followed and will explore the reasons for such high diversity, especially in an intensively managed flower garden. Read more
In 2020 in response to the Coronavirus pandemic Great Dixter launched a series of online lectures on Zoom. These are now all available to watch online on demand on Vimeo. Fergus will study how to use annuals and biennials (including cannas, dahlias, and tender salvias) within the layered system to extend the seasons and add to your seedbank. Read more
In 2020 in response to the Coronavirus pandemic Great Dixter launched a series of online lectures on Zoom. These are now all available to watch online on demand on Vimeo In this talk Aaron Bertelsen, Great Dixter’s House Manager will show the evolution from Dixter when it was purchased in 1910 by the Lloyd’s to becoming Great Dixter. Read more
A collection of ten lectures that explore gardening the Dixter way discussing borders, planting approaches and biodiversity. These lectures were recorded between 2020-2022 and will be available to view online for 12 months. Read more
Head Gardener, Fergus Garrett will explore the lessons we have learned from last year focusing upon weather, planting combinations, layers and times with Christopher Lloyd. Read more
Michael Kennard, Founder and Director of the Compost Club gives a 90 min. lecture on Composting for Biodiversity and Soil Regeneration. Read more
Head Gardener Fergus Garrett will discuss how the team at Dixter push and pull work to ease the workload for Spring and early Summer, examining the practical aspects of the work involved during late autumn, winter and spring. Read more
Head Gardener, Fergus Garrett will discuss how you can create your own meadow using a range of simple practical techniques like hay strewing and the most effective way to use hay rattle. He will talk about how to go from lawn to meadow and controlling the most vigorous grasses and thuggish elements. The lecture will cover assessing, planning and setting out a route forward. Read more
Tuesday 16 January 2024 This hour long tour of the Lutyens Wing will show you the Lutyens / Lloyds collaboration, taking you from the kitchens and servants hall, up to the first floor family bedrooms and Day Nursery and into the Yeomans Hall. The tour finishes with tea and coffee served in the Kitchen. More dates available throughout 2024. Read more
Join the waiting list for 2025 dates. Great Dixter is a renowned and innovative garden that depends on a high degree of craftsmanship to maintain and develop its year round display. This is an advanced course, exploring and teaching the skills necessary for establishing, developing and managing a garden in this style. Teaching takes place monthly through the year from February to January. Read more
An opportunity to see the Lutyens wing of the house. This hour long tour will show you the Lutyens / Lloyds collaboration and take you from the kitchens and servants hall, up to the first floor family bedrooms and into the Yeomans Hall brought from Benenden by horse and cart in 1910. The tour will conclude with tea and coffee served in the Kitchen. Read more
Saturday 17 February to Saturday 24 February 2024 This is a practical, hands-on symposium focusing on Pruning, with 80% of the time being spent outdoors. Now fully booked. Read more
Fergus will use the garden at Great Dixter to illustrate how you can create a long-season border using succession planting. Examining the garden in February gives you an opportunity to see the gaps within the borders and learn how to fill them. Read more