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  1. About
  2. Garden
  3. Planting

Planting

Planting in the garden in Christopher Lloyd’s words.

Mixed Borders

Dixter is a high maintenance garden; I make no bones about that. It is effort that brings reward. There are many borders and much work goes into them. Labour saving ground cover is not for me. If you see ground cover, it’s there because, first and foremost, I like it. If it does also save labour, that is an incidental benefit.

The borders are mixed, not herbaceous. I see no point in segregating plants of differing habit or habits. They can all help one another. So you’ll see shrubs, climbers, hardy and tender perennials, annuals and biennials, all growing together and contributing to the overall tapestry.

Colour

The Barn Garden at Great Dixter in late spring by Claire Takacs

I have no segregated colour schemes. In fact, I take it as a challenge to combine every sort of colour effectively. I have a constant awareness of colour and of what I am doing, but if I think a yellow candelabrum of mullein will look good rising from the middle of a quilt of pink phlox, I’ll put it there – or let it put itself there. Many plants in this garden are self-sown and they often provide me with excellent ideas. But I do also have some of my own!

Fergus Garrett and I work hand in glove and he is as fertile in making suggestions for change and improvement as I am; so there is a continuing and productive exchange. Fergus is exceptionally energetic and inspiring, so a great deal gets done. Garden staff varies from five in winter to six in summer. This includes nursery work. They are a wonderfully supportive team. It would be impossible to exaggerate what a difference that makes, in so many ways.

Complex planting at Great Dixter by Jack McCoy

Fergus' lecture on The Magic of Dixter- how self sowers add to the layered system available on demand. 

Published: 13th March, 2020

Updated: 11th March, 2021

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Latest

  • Layered Planting: an intensive 5-part online Symposium

    Layered Planting: an intensive 5-part online Symposium

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  • Behind the scenes at Great Dixter in August

    Behind the scenes at Great Dixter in August

    Great Dixter is a garden that delights and challenges. Our Behind the Scenes Tour in August provides a rare opportunity to enjoy a private viewing of the garden on a day when it is normally closed to the public.

Related

  • Management

    Management

    Head Gardener Fergus Garrett on how the garden at Great Dixter is managed

  • Garden map

    Download a map of the garden

  • Design and structure

    Design and structure

    The design and structure of the garden at Great Dixter in Christopher Lloyd’s words.

Most read

  • Opening times

    Opening times

    The House and Gardens are now closed and will re-open on Tuesday 26 March 2024. The Nursery remains open as follows: Monday to Friday 9.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm -4.30pm; Saturday 9.30am - 12.30pm; closed on Sunday.

  • Tickets

    Tickets

    Pre-booked tickets are no longer required. Please purchase tickets upon arrival from the kiosk.

  • Visitor information

    Useful information to consider when visiting Great Dixter House and Gardens

  • The Nursery

    The Nursery

    The Nursery was started by Christopher Lloyd in 1954, specialising in plants he deemed garden-worthy. We remain a small, personal and professional nursery.

  • How to find us

    Details of how to travel to Great Dixter

  • Visit the Nursery

    Visit the Nursery

    Whilst the House & Garden are now closed for the season, our fantastic Nursery is still open. Between November 2022 - April 2023, The Nursery is open: Monday - Friday 9am-12:30 and then reopens 1:30pm - 4:30pm. Saturday - 9am - 12:30 Sunday (closed) There is no entrance charge.

  • Cafe

    Cafe

    The Loggia Cafe serves a delicious range of home-made lunches and refreshments. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options are available. Please inform staff if you have any special dietary requirements or allergies and they will endeavour to help.

  • Christopher Lloyd

    Christopher Lloyd

    Great Dixter was the home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd (1921-2006), who developed it into a hub of ideas and connections that spread out across the world.

  • Garden map

    Download a map of the garden

  • About

    Great Dixter was the family home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd – it was the focus of his energy and enthusiasm and fuelled over 40 years of books and articles. Now under the stewardship of the Great Dixter Charitable Trust and Christopher’s friend and head gardener, Fergus Garrett, Great Dixter is an historic house, a garden, a centre of education, and a place of pilgrimage for horticulturists from across the world.

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Published: 19th March, 2014

Updated: 7th November, 2018

Author:

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Great Dixter House & Gardens
Northiam
Rye
East Sussex
TN31 6PH

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© Great Dixter House & Gardens 2020 · Ltd. Co. No. 7181964 · Registered Charity No. 1134948

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