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6 articles
Most raised beds are sized by whatever timber lengths were on the rack, not by the person who has to weed them. A practical case for 60cm single-sided beds, 1.2m double-sided beds, sensible board thickness and a realistic soil budget — plus what to do when your existing bed is already too wide.
We spend hours arguing about oak versus larch and then slap on a coating that seals the wood in a plastic envelope. A case for charring, oiling and brushing — and for treating a finish as maintenance rather than a one-off event.
A timber structure is not a stage set with plants added later. This opinion piece argues for planting, roots and maintenance access to be planned first — so sheds, benches and pergolas age into the garden instead of being swallowed by it.
British gardens are quietly filling up with sheds, decking and pergolas that get used four times a year. The humble wooden bench, placed with a bit of thought, earns its keep every single week. Here's the case for building smaller — and sitting down more.
Sealed up, insulated and lined like a Scandinavian cabin, the modern garden shed has become something it was never meant to be. The result is condensation, rusty tools and mouldy timber. Here's the case for airflow, raised floors and a clear wet-dry divide.
Every few years the same fence gets painted, flaking and all, and every few years it looks worse for the effort. Here is an argument for choosing timber that is allowed to go grey — and for being honest about what that actually demands of you.