Earthquakes are not the only cause of landslides: heavy rainfalls wash away precious topsoil on unprotected slopes, leaving gullies and slumps. But banks covered with grass, blackberry, horsetail or ivy are not prone to erosion, nor are forested ravines that are shaped by spectacular ranks of sword ferns beneath the trees. How can we clear […]

Our lawn was only six metres long and four metres wide. Brown in summer, needing regular mowing, not used except for the shady patch where I sit to write on a sunny day. But we need a calm centre to contrast with the busyness of the perennial borders, so we let the grass grow into […]

In the wild, in our climate, wherever there is sufficient light, bare soil quickly disappears. Within a few years, alder trees, blackberries and salmon berries take over from grass and wildflowers. Natural landscaping mimics ecosystems, resulting in sustainable, low-maintenance ornamental or productive gardens, using plants of our own choice. The ideas can be applied to […]