Gardening in poor, chalky or sandy soil can be a challenge, as can having a garden with a windy or coastal position. But expert plants woman, and garden designer Juliet Sargeant can help with these two talks giving you lots of tips and advice for creating a garden to thrive in your conditions.
Join us for two gardening talks that will support you as you garden in challenging conditions, whether that be because of your soil, or a windy or coastal situation. Relax in to a day of learning with multi-award winning garden designer and soil expert Juliet Sargeant, and enjoy a complimentary lunch as part of your day out.
Morning Talk – The Challenging Soil Survival GuideMany of us are gardening in difficult soil conditions and poor, chalky, or sandy soil can make it challenging for plants to thrive. But Juliet has a wealth of experience to share to help you to manage and improve your soil, and also which plants to choose for the conditions you have.
– What makes for a poor chalk or sandy soil?
– A brief guide to understanding your soil structure and composition.
– How to improve your poor chalky or sandy soils and manage it going forward.
– Juliet’s favourite thriving plants for poor chalky or sandy soils.
Afternoon Talk – The Windy or Coastal Garden Survival GuideFed up with battling against the elements in your coastal or windy garden? Join Juliet to discover our top tips on designing a garden able to sustain the exposed conditions, and feel inspired by our favourite plant combinations that will thrive in your blustery location.
– The challenges of maintaining a coastal or windy garden.
– A brief guide to managing poor soils, challenging elevations in coastal locations.
– A brief introduction to design principles, with particular focus on structural planting, wind breaks and plants that will thrive.
– Juliet’s favourite plants that are happy in coastal and windy conditions.
Beginners and garden enthusiasts are welcome
Juliet Sargeant is a multi award-winning garden designer and regular panellist on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time. She has been teaching gardening to professionals and enthusiasts for over 15 years. Juliet has a relaxed teaching style, with plenty of illustrations, discussion, and opportunities for you to ask questions.
Old Barn Garden Centre is one of the largest nurseries in Sussex. The talk will be held in their purpose-built studio ‘The Garden Room’.
Wednesday 15th October 2025
10.30am – 2.30pm
Old Barn Nurseries, Worthing Road, Dial Post, Horsham, RH13 8NR
2-Talk ticket – £20
If you’d prefer just to join us for one of these talks rather than both, please follow these links for bookings for individual talks
‘The Challenging Soil Survival Guide’
‘The Windy or Coastal Garden Survival Guide’
Once you have booked, you will receive an email confirmation of your booking – please check your junk mail if you have not heard from us.
About 2 weeks before your course, you will receive another email, giving directions and joining instructions – again, please check your junk mail if you have not heard from us.
admin@julietsargeant.com
Tel: 01273 834 083
Sussex Garden School
Oak Studio
Old Barn Nurseries
Worthing Road, Dial Post
Horsham RH13 8NU
