A rare opportunity to garden alongside a professional, moth-by-month and learn the tricks of the trade.
How to Garden ‘Greener’
A rare opportunity to learn practical gardening, through the seasons with a professional horticulturalist.
Learn by doing and garden through the seasons with professional gardener, Jenny Samuels.
Once a month, from February to October, Jenny will be taking a small group (max. 9) to three different gardens. You will follow the gardening calendar and learn tips and techniques for improving your own garden.
Get to know your garden better and learn greener, sustainable gardening methods.
Subjects covered during the two terms (Spring & Summer):
Staying safe in the garden
Must have tools and how not to waste money
Get to know your soil
How to make compost and improve your soil
How to get your plants off to a good start
When to feed, how to feed and when not to feed
Know your weeds and what to do about them
Controlling pests without chemicals
How to be a water-wise gardener
How to be a wildlife-friendly gardener
Pruning your plants
Making plants for free – dividing perennials, taking cuttings and collecting seeds
Sowing from seed
Wild-flower meadows
The merits of a messy garden – when to cut back, and when not to
A splash of colour with planted pots
Includes:
Complimentary drinks throughout the day
Pre-course instructions
Soil testing of your own samples
Take-home cuttings, seeds and divisions, when available
A group visit In August to a beautiful, private, Sussex garden
Each day:
From 9.30am we will have the kettle on for a welcoming cuppa and biscuit, which will give time for everyone to arrive and get their gardening gear on.
Usually, in the morning, Jenny will start with an introduction to the subjects of the day, before heading out into the garden for hands-on gardening.
Our set-up is ‘rustic’ so bring warm clothes and a sandwich, soup-in-a-flask lunch for yourself.
During the day we will have tea breaks and tasty cake in the afternoon to keep your sugar levels up.
As hardy gardeners, we will carry on through light rain and cold. We have an open barn to shelter in, but please be aware that dreadful weather may necessitate Jenny calling a halt to outdoor activities.
We will finish at 3pm.
This course is for:
People who want to get to know their gardens better.
If you are a beginner, this course will take you through the steps you need to establish a new garden, without making costly mistakes.
If you are already experienced, but you want to learn more about professional techniques and in particular ways of gardening more sustainably.
Tutor:
Jenny’s approach to teaching gardening is influenced by a passion for greener gardening and a strong belief in working with your soil and climate rather than against it.
She loves the challenge of rejuvenating tired borders – making good what is there and introducing fresh planting combinations to breathe new life into a garden.
Owner of the Lindfield Gardening Company, Jenny has a wide range of experience including horticultural gardening, planting design and teaching gardening to enthusiastic beginners.
Her original degree was in biomedical science, before retraining in horticulture, and gaining an RHS diploma with Commendation. Jenny was then awarded a further certificate in field biology from Sussex University.
Venues:
A private garden in East Chiltington.
We are delighted to have the opportunity to garden in a rural, Sussex, garden in the downland village of East Chiltington near Plumpton, East Sussex.
This garden has established borders, ponds, orchard, kitchen garden and wildflower meadows. We also have the opportunity to create a new border for cut flowers.
Alfriston Gardens, Berwick
Alfriston Gardens opens to the public in 2023. There are established borders and also areas that are being developed, following recent building works at this traditional wedding venue.
We will have the opportunity to garden shady and sunny areas, as well as pruning established climbers and planting ornamental pots for extra colour.
A group garden visit to a beautiful, Sussex garden in Lindfield.
For a summer treat, we will ‘down tools’ and visit a beautiful, Sussex garden together. It’s an opportunity to be inspired by another setting and see in action, many of the ideas we have learned about.
Dates (all Wednesdays):
Spring Term (now booked)
Summer Term
July 12th
August 30th
September 27th
October 18th
Tickets
We are keeping to a small group, so please book early to avoid disappointment.
Summer Term:
(4 days July, August, September, October)
Early Bird Ticket (First 4 tickets sold) £400
Standard Ticket £435
What Next?
Once you have booked, you will receive an email confirmation of your booking – please check your junk email folder if you do not hear from us.
About 3 weeks before the day of your course, you will receive another email from us, giving your directions and any joining instructions – please check your junk email folder if you do not hear from us.
What you will need to bring:
On our first day together, we will discuss the most useful gardening tools, so don’t buy any new tools at this stage.
However, you will need steel toe-capped boots and of course gardening clothes and rain-wear. Gardening gloves are optional.
admin@julietsargeant.com
Tel: 01273 834 083
Sussex Garden School
Oak Studio
Old Barn Nurseries
Worthing Road, Dial Post
Horsham RH13 8NU
