A former gardening magazine editor and all-round plant and flower font of knowledge, Gareth has joined the Hildreth’s team!
Hildreth’s Garden Centre now has an in-house plant expert! We’re thrilled to welcome Gareth to the team, who is former features editor of Garden Answers Magazine and definitely knows a thing or two about gardening! He’s going to be helping us develop our growing collection and keep all our living stock looking vibrant, happy and healthy.
If you see Gareth round and about, do say hello (he’s very nice). And ask him any questions you have about our trees, plants and flowers? Meantime, you can get to know him a bit better here….
When did you first develop your passion for gardening, Gareth?
I remember watching my grandparents working in their vegetable garden in Pewsey, Wiltshire, and wanting to be involved in some way – home-grown gooseberry fool was a favourite dessert then and still brings back happy memories!
Where did you do your training?
I studied Plant Science at Nottingham University which was all very scientific and laboratory based (it was a BSc). I could have had a career in horticulture…possibly even in the world of genetic engineering
What did you do before joining the Hildreth’s team?
I’ve had quite a varied career, working at numerous garden centres over the years. I was a management trainee with Notcutts and worked at several of their branches (Woodbridge, Ardleigh, Nuneham Courtenay, Bagshot, Peterborough and St Albans). I then joined Garden Answers Magazine where I trained as a writer, eventually becoming Features Editor. I eventually went freelance and wrote for a number of other titles including BBC Homes & Antiques, still working as a gardener on the side. The job I’m most proud of was when I was asked to create a magazine from scratch by the founder of Dogfriendly. It was my baby and I loved working on it.
What are your least favourite gardening jobs?
One job that everyone says they hate is weeding but I quite enjoy it, especially gravel – it’s very therapeutic and some of my clients had pretty enormous drives!
What’s your favourite time of the year in the garden?
There’s absolutely no question – it’s spring because I love watching new leaves as they emerge – the red buds of peonies thrusting upwards through the soil always gets me going!
What are your favourite plants?
There are loads I would include in a planting plan if I could, but three I would always recommend are the daisy Erigeron karvinskianus (it self-seeds everywhere, particularly in cracks but flowers for weeks on end), Fatsia japonica (an architectural beauty that thrives in shade) and the grass, Stipa gigantea (a heady delight in a sunny border).
What are your top tips for a novice gardener?
Plant in swathes if you can – a border looks much better with fewer plants, but more of each – does that make any sense?
What’s good to plant right now?
Add splashes of colour with summer bedding – insert containers of vibrant annuals throughout your borders and brighten your garden. Hopefully that last of the frosts has gone and its safe to plant outside now.
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