Joe Perkins

Temperatures are already climbing and gardens are showing the strain. Joe Perkins explains why the answer isn't more water but "right plant, right place" — from a National Trust garden with zero irrigation this summer, to an 85% cut in irrigated turf at a Commonwealth war cemetery in Tunisia, to everyday gardens across Sussex.

How do you protect a 500 year old oak? There's a difference between protecting a tree and designing around it as if it isn't really there. The clearest example I can point to is a veteran oak at Sheffield Park & Garden sitting in the middle of a site I was asked to turn into a new garden.

The garden should never be the last thing on the list. Whether you're building from scratch, renovating an existing property, or trying to get more from an outdoor space that's never quite worked, involving a garden designer early will save time, money, and the frustration of redoing work that was never quite right. A home that extends thoughtfully into its garden is simply a better home to live in.