The couple behind Britain’s most beautiful garden shared their best tips for keeping lawns and plants looking great during the scorching heatwave.
Marie Newton (74) and Tony (72) have managed to maintain their award-winning “Four-Season” oasis despite extreme heat.
They have been married for 40 years and created one of Britain’s most famous back gardens, in Walsall West Midlands.
Marie Newton (74) and Tony (72) have shared their best tips for keeping lawns and plants looking great during this scorching heatwave.
They have been married for 40 years and created one of the most famous back gardens in America, in Walsall West Midlands.
They recommend that you only water plants in hot weather.
To prevent weeds and moisture loss, they recommend spreading mulch on the ground. Potted plants should be kept out of direct sun and watered in cool parts of the day.
They also recommend that you avoid digging in the summer, but let your lawns grow in hot conditions.
Tony, an ex-GP, stated that Tony and the wife have an advantage as they have clay soil. This is more effective at holding moisture. The couple also have the benefit of having larger plants that can shade the smaller plants.
The green-fingered couple have now shared their top gardening tips for keeping Britain’s lawns healthy amid rising temperatures, looming bans on hosepipes and other challenges.
Mulch should be spread on the ground in order to retain moisture, stop weeds, and potted plants should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
They also recommend that you avoid digging in the summer, but let your lawn grow in warm weather.
Tony, retired General Practitioner said that it was a benefit to have a garden on clay soil. This is great for retaining water.
“We are here since 40 years. Our larger plants offer shade to smaller and more delicate plants.
“Many of our plants can withstand drought and are covered with lush foliage, which helps keep the sunlight off the soil.
Tony and Marie started working in the garden in 1982 when they first moved in to the house. They continued their hobby until 2009, when both of them retired.
More than 3,000 flowers and plants were packed into quarter of an acre.
Over 15,700 visitors from 41 different countries have visited their house to view the colorful plot that brims with colour year-round.
They have also raised more than £52,500 for charity and won several awards, including Alan Titchmarsh’s Britain’s Best Garden and Gardeners of the Year.
Tony and Marie have been unable to host visitors during the pandemic. They will be welcoming them for the first visit in three years, in October.
Tony stated that there was no master plan. The garden simply developed as a result of our changing family needs.
“We have no formal training in horticulture and are self-taught. We have completed all tasks.
“Developing the garden took hard work, new skills and a great deal of pleasure.
“We are not copying any other garden, and as far as our knowledge is, our planting and design style is original.”
Marie and Tony first started to work on their garden after they bought the property in 1982. After both of them retired, Marie and Tony continued working on it.
They also recommend that you water your plants at the coolest time of day. This allows the water to reach roots and prevents the water from vaporizing.
Marie and Tony have also raised more than £52,500 for charity and won several awards, including Alan Titchmarsh’s Britain’s Best Garden and Gardeners of the Year
More than 3,000 flowers and plants were packed into one quarter of an acre, which included 450 azaleas 120 Japanese maples, and 15 blue star Junipers.
Marie Gran-of-4, who was a nurse and a transport planner, said that it had been a labor of love. This has been an obsession and something I feel proud of.
“It is our hobby, and we love taking care of it. This is our little piece of greenery, just a stones throw away from the town center.
“We believe that we have made something quite special, even though we had no formal horticultural training and have been taught everything by ourselves.”
Tony and Marie are now hosting guests in October after being closed to the public for three years due to pandemic.