Adam S Bailey. First class design and care for your garden. Phone 01322 865566 - Unit 9, Home Farm, 3 Riverside, Eynsford, DA4 0AE

Hello and welcome. We are a professional garden and landscape design practice, trained to create imaginative and original designs for any size garden.

Adam S Bailey BA Hons (Garden Design)

As a small company, we deal with each and every client on a purely one-to-one basis, with a truly personal service which reflects our commitment to offering a friendly, approachable and helpful partnership with the client.

Blogs for Adam S Bailey

"I'd like a new garden! Where do I start?"

So, what does a garden designer actually do? You’ve probably seen the Chelsea Flower Show on television many times and heard a few famous names such as Capability Brown or Diarmuid Gavin but how many can put hand on heart and say they actually know what a garden designer does?

Not all garden design companies are the same. We provide expert guidance from start to finish.

Garden lighting has come on a long way over the years. Long gone are the high wattage, power hungry units with unreliable, short-lived lamps in them.

As planting designers, benefiting wildlife is at the heart of what we do, with the right plants and clever design elements to create rich habitats which not only look great but also work to the advantage of local species. One of the trends very much at the fore of garden design today is ‘Rewilding’,

Corten Steel, otherwise known as Weathering Steel, is certainly not a new material, having been developed in the US as far back as the 1930’s but has gained the admiration of garden designers and architects over the years for both its beauty and its structural strength.

The material choices for a new patio or paved terrace are vast and it can be difficult to know where to start. Do you go for limestone, granite, porphyry or sandstone?

Up until a few years ago the traditional choice for a new deck would have been a natural timber using hardwoods such as Balhau, Iroko or Oak or one of the cheaper softwoods such as pine or cedar. Whilst the hardwoods do have greater resistance to decay and insect damage due to their natural oils w

Complete new garden: We are always happy to offer guidance on a wide range of budgets although the majority of our gardens including paving, fencing and planting start in the region of £25,000 upwards depending on the size of garden. Lighting, irrigation, furniture and specimen plants can add to thi

A category blog of the Large Gardens and Estates worked on by Adam Bailey.

A category blog of the Medium Sixe Gardens worked on by Adam Bailey.

A Category Blog view of the Small Gardens/ Courtyards worked on by Adam Bailey.

A Category Blog of Driveways worked on by Adam Bailey.

You don’t need to spend the earth either if you keep your designer space small. Micro gardening means a creatively designed small space is affordable as you don’t have to plan the whole garden. Just concentrate on a small area and focus on making that space unique. It can be a few planters around a

Sevenoaks has a wealth of substantial properties making it ideal for busy working families who have little free time but need a high performance garden which enhances their lifestyle with elegant entertaining areas and verdant landscapes which are both practical to look after and relaxing to spend v

Many gardens don't need a lot of construction work, just a really good choice of plants to show off the garden at its best. There are literally tens of thousand

Below are some of the many plants we've used over the years to cope with tricky situations or just to give a particular effect, be it tall, showy plants for a p

Useful Info

For a garden designer, the landscape around us is full of influence and beauty. The simplest of shadows, the way light plays on different materials and the chan

Following on from the Art of Landscape series, these larger images show the influences that designers use and appreciate when creating new landscapes.

Adam's been a regular contributor to various lifestyle magazines for nearly ten years. Just click on the link to read any of the past articles.

Testimonials Page

For visitors arriving via the small bridge over the river in Eynsford village, drive past The Plough, continue for about 150m and on the left hand side you'll s

Explore how outdoor offices combined with gym spaces offer a revolutionary approach to work-life balance, blending functionality with wellness.

Discover the essentials of outdoor kitchen design, including practical considerations, legal requirements, and the benefits of gas vs charcoal setups.

Learn how to extend your living space into the garden with innovative designs. Create a seamless outdoor room for relaxation and entertainment.

Discover how to transform limited urban spaces into lush, green havens with innovative gardening techniques that maximise creativity and space.

Unlock the secrets to revitalising your garden with our guide. Discover easy, impactful design ideas to create your perfect outdoor sanctuary today.

Discover how to enhance your garden's aesthetics with decorative stones. Explore types, design ideas, and practical tips for a captivating outdoor space.

Discover sustainable practices for choosing and growing grass from seed, promoting a healthy lawn and a thriving ecosystem in your garden.

Explore how Kent's garden design uniquely marries age-old traditions with modern innovations to inspire your next garden oasis.

Discover how to transform your garden into a lush oasis with expert design tips on plant selection, structure, and sustainable practices.

Discover the transformative benefits of compost for your garden and the environment. Start your composting journey today for healthier plants and a greener planet.

Unlock the secrets to a lush garden with our guide on seed lawn care. Learn about seed selection, sowing, and maintenance for a vibrant green lawn.

Discover creative wrap-around garden designs to maximise your small urban space. Explore vertical gardening, container plants, and more for year-round beauty.

Discover the unmatched benefits of porcelain paving for your garden, offering durability, low maintenance, and aesthetic versatility for your home.

Discover Corten steel's unique weathering properties, its advantages in modern design, and why it's the sustainable choice for architects and artists.

Discover the unmatched benefits of composite decking for your garden, including its durability, low maintenance, and environmental advantages.

Discover how to create a stunning, bespoke garden that reflects your style and enhances your life, all within your budget with expert guidance.

One of our recent projects in Blackheath where we have collaborated with the Blackheath-based architect Neal Tuson who designed the outline framework for the driveway. We then specified the hard landscaping materials, engaged the expert landscape team at Creative Landscapes and planted up the whole

Terraced garden - Rochester

Working with architects is very much part of our portfolio and this perfectly proportioned garden in Blackheath needed our expert plant knowledge.

Creating the best layout for a garden is often about making use of what’s already there and this small garden in Erith, Kent is a perfect example of what can be

Our Orpington project allowed us to create a sequential series of ‘rooms’ which could be experienced on the way to the impressive Green Retreats outdoor buildi

As planting specialists ever conscious of how we need to help wildlife wherever we can in our schemes, our Otford project provided a great opportunity to design

Gradients are a challenge for any designer, requiring careful thought. If resolved intelligently, the changes in level in a garden can offer a succession of dif

Designing a garden for an interior designer was a chance for two design talents to combine to create a truly theatrical courtyard with real chic and elegance as

With a chic contemporary interior the garden for this Blackheath property required an intelligent design to allow the inside to flow seamlessly with the outside

The brief for this front garden in Dartford was simple. A need for off-street car parking combined with a wish for colourful, low maintenance planting. The fron

A small courtyard garden in London needed a private space for retreating from the hectic life of London. Surrounded on all sides by buildings and small trees, p

A new-build house in Borough Green, Kent posed a number of challenges in that the original space comprised of nothing more than fences and turf. Not very inspir

An established urban garden in Chislehurst required a complete overhaul to bring warmth, texture and form back into the small space. The new garden had to be ea

As with all the best designs, simplicity is the key to creating a successful space. For this small project we had a blank lawn area surrounded by tall box hedges.

Children living in the farmhouse needed to be able to explore the garden and see how it changed through the passing of the seasons so consideration had to be given to those plants which would provide form and pleasure even in the winter. Gravel pathways which sweep down through the garden out toward

A period home demands a very special type of garden, one which feels as if it was created along with the house and yet at the same time is alive with fresh, vib

A much-loved but tired looking garden in Petts Wood was in need of a major rejuvenation. There were a number of key features worth keeping such as the mature tr

As planting specialists we are often asked to plant up a scheme where the groundwork has already been constructed and with this garden in Sevenoaks, we brought

The clients of this country house had the hard landscaping elements already in place and wanted a planting scheme to achieve the look they were after.

A large country estate in Sevenoaks offered wonderful countryside views with the potential for a classically elegant garden to complement the property.

A family home in Bromley had been neglected for years until the present owners moved in and modernised the property from the ground floor right up to the roof.

New projects range from small, intimate courtyards to large estates and this project in Orpington, Kent really showcases the performance of a well crafted desig

All these written articles have previously appeared in either Kent Life Magazine, Meridian Magazine or the Kent County Magazine.

We all grow up with memories of water in some form, whether it’s catching tadpoles by a stream, searching rock pools by the sea or splashing in puddles on the w

Creating a new garden can be a very daunting experience, especially if all you have is a lawn and bare fences.

Garden design has seen many trends come and go over the years but one material has literally stood the test of time.

Intelligent landscape design is a combination of form and function.

Spring is the easiest time of year to write about and words like ‘awakening’ and ‘uplifting’ are hard to deny when describing the landscape around us.

Kent is well known as the ‘Garden of England’ and not without good reason.

Water is essential to all living things and even though a typical English summer will herald rain, one thing is for sure, if we have a summer like last year the

There is a saying that power is nothing without control and mankind has always been attempting to control nature to produce food or to create a statement of pow

It’s wake up time in gardens all over Kent, now the daffodils and crocuses have finished exploding up through the soil to take our breath away with riots of bri

After the dark days of the winter, there are few things more uplifting than the sight of the first emerging buds beginning to swell as plants wake from their co

The idea that the garden is very much an extension of the house has lead to the concept that the garden can be in effect, ‘an outdoor room’.

Fashions come and go. Styles and fashions within garden design are no exception and every year there are new trends that stand out as ‘must haves’, whether it’s

New ideas emerge from the world of landscape design on a regular basis and none more so than for the ubiquitous patio.

The demand for new houses has increased in the South East recently and with so much building work going on, our surrounding landscape is undergoing some major c

Here in the South East stories of land shortage are becoming ever more common as house builders attempt to meet the demand for new homes.

One of the primary purposes of any garden is to create a natural space in which plants and wildlife can thrive.

At this time of year, the Kent countryside will be alive to the sound of mowers, shears and rakes, all taming the countless square miles of lawns that make up t

February is a crucial month in the gardening calendar and with the first of the spring bulbs starting to show, it’s not hard to see why.

The often-used media phrase for the modern garden is the ‘outdoor room’.

Garden designers draw their inspiration from a number of sources, sometimes it’s the surrounding landscape, sometimes the individual character of the person who

A warmer than average spring left many gardeners feeling as if summer had already started, but a few sharp frosts caught out many magnolias and other spring flo

You might be mistaken for thinking that the reason Kent gardeners are all reaching for their sunglasses is because of the recent long spell of wonderful sunshin

Gardening is full of trends and perhaps the world of garden design even more so.

Most discerning homeowners will wisely invest in their properties, be it a new kitchen, bathroom or conservatory.

There are many things to consider when choosing plants for a new garden, from the type of soil and aspect in which they will be planted, to the feel of the sche

The New Year is a perfect time for making a ‘must do’ list of home improvements.

What an amazing summer! Long sunny days and high temperatures have given parts of Kent an almost Mediterranean feel.

Xeriscaping isn’t a word you’d have heard in the last six months after an incredibly wet winter. 

Refreshing summer showers may keep plants looking lush and healthy but all that growth produces copious amounts of one thing in particular. Waste.

Who says plants can’t be like people?

From the royal garden at Highgrove to smaller gardens of the South East, there’s one element that all gardens have, no matter what their size and stature.

Autumn is a bountiful time of the year, with fruits having ripened at the end of a long summer.

One of the most challenging and enjoyable aspects for a designer creating a new garden for a client is the ability to be innovative whilst capturing the client’

Discover innovative installation techniques for eco-friendly resin bound driveways that offer sustainability and aesthetic appeal.

Explore how eco-friendly garden offices enhance sustainability and work-life balance. Learn to integrate green solutions into your workspace.

Explore how SUDS regulations shape the adoption of permeable driveways in the UK, promoting sustainability and reducing urban flooding.

Discover how to install a resin bound driveway, the materials used, and its benefits as a SUDS-compliant, eco-friendly option.

Discover how to plant and care for trees in your UK garden. From choosing the right species to ongoing maintenance, create a thriving green oasis.

Discover the top 10 eco-friendly upgrades for your garden office to save energy and enhance sustainability this summer.

Explore the best trees for small gardens that enhance privacy, add stunning beauty, and display vibrant autumn colours. Learn planting tips.

Discover the best materials for garden furniture, learn how to maintain them, and explore design tips to enhance your outdoor space.

Learn how to prepare your garden office for warm weather using eco-friendly design features and sustainable practices to enhance comfort and efficiency.

Learn to maintain your garden throughout the year with our guide on seasonal preparation and care tailored to different climates and garden types.

Explore how smart gardening technology can transform your garden with automated systems, soil sensors, and intelligent lighting.

Discover essential eco-friendly gardening tips to enhance biodiversity and sustainability in your garden while reducing your environmental footprint.

Discover how to create and maintain a meadow that maximizes wildlife benefits, supports biodiversity, and enhances ecosystems.

Discover effective ways to increase your garden's privacy with pleached trees, trellis panels, and pergolas, blending aesthetics with practicality.

Discover how to create a beautiful, low maintenance garden with our practical tips on design, plants, and materials – no artificial elements.

This stunning renovation in Sevenoaks is an example of what makes landscape design so crucial to an overall project. Working with the architect, Carmen Austin this carefully managed project showcases the possibilities of combining an expert rebuild with a beautifully designed landscape.

Discover the benefits of composite decking! Learn why it's replacing wood, how it saves you time & money, and its eco-friendly advantages.

Discover the benefits of incorporating native plants into your garden, from environmental advantages to design ideas that support local wildlife and biodiversity.

Discover the best plants for topiary, learn pruning techniques, explore Japanese influences, and avoid boxwood issues. Get inspired by famous topiary gardens.

Discover the best plants for your living wall with our detailed guide. Learn about plant selection, maintenance tips, and successful examples to inspire your green oasis.

At the heart of this ethos lie Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) regulations, which serve as guidelines for responsible water management in built environments. These regulations, mandated by local authorities across the UK, dictate the implementation of drainage solutions that mimic natural proces

Explore how vertical gardens can transform urban small spaces into lush, functional green areas, enhancing both aesthetics and air quality.

Discover how blending outdoor offices and gyms can transform workplace productivity and employee wellbeing. Learn key benefits and implementation tips.

Explore why wildlife-friendly gardens are vital for biodiversity conservation. Learn how to create your own eco-friendly oasis and support local ecosystems.

Explore Derek Jarman's innovative garden in Dungeness, an inspiring model for using drought-tolerant plants in challenging environments.

Discover the various styles of water features, installation tips, maintenance advice, and their benefits for creating a serene garden space.

A Kent garden designer explains gravel margins, channel drains and French drains for keeping water away from a house wall, and where that water needs to go.

A Kent garden designer gives the honest verdict on garden sleeper retaining walls: where they work brilliantly, and where height and drainage turn them risky.

A Kent garden designer explains how a true level threshold patio door works: drainage, damp protection and why it's a designed junction, not a paving job.

Garden design in Bromley: a Kent designer on the borough's clay soil, long narrow gardens, mature trees and the design choices that actually work here.

Ground level higher than the damp proof course? A Kent garden designer explains what it actually means, the real risk, and your options, calmly and honestly.

A Kent garden designer explains why retaining walls really fail, honestly compares materials, and shows how to design one that looks right for decades to come.

A raised patio against the house is achievable without bridging the damp proof course. A Kent garden designer explains how to get the wall detail right.

After a dry Kent summer, the urge to rip out and replant is strong. A Kent garden designer explains why autumn beats now, the planting calendar in principle, and the one exception worth knowing.

Kent is the driest corner of England, and restrictions are becoming routine. A Kent garden designer with decades in the county explains how to design a garden that copes: soil, shade, water storage, and honest advice on drought tolerant bedding plants.

Low maintenance planting is earned, not bought. A Kent garden designer on the three-year rule, ground cover, and the gravel mistake nearly everyone makes.

Blogs for Adam S Bailey

Rainwater harvesting in the garden, from what a single butt really collects to greywater rules and the exemption in Kent's South East Water hosepipe ban.

Which drought tolerant plants for pots survive a Kent winter and which fail by August: an honest container planting guide from Kent garden designer Adam Bailey.

Blogs for Adam S Bailey

A Kent garden designer with decades of experience explains how, when and how much to water a garden properly, including the water butt exemption during the current ban.

A Kent garden designer's guide to drought tolerant plants for UK gardens: how to read any plant for drought tolerance, plants grouped by role in a design, and why soil matters as much as the plant list.

Blogs for Adam S Bailey

The Kent hosepipe ban is in force. A Kent garden designer with decades in the county explains the water butt exemption and what to save first in a dry garden.

Blogs for Adam S Bailey

Blogs for Adam S Bailey

Blogs for Adam S Bailey

Blogs for Adam S Bailey

Blogs for Adam S Bailey

Blogs for Adam S Bailey

Discover the best companion plants for alliums with expert design tips on height layering, colour pairings, and seasonal succession for beautiful borders.

Looking for a garden designer in Kent? Learn what sets design-led thinking apart and how to choose the right designer for your project.

Professional garden design services across Kent and South East London. From Sevenoaks to Bromley, personalised designs from our Eynsford studio.

Discover front garden ideas that go beyond slabs and gravel. Design-led tips for year-round kerb appeal, planting, and parking from a Kent garden designer.

Discover the best plants for Mediterranean gardens in the UK, with expert advice on drought-resistant planting, gravel gardens, and design tips for Kent.

Plan your seasonal garden month by month with expert tips from a Kent garden designer with 36 years' experience in year-round planting.

Discover the best plants for living walls indoors and outdoors. Expert advice on UK-hardy species, seasonal planting, and maintenance from a designer with 36 years' experience.

Learn why your patio must respect the damp-proof course, how to achieve level thresholds safely, and when to call in a professional designer.

Capture the soul of your landscape with this in-depth guide to garden photography. Moving beyond the "perfect shot," explore how to document seasonal shifts, human stories, and the evolving beauty of a living garden from its first planting to full maturity.

Master the art of growing grapevines at home. Discover best varieties for eating and winemaking, understand why soil matters, and demystify pruning for a bountiful harvest in this comprehensive guide.

Transform your relationship with your garden using ancient Stoic philosophy. Learn to find tranquility by accepting lack of control, embracing change, and focusing on effort over outcome.

Planning a garden redesign? Learn how to prioritise your needs, choose the right style, set a realistic budget and work collaboratively with a garden designer.

Discover how to design a thriving coastal garden using salt-tolerant plants, wind protection, seaside materials and practical tips for maritime conditions.

Explore the world’s oldest trees, how they survive for millennia, and discover legendary ancient trees including bristlecone pines and Britain’s oldest yews.

Discover the key differences between hardwood and softwood for garden structures, including durability, grain, cost, sustainability, and the benefits of choosing FSC-certified timber. Learn which wood is best for decking, fencing, furniture, and outdoor projects.

Discover the charm of traditional landscaping techniques, from lime-mortared stone walls and hedge laying to handcrafted furniture, cedar shingle roofs, and classic materials like Yorkstone and herringbone brick. Learn how these timeless methods create gardens that age beautifully and never go out o

Discover the history of concrete, its modern uses in garden design, why reinforcement is essential, and the environmental impact of concrete—helping you make informed, sustainable choices for your outdoor space.

Evergreen ferns bring lush, year-round colour and texture to shaded winter gardens. Discover the best hardy varieties and companion plants for low-light spaces.

Discover New York City’s High Line, an elevated park that transforms an abandoned railway into a vibrant ribbon of gardens, public art, and urban community life.

Create a timeless, eco-friendly garden using reclaimed materials. Discover how architectural salvage adds character, sustainability, and unique charm to outdoor spaces.

Practical UK guide to building an inclusive sensory garden: wheelchair-accessible paths, ideal raised bed heights, fragrant & tactile plants, safe water, colour & sound.

Discover how modern garden surveys are carried out using GPS, total stations, drones, and laser scanning. Learn about topographical survey methods, trig point history, and how survey data is presented for landscape design.

Learn how to design a safe and engaging children’s play area in your garden. Explore surfacing options, safety standards (BS EN 1176/1177), fall height guidelines, and the health and developmental benefits of outdoor play.

Learn how to create a seamless transition between your home and garden with expert guidance on level patios. Discover essential tips for maintaining DPC integrity, ensuring proper drainage, protecting air bricks, and adapting designs for both new builds and older homes.

Discover how to plant spring-flowering bulbs in autumn for a vibrant, long-lasting garden display. Learn what bulbs to plant for continuous colour, how deep to plant each type, and the best tools and techniques for healthy, beautiful blooms next spring.

Choosing the right paving for your patio, driveway, or garden path is key to beauty and durability. Explore natural stone options like sandstone, slate, and granite, plus modern porcelain paving, with tips on use, maintenance, and design.

The invasive box tree caterpillar is devastating UK gardens, stripping beloved box hedges bare. Learn how to identify infestations, effective control methods like XenTari, and the best alternatives to boxwood for healthy, pest-free hedging.

Create a beautiful, drought-tolerant garden that thrives in hot, dry UK summers. Discover the best plants, shrubs, and grasses for low-water landscapes, plus expert tips on planting and care.

Plan ahead for summer 2026 with a hot tub or swim spa. Discover key tips on site preparation, foundations, utilities, running costs, health benefits, and maintenance to create your perfect backyard retreat.

Add vibrant colour to your garden this winter with our top 5 winter-flowering plants. Discover the best blooms to thrive in British gardens, from Snowdrops to Winter Jasmine, and create a stunning winter oasis.

Discover how to support winter wildlife in your garden with practical tips for helping birds and beneficial insects. Learn about food, shelter, and sustainable gardening practices to create a thriving haven for nature.

Discover essential tips for January garden maintenance, including pruning, tidying, and caring for your tools. Prepare your garden for a healthy and productive year with these practical and easy-to-follow steps.

Get your garden ready for spring with our essential January gardening checklist. Discover tips for soil preparation, pruning, early planting, and wildlife care to ensure a thriving garden this year.

Discover how to use tree ferns in garden design, responsibly source them, and learn essential planting and growing tips. Pair them with the best architectural plants.

Discover the essential garden tools, benefits of investing in quality, maintenance tips, and the advantages of modern tools like tripod ladders and battery-powered equipment.

Learn how to attract butterflies with the best plants, understand their lifecycle, avoid harmful pesticides, and contribute to butterfly conservation in your garden.

Learn how to grow year-round herbs, perennial vegetables, and the best tomato varieties for small gardens. Start your kitchen garden with these expert tips.

Discover the best Allium varieties from short to tall, their flowering times, perfect plant combinations, and expert tips on how to grow these garden favourites.

Discover the benefits and challenges of peat-free compost, its environmental impact, and practical tips for sustainable gardening. Learn about water management, soil conditioning, and plant selection.

Learn practical tips to support the declining hedgehog population, from avoiding slug pellets to creating nesting areas, checking rubbish, and ensuring pond safety.

Discover the essentials of swimming ponds, including construction tips, key plants, design principles, and the many benefits they offer for a sustainable and healthy lifestyle.

Discover innovative lighting solutions to transform your garden into a stunning, functional space with LED, solar, and smart lighting options. Enhance aesthetics and usability.

Discover how to enhance your garden with lighting, sound, and connectivity. Learn to create zones, highlight features, and set up outdoor cinemas for a perfect garden oasis.

Garden room - Blackheath