Creating and Maintaining a Garden Ecosystem: An Interview with UK Master Plantswoman Sam Preston
Want to know how the pros do it? Keep it right here to learn how the incredibly talented Sam Preston goes about creating and maintaining a garden ecosystem. The award-winning master gardener returns to discuss the methodology and philosophy behind her own garden’s fantastically diverse ecosystem, and to reveal all of the budding, blooming, buzzing, and bustling beauty that rewards her – and the planet – for her efforts.
People worldwide are exercising increasing caution in terms of their personal consumption activities. As eaters, drinkers, discarders, and general users, we humans, to our credit, are considering the fact that there’s quite possibly an environmental consequence or two for our actions. There’s definitely mounting concern now over planet Earth’s well-being. A litany of crises face our fair planet and its good human, animal, plant, and fungal citizenry. Global warming is high on the list of “We’d better fix this now” priorities, as is the extinction rate of countless species across global faunal, floral, and fungal populations (the plights of various bee and butterfly species come painfully to mind). Whether these issues arise as a result of natural cyclical events unfolding over eons, are a direct result of humankind’s greed and rapacity, or exist as a combination of both potential root causes, I am not here to debate. I’m here only to acknowledge.
What I’m acknowledging are three things. The first is the fact that these crises are real. The second is the fact that whether they’re man-made, natural, or a no-value combo, humankind’s reactions to them can either accelerate or slow (stop?) their devastating effects. And the third thing I’m acknowledging is that I know a fellow gardener from across the pond in West Yorkshire, UK, who has made the act of respecting this planet and all of its inhabitants a personal credo throughout all of her gardening activities. Yep. You got it. It’s Sam Preston.
Regular RGG readers and subscribers will remember Sam. She and her loyal canine gardening counterpart, Ted, have been here before. In “A West Yorkshire Garden Tour,” in Garden Tours, Sam took us on a remarkable video tour of her glorious, responsibly cultivated, eco and wildlife-friendly, award-winning garden. The videography and photography in that 2023 RGG feature attest to Sam’s garden’s idyllic beauty, and its receiving the prestigious 2023 Yorkshire Trust Wildlife Gardening Award attests to the fact that this incredible garden has been carefully cultivated to respect the ground upon which it grows, as well as all of the wildlife that calls it home.
By way of a short email exchange with Sam a few weeks ago, I learned that she was in the midst of some general wintertime spring and summer garden prep activities. When it comes to Sam’s gardening activities and ideology, I know “general” means anything but. I wanted to know what she was doing to get that incredible hardiness zone 8B haven of hers up and running for the spring and summer, and what she did to keep it healthy and happy – along with its plant, animal, and fungal populations – all year long. Sam kindly agreed that it was worth a chat, so here we are. She graciously gave me an entire afternoon of her time to answer my questions, and this interview lays it all out. So today, we’re creating and maintaining a garden ecosystem with Sam Preston. Here you go…
JS: Welcome back, Sam. It’s such a pleasure to feature your amazing, award-winning garden, and both you and Ted, of course, here on The RGG. With winter almost wrapped up, and spring on the doorstep, this might be the perfect time to talk about the things that you do, as spring draws near, to maintain your breathtakingly beautiful and wildlife/eco-friendly garden, and to prepare it for the coming warm weather. And my first question for you pertains to the innate duality of your garden’s character. Your garden does indeed remain breathtakingly beautiful while it exists as an extremely eco-friendly wildlife habitat. In broad strokes, how difficult is it to keep a garden aesthetically pleasing – from the human eye perspective – while maintaining an ecosystem that benefits not only the resident wildlife, but the global environment, as well?
SP: That’s very kind of you to say, John. What a great question. For me, it’s about perhaps redefining what can make a garden aesthetically pleasing. As gardeners, we are both bombarded with so many ‘rules,’ strict pruning and tidying regimes, etc, and also a huge focus that beauty solely equates to colourful blooms, which I challenge. A great example of this is hydrangeas. They do provide beautiful extravagant blooms in summer, and by not deadheading or pruning them until February, they provide breathtakingly beautiful structures which are also so beneficial for wildlife. They’re great places for insects to shelter in and they serve as landing stations for tired pollinators. For me, as the seasons progress, it’s about looking at the changing structure of the garden as a whole, as well as the individual trees, shrubs and plants, and harnessing that beauty. This includes understanding how the light changes throughout the year in areas of the garden and how the prominence of structural form takes over in winter. Planting is also key, thinking about structure and choosing well to maintain colour, be it foliage, stems, berries, hips, buds or blossom throughout the colder seasons. In the top garden, I have a moss lawn which looks lush and green all year round, even though the birds do steal some for their nests! So apart from keeping paths slip-free, it’s not difficult at all.
JS: “Organic gardening” is the buzz phrase these days among both ornamental gardeners and fruit and vegetable growers. Is there good reason for this? Very quickly, can you outline the basic components of a general organic gardening plan, and explain the benefit of each?
SP: For me, organic gardening is all about focusing on the soil rather than individual plants. This means building up the soil to be rich in nutrients with a structure better able to retain moisture whilst also being well aerated. As we are experiencing more changeable and severe weather conditions, getting your soil in a position where it can cope is essential. I don’t add any chemicals or processed fertilisers. Regular mulching is key – I do it twice a year, making sure it’s a good layer added. Half a bed thickly mulched will do more to improve the soil than spreading a thin layer. Mulching is just adding a top layer, not digging it in, as that only serves to disrupt the substructure. I don’t remove any of the fallen leaves from the beds, I just move them away from having contact with the main plant stems. This enables the fabulous underground workforce, the worms, to do their magic. They pull the leaves down deep to add organic matter which not only improves the nutrient quality but also creates pockets of air in the soil. I think sometimes we forget that plant root systems need air too! Doing this regularly really improves the soil, especially for those that have clay soil. I also make my own comfrey and banana feeds. You can use manure. If you do use it, please make sure it is sourced from organically and humanely raised livestock. I don’t use it as it is a magnet for my dog Ted who loves to roll in it. Trust me, it takes many, many dog baths to get rid of the smell!
JS: “Peat-free.” Another buzzword. Expanding on your last answer, how important for, and beneficial to both an individual garden and the environment at large is avoiding the use of peat and peat by-products in a particular gardening methodology?
SP: We know that when plants decompose, they produce greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide, but the moist nature of peatlands and bogs enables them to act as fantastic carbon sinks, so they gather and store massive amounts simply as carbon. Whilst only covering about 3% of the world’s surface, peatlands hold about 30% of the soil carbon. Unfortunately, though, as soon as it’s cut, carbon dioxide and methane are released into the atmosphere which contributes to global warming. Additionally, the continued harvesting of these areas has a huge environmental impact on the flora, fauna and funga native to these areas and conditions. In the UK it’s estimated that 80% of peatland habitats have been lost. So, to me, using peat-based products makes no sense. I’ve been gardening peat-free for years and am yet to find anything that I can’t grow.
JS: Peat-free alternatives? Your favorites, and what they’re used for?
SP: My favourite alternative is my own homemade compost mixed with homemade leaf mulch. However, even with a four-berth system, a wormery, and a hotbin, I can’t make enough. In my opinion, the peat-free alternatives on the market have greatly improved over the last couple of years, mainly I suspect driven by market demand as more and more people stop using peat-based products. Having tested many, I would recommend a wool-based compost with added comfrey. It’s great for raising flowers and vegetables from seed as well as growing tomatoes, aubergines, and cucumbers in pots, as it has the added benefit of great water retention, so needing less water added. Just remember to always water from below, or for seeds, use a fine water spray. I have a recycled sink in the garden which I use as a soaking sink. It works really well, and any leftover water is distributed onto the raised beds.
JS: Here’s a “Chicken or the egg?” question: In terms of your gardening philosophy and subsequent implementation plan, is it beauty first and ecosystem second? Vice versa? Or is it a give and take combination of the two?
SP: If starting out on this pathway, it has to be ecosystem first. Put simply, you have to rebuild the natural ecosystem to the point where you have balance. You won’t have predators if there are no food sources. This does take resolve, not to dash out and wash away aphids, for example. Lots of people say to me that I’m so lucky not to have aphid or slug damage – there’s no luck, just lots of predators. By leaving fallen leaves on the borders, the soil is warmer, which not only helps preserve tender plants but helps insects and pollinators overwinter. Gradually, populations build and the ecosystem improves. I have so many ground-nesting bees that it restricts bulb planting! Also, beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say – what’s not to love about uncovering a moth beneath a bergenia or a loveliness of ladybirds (yes the collective word for them is a loveliness!) hibernating in unharvested seed pods? That said, if you’re building your ecosystem, you need food sources, and the good news is that’s plants! So instead of thinking the garden looks bare in winter, try adding forsythia, skimmia, hamamelis, daphne, winter honeysuckle, ribes, bergenias, hellebores, snowdrops, or crocus – these are just a few gorgeous possibilities.
JS: We’re starting to get down to the nitty-gritty now, Sam. In 2023, you received the prestigious Yorkshire Trust Wildlife Gardening Award, and your garden is widely recognized as one of the UK’s most wildlife-friendly, cultivated ecosystems. How difficult is it to introduce individual components or elements that are beneficial to all forms of your garden’s resident and visiting wildlife? Does helping one group out – for instance, hedgehogs and other mammals – compromise the well-being of another group – as in pollinators, for example? How do you maintain peace, love, understanding, and good health among all varieties of your garden’s denizens and visitors?
SP: My dad, sadly no longer with us, was an amazing gardener. He gardened organically and chemical-free from the 1960s. His mantra was “Don’t use chemicals – create a garden where there’s always something eating something!” If I’m being honest the biggest thing I probably do to help wildlife is leave them to it. In the main, my contribution is ensuring there are always lots of water sources available, brash stacks and leaves to provide cover, and additional food sources, for example, to build the nesting and visiting bird community. I do have lots of different types of bird nesting boxes, and bat boxes, too. My other contribution is planting, such as ground cover for safe havens and ongoing food sources. It’s the end of February and I’ve still got hips on my Rosa rugosa ‘Rubra’ and skimmia berries providing food. I do keep a watchful eye on the hedgehogs which visit the garden. Sadly, they are an endangered species here in the UK, so making sure they’re healthy is hugely important.
JS: This question is sort of a deeper dive into the fifth question. RGG readers and subscribers know that I evict (in non-lethal fashion) burrowing mammals from my garden. As much as I love and respect my mole, vole, and chipmunk visitors, I encourage them to abandon their excavating activities in my planting beds through my use of organic repellents. If it comes down to a “mammalian burrower/plant eater vs. garden plant population” situation in your garden, who gets the preferential treatment – animal or plant?
SP: Thankfully in my current garden, it’s not really been a problem, maybe because there are areas where it’s not noticeably affecting planting areas. I did at one time have a cat who, when she lost her kitten, adopted a mole – but that’s another story! As readers may know, I have a somewhat tempestuous relationship with the squirrel community, who regularly dig and relocate bulbs. This year, I’m trialing a feeding station for them to try and minimise their random gardening contribution. Reburied tulips in the lawn look very odd! Undoubtedly, the most destructive inhabitants are the woodpigeons. They cause damage to shrubs and they trample plants. They breed all year round so the population grows exponentially. Ted likes to chase them off, and he takes great delight in doing so, and thankfully, I have foxes and hawks who visit regularly and help keep some natural control going. It is a bit disconcerting when the hawks have visited – you just find piles of feathers!
JS: Extremely nitty-gritty… In terms of preparing your garden for the coming spring and summer, what, in a relatively brief, step-by-step, chronological outline, is your specific organic gardening/garden beautification/garden ecosystem support plan of action?
SP: As I said earlier, mulching is the key prep and that, to be honest, takes most of my time as we head towards spring. It’s also time for some seed planting, so I’ve got peas, cabbage, aubergines, and chamomile underway. Lots of the pollinators are emerging much earlier. I’ve had some ground-nesting bees emerging in February, so planting additional food sources is now a crucial part of preparation. I like to buy bulbs ‘in the green,’ which means they have started growing, to plant in February. I’ve just planted 100 crocuses in the wildflower orchard which will take over as the snowdrops fade. It’s also time for the first prune of the wisteria walkway, for which I follow my dad’s 2-7 method. That’s cut back by 2 buds in the second month (February) and 7 buds in the seventh month (July). It’s also time to prune the apple and pear trees. I have damson trees but as they’re established, they don’t get pruned until summer. From mid-March, the focus is on cutting back anything that needs it, as replacement sources are underway. It’s also a good time to use grow beds for quick-growing green manure production like mustard. Here in Yorkshire, we can have frosts through to May, so I still keep an eye on the pond to make sure there is an airhole if it freezes. This stops gasses from building up from any leaf debris which can be toxic to wildlife. I place a clean tin can filled with hot water on the pond’s surface which works really well. Some people advocate using a tennis ball, but as I said, I have a Labrador, so that’s just asking for trouble! One thing I haven’t mentioned is water conservation, which is a big part of my ecosystem planning. In addition to several water butts and dipping tanks, I have four reconditioned and recycled IBC tanks which gather a huge amount of rainwater. In the main garden, I don’t have to water the flower beds often, mainly due to the soil prep I’ve described and the presence of ground covering plants, but I do use a lot in the greenhouse and on the grow beds. I also use rainwater to top up the pond in summer.
JS: How cold is too cold, or how early is too early for implementation of your plan? Conversely, is it ever too late in the year to begin effecting your plan?
SP: It’s never too late, in fact I think now’s the perfect time to really see what’s happening in the garden. If you’re going to garden organically, then it’s a key time to mulch before new growth sets. Yes, it gets cold – very cold – but to be honest, I just love being out there, and wheelbarrowing compost definitely keeps you warm. It’s also a great time to take stock and identify areas where planting could be improved for winter interest and to support wildlife. By March, the comfrey will be ready for harvesting so I’ll soon be making feed that will be ready for use in July.
JS: Last question, Sam. Your garden is situated in hardiness zone 8B. How applicable is your plan for those who garden in colder or warmer regions?
SP: I alluded to the changing climate I’m seeing here in Yorkshire earlier, so it’s really just a case of keeping in tune with the weather and what’s happening in your area. The methodology remains the same, with maybe just slight timing alterations. I guess this takes me back to what I said at the start. Rather than being dictated by, and adhering to, hard and fast rules, apply the principles when the conditions are right. A big part of how I garden relies on being in tune with my outdoor space and those inhabiting it. One thing I’m sure of… by putting eco-maintenance at the heart of your gardening practice, your soil, plants and wildlife will thank you for it.
I’m thinking that I couldn’t have asked for a better overview and general plan for creating and maintaining a garden ecosystem than Sam’s. From her ecosystem/wildlife-first philosophy, to her mulching and composting methodologies, to her thoughtful provisioning of shelter and food for her garden’s wildlife residents and visitors throughout the entire year, it’s clear to me that by putting her garden’s ecosystem first, Sam achieves a resultant beauty in that remarkable place unattainable by any other means, or as a result of any other gardening philosophy. Sam’s imperatives in her process of creating and maintaining her garden’s ecosystem not only result in a beautiful garden and diverse wildlife habitat, they pay homage and respect to a natural world in dire need of both.
My heartfelt thanks go to Sam (and Ted, of course) for allowing us into her garden once more, and for sharing her paradigm for creating and maintaining her garden’s ecosystem. I’ve already discussed with Sam plans for featuring a springtime video tour of her garden (and hopefully a summer tour, as well). The diversity of that paradisial place’s flora, fauna, and funga ensure that a different look and feel will await RGG viewers in each of those seasons. I, quite frankly, can’t wait!
For more of Sam Preston’s gardening adventures in real time, please follow her on Twitter (X) at @Sam_SSSLearning
My heartfelt thanks also, and as always, go to you, my dear readers and subscribers. I appreciate your kind interest and readership.
Cheers, and Happy Gardening!
The Renaissance Garden Guy is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Additionally, The Renaissance Garden Guy is a participant in the Bluehost, SeedsNow, and A2 Hosting affiliate programs. I earn a fee/commission each time a visitor clicks on an ad or banner on this site from one of these companies and makes a subsequent qualifying purchase.
Please click here to view The Renaissance Garden Guy Disclosure page.
Excellent interview, excellent article! I am not a gardener, but still I am fascinated with all this knowledge. Sam’s garden is magnificent and her knowledge and expertise very valuable🌸
Thank you so much for reading the article, Roxxy, and for leaving your kind comments here. I do agree that Sam’s methodology and the wealth of knowledge she possesses are incredibly fascinating. But I must also point out that your curiosity and appreciation of this information is a testament to your own aptitude and multifaceted level of interests. It’s wonderful to know that the content here is appreciated. Thank you once again, Roxxy.
Great article. It gave me a lot of food for thought. I never considered what I could do in my garden to create a healthier ecosystem. I had to go back and look at Sam’s garden again. I hope we hear from her again and see more of her wonderful garden on the Renaissance Garden Guy. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for reading the interview, Kevin. I now share a similar mindset with you: since sitting down with Sam, I’ve been giving a great deal of thought to not only her methodology, but her philosophy, as well. Fortunately, my own gardening activities have remained fairly ecosystem-supportive. But Sam has brought the processes, and the theories behind them, sharply into focus. She is acutely sensitive to the requirements for bolstering each component of her remarkable garden’s extensive ecosystem, and thoroughly experienced and adept at implementing all of them. I myself have learned a great deal from this interview. And we do share an additional position, Kevin: I’m very excited about Sam’s return to The Renaissance Garden Guy. I’m looking forward to a springtime iteration of her amazing garden. Thanks once again, Kevin.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and information. Truly blessed to connect to other garden enthusiasts who have a wealth of knowledge to share! 🐝🌹💓🫶🌎
Thank you for reading Sam’s interview, Mallory. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Sam really is an amazing gardener. Her love and respect for the natural world are evident in her beautiful, healthy garden. Thanks once again for reading the piece, and thank you for leaving your wonderful comments here. Cheers!
Excellent interview. The definition of what constitutes an aesthetically pleasing garden has changed for me, I now enjoy the beauty of my echinacea seed heads and fallen leaves. I’ve just looked up how to make Comfrey feed, just one of many recommendations in this great interview for which I’ve made note. Thank you Sam & John (& adorable Ted) for helping me learn about effective eco-maintenance.
I’m glad you enjoyed the interview, Jill – thank you so much for reading it, and for leaving your excellent thoughts and kind words here. It’s crystal clear to me that by her preservation of her garden’s natural order, Sam has enabled it to reach the pinnacle of beauty and the epitome of good health. By encouraging its ecosystem to inform its beauty, Sam has created a garden that is beyond beautiful, both inside and out. Again, I’m so glad you enjoyed reading about Sam’s philosophy and methodology, Jill, and that you’ve found the great value inherent in them. Thanks once again.
No one gardens and cares for the animals better than the UK. I’d love to follow around the gardeners and go to estate gardens for a summer. What a dream.
I agree, Everly. Yes and yes. The legendary gardeners in the UK are true custodians of nature and all of its living, breathing, sprouting, and flowering glory. Sam is a glowing example of such an ambassador. And it would definitely be an incredible experience to do some serious UK garden-hopping. Absolutely. Thank you for reading the interview, Everly, and for leaving your kind comments. I really appreciate it.
Great interview with Sam. Excellent detailed questions and answers.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Rick. Thank you so much for giving it a read. Sam’s a remarkably skilled gardener, and a lifelong custodian of the natural world and all of its gifts. Her fertile and vibrantly healthy West Yorkshire garden is a model for what humankind can accomplish by exercising concern and responsibility. Thanks once again, Rick.
Ok, so I must say you are really an excellent interviewer. Your questions are to the point and really thought provoking for the reader and responder. Secondly, I have to come up with a system for making my own compost. No ifs, ands, or buts.
Thank you so much for that kind compliment, Cathy. I really appreciate that. I always try to ask about the things that puzzle me and interest me the most about an interviewee’s methodology and philosophy. Your own interview of last year was conducted with the same mindset as its impetus. I’m sure your own composting solution will be just as inventive, creative, and beautifully implemented as your own fabulous garden creations. And while we’re on that subject, it won’t be long before an IvyGate late spring/early summer tour is hosted here on The RGG (assuming, of course, that you’re amenable). I can’t wait to see how things are developing. Thank you for reading Sam’s interview. She’s a remarkably thoughtful and diligent gardener, and the environment and ecosystem she’s developed and cultivated is as rich and diverse as it is beautiful. Thanks once again for your kind words, and for reading the interview, Cathy. And again, it’s truly appreciated.