
Drew Swainston
Drew started working as a journalist back in 2008 after gaining his National Council for the Training of Journalists qualifications. He wrote news and features for online news agencies and content providers, as well as spending time as Assistant Editor for trade newspapers and magazines. Gardening piqued his interest and he studied for a Level 3 Horticulture qualification. This opened up the chance to work as a professional gardener for several years. His journey saw him have the fantastic opportunity to work at the world famous arts and crafts garden Hidcote Manor Garden in the UK, and he also spent several years at Hanbury Hall gardens in the West Midlands, UK. During his gardening career he also specialized as a Kitchen Gardener. He previously grew edibles for the restaurants, deli and cookery school at Soho Farmhouse in the UK, and also produced year-round vegetables, microgreens, fruit and herbs for chefs at a prestigious restaurant.
He is passionate about walled gardens and always enjoyed propagating, growing and harvesting edibles, and producing cut flowers throughout the year. Throughout his time working outdoors he continued to write and is a member of the Garden Media Guild. He has run a blog called Perennial Nerd for many years, talking about his life working in and managing walled gardens, fantastic gardens he has visited, his allotment, and projects at home. His passion for gardening and a love for inspiring others to grow led him to write how-to growing guides and professional tips for clients and websites in the horticultural sector, and he's now bringing that same expertise and passion to Homes & Gardens.
Latest articles by Drew Swainston
-
Overwintering plants indoors – 6 common mistakes to avoid
Tender plants will need protecting from frosts and snow in winter, so take care not to fall foul of these overwintering mistakes
By Drew Swainston Published
-
When to plant amaryllis bulbs indoors – discover the best time for Christmas flowering
Know the right time to start the bulbs ahead of the festive season, and discover expert tips for planting
By Drew Swainston Published
-
How to winterize tree ferns – two ways to protect these tropical plants from frost
The tropical foliage plants will likely require some extra care to make sure they survive the cold of winter unscathed
By Drew Swainston Published
-
7 plants to bring indoors in November – to overwinter and protect from frosts
Dropping temperatures and winter frosts mean your tender plants need to be moved to a sheltered place for winter
By Drew Swainston Published
-
7 plants to prune in November – cut back these ornamentals and edibles this month
Discover a range of trees, shrubs and flowers that will benefit from a prune in November
By Drew Swainston Published
-
7 plants to sow in November – flowers and vegetables you can sow this month
November still provides gardeners with ample opportunity to sow a wide range of plants
By Drew Swainston Published
-
6 fruit tree pruning mistakes that will affect your harvest – and expert advice on how to avoid them
Knowing the potential issues to avoid will mean you can prune your fruit trees with confidence
By Drew Swainston Published
-
How to prune blueberries to get the best crop – no matter the age of the plant
Knowing how to trim blueberry bushes means your plants will be as productive as possible
By Drew Swainston Published
-
When to prune limelight hydrangeas – for healthy shrubs and the best blooms
These popular types of hydrangea are pruned when dormant to produce new, healthy growth
By Drew Swainston Published
-
When to prune grape vines – expert advice to get the ‘critical’ timing right
Knowing the right time to prune is vital for healthy and productive plants, indoors and out
By Drew Swainston Published
-
When to plant raspberries – the best times for bare-root and pot-grown plants
You can enjoy harvests of sweet raspberries by planting canes at various times of the year
By Drew Swainston Published
-
When and how to prune blackcurrants for guaranteed bumper crops
Annual pruning to remove old wood is a simple way to keep your blackcurrant bushes super-productive
By Drew Swainston Published
-
When to prune burning bush to keep these dramatic shrubs looking their best
Know when to trim burning bush plants, whether they need a gentle shaping or major prune
By Drew Swainston Published
-
How deep to plant bulbs – get the depth right to guarantee your blooms
Take out the guesswork and discover the proper depth to plant the most popular bulb varieties. The required size of the planting hole is dependent on the bulb size.
By Drew Swainston Published
-
How to grow a giant pumpkin – 6 vital steps to maximize the size of your crops
It all comes down to seed, site, and feed if you want to impress with large pumpkins
By Drew Swainston Published
-
How to winterize a sprinkler system – 4 key steps irrigation experts recommend
Switching off and draining a sprinkler system will prevent pipes or sprinkler heads breaking in winter
By Drew Swainston Published
-
7 frost hardy plants that put on a show even through cold winters
These cold hardy plants are not fazed by frosts, snow, or the bitter cold - and most will come back year-after-year
By Drew Swainston Published
-
8 of the best perennials to plant in fall – for beautiful blooms year-after-year
Fall is an ideal time of year to add many perennial plants to your backyard
By Drew Swainston Published
-
5 hydrangea pruning mistakes – and how to avoid falling foul of them
Keep your hydrangeas healthy and blooming by avoiding these common mistakes
By Drew Swainston Published
-
How to fertilize orchids for healthy indoor plants – and the best feeds to use
Too much fertilizer can harm orchids, so make sure you know when and how much to give your plants
By Drew Swainston Published
-
How to grow spring cabbages – everything you need to know for a bumper crop
Spring cabbages are hardy vegetables that can be grown for an early crop of greens each year
By Drew Swainston Published
-
How to grow turmeric – get fresh harvests of this superfood by growing it outdoors or indoors
You can get a a bumper crop of turmeric by growing the plant in the ground or in pots, depending on your climate
By Drew Swainston Published
-
How to prune a snake plant – 4 simple steps to healthy houseplants
Knowing how, why and when to prune a snake plant will improve its health and appearance in your home
By Drew Swainston Published
-
7 trees to prune in October – and how much to remove
Discover some of the trees that you can safely prune this month in your garden
By Drew Swainston Published