
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, and he also spent several years at Hanbury Hall Gardens. 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, and also produced year-round vegetables, microgreens, fruit and herbs for chefs at a Michelin-starred 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 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
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How to grow bigger beets – 5 things you must do to avoid disappointment come harvest time
Perfect if you want to roast beets for a sumptuous fall dish
By Drew Swainston Published
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These plants can damage homes, leaving you with big repair bills – 5 trees and climbers to keep away from buildings, and what to plant instead
We reveal exactly what to plant instead
By Drew Swainston Published
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Hurry! September may be your last chance to plant these fast-growing trees – 7 native specimens for spectacular and full displays next spring
Native varieties to suit any size yard
By Drew Swainston Published
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5 invasive shrubs to avoid at all costs, and the best native alternatives to plant instead
Invasive shrubs can quickly spread and cause huge problems far outside the confines of your yard
By Drew Swainston Published
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5 low-maintenance, shade-loving plants for pots that garden designers always recommend to brighten up dark corners
Here's what designers recommend for those trickier spots in the garden
By Drew Swainston Published
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Most gardens need it, but do you know how best to use it? Here are the 4 best ways to use topsoil in your yard
From creating new beds to laying turf, topsoil is crucial for gardens
By Drew Swainston Published
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7 of the best cut-and-come-again vegetables for low-effort, long harvesting seasons – these crops will even work for small plots
Cut-and-come-again plants provide rich pickings for a minimal effort
By Drew Swainston Published
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Fall is an ideal time to divide hardy geraniums – discover how easy it is to reinvigorate plants and get new ones for free in 3 easy steps
Plus, we recommend the best tools for the job
By Drew Swainston Published
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How to grow four o'clock plants – for spectacular, sweet-smelling summer blooms that hummingbirds and butterflies adore
Gardening experts reveal the secrets to great four o'clock plants
By Drew Swainston Published
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7 easy ornamental grasses to plant in September that'll bring texture, movement, and beauty to your garden – plant them now before it's too late
Grasses offer all that, and more. And early fall is an excellent time to plant them
By Drew Swainston Published
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Embrace self-seeding vegetables this fall – it might break with tradition, but the reward is lots of new free crops
And who doesn’t love free plants? So let nature do its thing when you plant these 7 self-seeding vegetables
By Drew Swainston Published
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Don’t panic if you spot pumpkin leaves turning white – it happens to us all, here are the best ways to combat the problem
Powdery mildew is the cause, but it isn’t a death sentence for your pumpkins
By Drew Swainston Published
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Growing the world's most expensive spice in a pot is easier than you'd expect – here’s all you need to know to grow saffron in small spaces
How to grow saffron in pots – from planting to harvesting
By Drew Swainston Published
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How to grow cardoons – for a colossal ornamental edible that’ll catch the eye in any garden
Architectural and edible – what’s not to love?
By Drew Swainston Published
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What exactly is a false fall? How gardeners can help get plants and trees through this tricky time
A false fall can fool plants and people
By Drew Swainston Published
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7 perennials to plant in September for spring blooms – have glorious displays throughout the season with our expert selection
From early to late spring – enjoy a long and colorful display
By Drew Swainston Published
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7 plants to prune in September – this month may be your last chance for these before the window closes for the year
Ensure they look good and stay healthy by trimming this month
By Drew Swainston Published
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You can get both winter harvests and spring treats from planting vegetables in September – here is our expert selection of crops to sow this month
Our pick of 7 vegetables to plant in September
By Drew Swainston Published
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Get free vegetables for years, by only buying seeds once – 5 of the best crops for collecting homegrown seeds
See a selection of vegetable seeds you only need to buy once
By Drew Swainston Published
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It is vital to fertilize mandevilla for the best display – here’s the perfect regime for stunning vines covered in dazzling blooms to attract hummingbirds
Discover when to fertilize mandevilla, along with the best feeds to use
By Drew Swainston Published
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Chervil is a staple of French cuisine, and you'll be amazed by how easy and quick it is to grow in herb gardens or pots
A complete guide to growing chervil from seed
By Drew Swainston Published
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Horsetail is hard to eradicate, but garden experts recommend 5 methods for getting rid of this problematic weed
We reveal expert DIY ways to get rid of horsetail, plus when you should turn to the pros
By Drew Swainston Published
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You can harvest milkweed seeds in late summer to grow your butterfly-friendly plant collection for free – when and how to collect this bounty
Doing this simple task helps to support the declining Monarch butterfly population
By Drew Swainston Published
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9 of the best fruit trees to grow in pots for healthy harvests in small spaces
Many of the most highly popular fruit trees can successfully be grown in containers thanks to dwarf modern cultivars
By Drew Swainston Last updated
