About
I believe a beautifully designed garden is more than an outdoor space, it's a vital extension of the home. A well-considered garden has the power to transform daily life, drawing you outside, deepening your connection to nature, and offering a genuine sense of calm.
"It's not just a pretty view or the scent of a flower. True garden design shapes how people live, bringing balance, beauty, and presence to everyday life."
My approach to planting is painterly. I think in colour, texture, and seasonal rhythm, designing gardens that feel personal and immersive in July but are just as considered in February. A garden should be worth looking at from the kitchen window on a grey morning in winter as much as on a warm evening in summer.
I garden without pesticides and design with biodiversity in mind. A healthy garden is a living ecosystem, and I think that's something to design towards rather than design around. I'm proud to support the Say No to Plastic Grass & Plants campaign alongside the SGLD and the RHS.
I've been designing gardens for over fifteen years. Every project is different, but the intention is always the same, to create somewhere that feels quietly extraordinary, and completely yours.
Background
I studied at the Inchbald School of Design, where I won the Director's Top Student Award, and launched my studio in 2009. I'm a Registered Member of the Society of Garden & Landscape Designers, the UK's only professional body for garden designers and work to the highest standards of practice and professional conduct.
My work has been featured in Homes & Gardens, Ideal Home and RHS The Garden, and I speak regularly at events including Grand Designs Live.
At home, I'm helped in the garden by my children Freddie and Lola Leaf, while my fantastically mathematical husband Tim attends the barbecue.
“Joanna was an absolute delight to work with. She listened well and met our rather challenging brief which involved satisfying cricket mad kids and digging dogs. The design was beyond my expectations. She has a great eye for colour and the planting has established very quickly and looks stunning. Previously I was somewhat embarrassed to have guests in the garden and I now can’t get them to leave as it’s such a lovely space both during the day and after dark with the garden lighting.” C.G.