Garden Re-Leaf with John Gabriele at Burnetts On Barney
April Workshop: Pests, Diseases and Disorders
Every garden faces challenges but with the right knowledge, you can stay one step ahead. This April, join us for a practical, eye‑opening workshop that will help you protect your plants and keep your garden thriving all year long.
What You’ll Learn
- Pest morphology & lifecycles: Understand what makes a pest a pest, how they develop, and why timing matters.
- Insect pest identification & management: Learn to recognise common troublemakers and explore effective, sustainable control options.
- Common plant diseases: Spot early signs of fungal, bacterial, and viral issues — and discover how to manage them.
- Plant disorders: Diagnose non‑pathogenic problems caused by environment, nutrition, or stress, and learn how to correct them.
Why this workshop matters
- Healthy plants start with informed gardeners. By learning to identify and manage problems early, you’ll save time, reduce damage, and grow stronger, more resilient plants. Join us in April and give your garden the protection it deserves.
May Workshop: Edible Plants & Garden Design
This May, discover how to blend beauty, flavour, and function in your garden. Whether you're dreaming of a productive kitchen garden, a stylish edible landscape, or simply want to elevate your design skills, this workshop will give you the tools to create spaces that look good and taste even better. Every participant will receive a seasonal vegetable seed pack.
What You’ll Learn
- Design history & influences: Explore how traditional and modern design styles shape today’s edible gardens — from formal European layouts to contemporary, nature‑inspired trends.
- Edible varieties for design impact: Learn how to choose seasonal edible plants that bring colour, structure, and visual interest to your garden.
- Functional species selection: Understand how different plants contribute to design — whether through texture, height, fragrance, or ecological benefits.
- Seasonal plant profiles: Get to know standout edible species for the season, including their growth habits, care needs, and best uses in design.
Why you’ll love this workshop
You’ll walk away with practical design strategies, plant knowledge, and the confidence to create an edible garden that’s as stunning as it is productive. Join us in May and transform your garden into a feast for the eyes and the table.
June Workshop: Indoor Plantscaping
Bring the beauty of nature indoors with confidence and style. This June, discover how to create thriving indoor plant displays that elevate any space — from cosy corners to bright, modern interiors. Whether you're new to houseplants or ready to refine your skills, this workshop will help you grow with purpose.
- Understanding indoor environments: Explore how light, temperature, humidity, and airflow shape plant health indoors and how to make any room plant‑friendly.
- Types, shapes & sizes of indoor plants. Get to know the stars of indoor gardening:
- Foliage plants for lush greenery
- Flowering plants for colour and vibrancy
- Climbing & trailing plants for vertical and cascading impact
- Watering with confidence: Learn how to water correctly, avoid common mistakes, and understand what your plants are really telling you.
- Re‑potting skills Gain hands‑on experience re‑potting plants safely and effectively, so they continue to grow strong.
- Propagation techniques: Master water propagation, stem propagation, root pruning, and other methods to expand your indoor jungle.
Why you’ll love this workshop
You’ll leave with practical skills, creative inspiration, and the confidence to design and care for indoor plant displays that thrive year‑round. Join us in June and turn your indoor spaces into living, breathing works of art.
July – Container Gardening Masterclass
Take your gardening to new heights, literally. This July, learn how to create stunning, healthy container gardens that thrive in any space. Whether you’re working with balconies, courtyards, patios, or simply want to elevate your plant styling, this masterclass gives you the skills to design, grow, and maintain exceptional container displays.
What you’ll learn
- Potting mixes & their characteristics: Understand the science behind different mixes and how to choose the right one for your plants.
- Watering & airflow dynamics: Learn how containers influence moisture, oxygen, and root health and how to get the balance right.
- Drainage & root patterns: Discover how roots behave in confined spaces and how proper drainage supports long-term growth.
- Bio‑ecology & growth dynamics: Explore how plants interact with their container environment and what helps them thrive.
- Selecting containers: Compare materials, shapes, and sizes including the advantages and disadvantages of each.
- Re‑potting with confidence: Build hands‑on skills to re‑pot plants effectively and safely.
- Designing a container display: Combine colour, texture, height, and form to create visually striking, functional arrangements.
Why you’ll love this workshop
Container gardening opens up endless creative possibilities. You’ll leave with practical knowledge, design inspiration, and the confidence to craft displays that flourish in any setting. Join us in July and master the art of growing beautifully one container at a time.
August – Starting from scratch; the edible spring garden
Spring is just around the corner and so is your most abundant growing season yet. This August, join us for an inspiring, hands‑on workshop designed to prepare your edible garden for a flourishing, healthy harvest. Explore the essential steps to set your garden up for success, from building rich, living soil to choosing the right crops for the season. Then, get your hands dirty as we demonstrate how to plant a vibrant, productive garden bed bursting with life.
What you’ll learn
- Preparing for spring abundance: Understand exactly what to do now to set your garden up for a thriving season.
- Building healthy soil: Learn practical, organic methods to enrich your soil and support strong plant growth.
- Choosing the right crops: Select the best seasonal edibles for productivity, flavour, and resilience and learn about the benefits of companion planting.
- Organic growing tips: Discover simple, effective techniques to grow food naturally and sustainably.
- Hands‑on garden bed planting: Watch and learn how to create a lively, productive garden bed then try it yourself.
Why you’ll love this workshop
Whether you’re new to edible gardening or already growing with enthusiasm, you’ll leave feeling confident, motivated, and ready to harvest health straight from your backyard. Join us in August and step into spring with a garden full of promise.
September – Find your inner botanist
Our climate can be tough, but your garden doesn’t have to struggle. This September, join us for a fascinating workshop that explores the plant characteristics and survival strategies that make gardens more resilient, more waterwise, and more sustainable.
Learn how to read the clues hidden in a plant’s form, foliage, and natural adaptations so you can make smarter choices about what to grow. Whether you’re designing a new garden or refreshing an existing one, this session will help you select plants that thrive, not just survive.
What you’ll learn
- Local climate & weather conditions: Understand the environmental pressures that shape plant performance in local gardens.
- Plant morphology: The importance of understanding plant morphology and how it influences selection.
- Why waterwise plant selection matters: Discover how choosing the right species reduces maintenance, saves water, and boosts long‑term resilience.
- Key plant characteristics to look for Learn how leaf colour, texture, shape, and structure reveal a plant’s drought tolerance and hardiness.
- plants cope with heat, dryness, and stress.
Why you’ll love this workshop
You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of plant resilience, practical selection skills, and the confidence to build a garden that’s beautiful, sustainable, and perfectly adapted to our climate. Join us in September and find your inner botanist.
October – Plant propagation
Grow more from what you already have. This October, spend a rewarding day learning how to create new plants from the ones you love. Whether you’re looking to expand your collection, share plants with friends, or preserve treasured varieties, this workshop will give you the confidence and skills to multiply your garden with ease.
What you’ll learn
- Hands‑on propagation techniques: Try your hand at cuttings, division, layering, and more guided step‑by‑step.
- Affordable garden expansion: Discover how propagation helps you grow your garden sustainably and cost‑effectively.
- Preserving favourite plants: Learn how to replicate beloved species so they can thrive for years to come.
- Creative gifting ideas: Explore how home‑propagated plants make meaningful, personal gifts for any occasion.
Why you’ll love this workshop
Propagation is one of the most satisfying skills a gardener can learn. You’ll leave with new plants, new knowledge, and the confidence to keep growing long after the workshop ends. Join us in October and experience the joy of creating life from life.
November – Vertical succulent frame workshop
Looking for something a little different? This November, discover the art of creating your own vertical succulent garden, a living piece of botanical wall art that’s as durable as it is beautiful.
You’ll be guided step‑by‑step through the entire process, from understanding the plants and materials to designing and building your own standing or hanging frame. This workshop offers a fun, hands‑on experience that blends creativity with horticultural know‑how.
What you’ll learn
- Cacti vs. succulents Understand the key differences between these hardy plant groups and how each behaves in a vertical display.
- Propagation techniques Learn simple, effective methods to increase your plant collection and prepare cuttings for your frame.
- Soils, mosses & materials Explore the components that keep vertical gardens stable, hydrated, and long‑lasting.
- Design & construction Create your own framed succulent garden — standing or hanging — with guidance at every step.
- Aftercare essentials: Develop a care schedule that keeps your living artwork thriving over time.
Why you’ll love this workshop
Vertical succulent frames are eye‑catching, low‑maintenance, and endlessly customisable. You’ll leave with a unique creation of your own and the confidence to make more. Join us in November and craft a living masterpiece that grows with you.
December – Terrariums, create your own miniature low-maintenance ecosystem
We all love gardens some of us nurture them outdoors, while others like to keep nature even closer. Terrariums offer the perfect way to bring a miniature world of greenery right into your home. Beautiful, refreshing, and endlessly creative, these tiny ecosystems make indoor gardening both accessible and enchanting.
This December, discover the art of terrarium making. Learn how these glass‑enclosed gardens work, what plants thrive inside them, and how to design your own living masterpiece.
What you’ll learn
- What makes a terrarium unique: Understand how enclosed glass environments capture light, retain moisture, and support plant life.
- Terrarium plant selection: Explore the best species for thriving indoor ecosystems from mosses to mini ferns and beyond.
- Designing your mini‑garden: Learn how to layer soil, arrange plants, and create a balanced, beautiful composition.
- Care & maintenance Discover how to keep your terrarium healthy, vibrant, and long‑lasting.
Why you’ll love this workshop
Terrariums are calming to create, delightful to display, and make thoughtful, handmade gifts for Christmas. You’ll leave with your own living artwork and the skills to craft many more. Join us in December and bring a little world of green into your home.