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Hi, I'm Lisa, owner of Country Cottage Borders a gardener in South Northamptonshire.

My passion is designing and maintaining beautiful herbaceous borders that bring color and joy to your garden from early Spring until late Autumn. I take the guesswork out of getting those perfect, long-lasting displays.

While my design and maintenance schedule is fully booked, I still want to help you create your dream garden!

I now publish an online magazine dedicated to guiding you through the gardening year. You will get straightforward, ad-free advice on what you need to be doing in your garden, month by month. Let me help you stay on top of those essential jobs!

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No ads, no faff, just advice on what you need to be doing in your garden on a month to month basis.

Our FREE online magazine straight into your inbox each month
Access to a private Facebook community to ask questions and get advice

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What I offer my clients includes:

Weeding, including root removal
Dividing perennials, cuttings and replanting
Border design, old and new
Pruning, deadheading and cutting back
Potting and planting
Soil improvement and mulching

What I don't offer:

Landscaping
Mowing and strimming
Hedge cutting
Tree surgery

Lawn maintenance

Shrub removal

Gardening Tips & Advice

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Who still thinks of wishes when they see a dandelion seed head 🧚🏻‍♂️#favouritequotes #wish #believe

Ready to make 2026 your most abundant growing season yet? 🌿

Stop guessing and start growing! My FREE Printable 2026 Seed Planner is officially here to help you transform your little piece of earth into a thriving allotment patch.

How to get it:
1 FOLLOW us Country Cottage Borders for more garden tips.
2 COMMENT the word “GROW”
3 TAG a friend who you think would benefit in your comment! 👇

I’ll DM you the link to download your copy. Let’s make 2026 your best gardening year!

#2026allotment #SeedSowing #GrowYourOwn

Transform your garden into a natural pharmacy! 🌿

Beyond their beauty, these five garden favourites are powerhouses for your health and wellbeing. Here’s why you should be planting (and picking) them this year:

· Calendula: The ultimate skin-soother. Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, it’s a go-to for healing minor cuts, burns, and keeping your skin glowing.
· Wild Rose: More than just a pretty scent! Rosehips are packed with Vitamin C, while the petals can help calm the mind and support heart health.
· Viola: These tiny blooms are edible and high in antioxidants. Historically used to support respiratory health and “ease the heart” during stressful times.
· Lavender: The queen of relaxation. A quick whiff of lavender can lower cortisol levels, reduce anxiety, and prep your body for a deep, restful sleep.
· Verbascum: A tall garden sentinel with a secret. Its leaves and flowers are famous in traditional herbalism for soothing coughs and supporting lung health.

Nature really does provide everything we need to feel our best. Which of these is growing in your garden? 👇

Note: Always ensure you’ve correctly identified a plant before consuming it and avoid harvesting from areas treated with chemicals!

#GardenHealing #HerbalRemedies #WellbeingTips

My gift to you for 2026. 🎁
I wanted to do something special to help you flourish this year. That’s why my magazine is completely free! Inside, you’ll find:
• 🌿 Pro gardening tips to get your hands in the soil.
• 🧘 Natural health & wellbeing ideas to nurture your mind and body.
Let’s grow together. Tap the link in my bio to download yours! 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻 #HolisticHealth2026 #FreeResource #WellnessJourney #NaturalWellbeing

Found in the garden. With snow on the ground and -3 temperatures, these two little ladybugs sheltered and happy. A reminder not to cut everything back in Winter 🐞 #ladybird #winter #nature

I love this time of the year, even if it means I can’t work much. But the beauty of nature stands out so obviously, it makes my heart sing #rosehips #snow #garden #beautifulnature

These are the “queens” of acidic soil. They often won’t bloom, or will even turn yellow, if the soil is too alkaline.

• Azaleas
• Rhododendrons
• Hydrangeas (Blue varieties)
• Camellias
• Gardenias
• Blueberries
• Cranberries
• Strawberries
• Ferns
• Bleeding Heart
• Japanese Laurel (Aucuba)

Not sure if your soil is acidic? Look for ‘indicator’ plants! If your neighbor’s Hydrangeas are bright blue, you’ve likely got acidic soil. If they’re pink, your soil is more alkaline

#sustainability #christmastree #toptips

Ready to level up your garden game in 2026? 🌱 While shop bought peat-free compost is a great step for the planet, making your own “Black Gold” at home is the ultimate secret to a thriving garden.
Here’s why our DIY mix beats the bag every time:
1. The Microbial Superpower 🦠
Commercial compost is often heat-treated or industrially processed, which can kill off the “good guys.”
2. Zero Plastic & No “Mystery” Fillers 🚫
Ever opened a bag of peat free and found bits of plastic or huge chunks of wood? When you make your own, you know exactly what’s in it.
3. Tailored Nutrition 🍎
Shop bought mixes are “one size fits all.” At home, you can customize your mix.
4. Better Water Retention 💧
Peat-free bags (especially coir or wood-based ones) can dry out fast and be hard to re-wet. Homemade compost is rich in humus, which acts like a sponge, holding onto moisture and nutrients much longer.
5. Ultimate Sustainability 🌍
Using up your leaves, food waste, clippings to make your own mix helps with waste disposal. There’s enough rubbish on this planet!
Quick Tip: If your home compost is a bit “chunky” for seeds, just sieve it! The fine stuff is perfect for pots, and the leftovers go back into the heap to keep working. #peatfreecompost #compost #makeyourown

It’s time for a new mood board! This year, I’m focusing on… Learning: exploring ancestral history and herbal medicine. Teaching: making “budget-friendly” gardening accessible to everyone through workshops and talks. I’m also prioritizing self-care, with more walking, painting, travel, and reiki.
What’s on your board this year? Do you think you’ll tick it all off?

Walking into 3026 like….. #5mile #newyear #walk

BIG NEWS for 2026! 🌿

I’ve decided to kick off the New Year with a giant “thank you” to this amazing community. Starting right NOW, my monthly online gardening magazine is officially FREE for everyone! 🎁

I want to make gardening accessible, successful, and fun for everyone this year. Inside this month’s issue is:

• 🗓️ FREE Printable 2026 Seed Planner: Get organized before the first thaw!
• 🪴 The Great Plant Debate: A deep dive into the pros and cons of where to buy your plants this year (Garden centers vs Online).
• 🌿 Plus, which essential oils will help boost your mood and wellbeing this winter.
Tap the link in my bio to grab your free copy and let’s grow together! 👩‍🌾🌻

#GardeningCommunity #Freebie #2026Garden #GrowYourOwn.

We are so excited when we got our first Glinda egg this morning…. AND it’s the most fabulous colour 🥰 #chicken #chickenmom #chickensofinsta

Happy New Year to my fellow plant lovers 🥂
As the sun sets on the final day of the year, I’m looking out at a garden that looks “empty” to most, but to a gardener, it’s a landscape full of promise.

Every season has its purpose:
🌿Spring taught me the joy of new beginnings.
🌿Summer taught me the value of hard work and resilience.
🌿Autumn taught me the beauty of letting go.
🌿Winter is teaching me the necessity of rest.
May your coming year be like a well-tended garden. May you have the patience to nurture your dreams, the strength to weather the storms, and the wisdom to know that even in the coldest winters, something beautiful is preparing to bloom.🌿
#happynewyears #memories #movingon

2025 hasn’t been easy, and I’m ready to see the back of it tomorrow night. I’ve realised that my mindset needs a complete shift; I’ve spent too much time over the last 12 months feeling that positive change “won’t work for me,” and that needs to stop.

In 2026, I’m prioritising my well-being: daily walks, gardening, and reconnecting with ancestral rituals. I want to learn about moon phases, herbal healing, and growing more of our own food to find some peace in an unpredictable world. I’m choosing to focus on what I can control and letting go of the constant worry.

Whatever your plans for New Year’s Eve tomorrow, have a brilliant one. I’ll be busy burning sage, spreading cinnamon, and sweeping the house until my heart’s content 🧙🏻🌕 #mindset #reset #selfcareroutine

I love a challenge. Digging an overgrown border and planting it up, is so therapeutic. I feel so accomplished watching it grow into an established border. I have three more new gardens I’m working on over winter, digging up ground elder and planting up. I can’t wait to see them in the summer. #gardening #gardentransformation #northamptonshire

I love the effect that the Gaura and Verbena give in this garden. The verbena is a great spreader giving lots of free plants over time. #gardening #gardentransformation #northamptonshire

Another transformation this year. I can’t wait to see the more established version this summer #gardening #gardentransformation #northamptonshire

Old school fun, the girls being taught how to roast chestnuts on a real fire 🔥 #memories #grandchildren #christmas2025

From Spring to Autumn. This garden was transformed with cuttings, moving shrubs that were getting smothered elsewhere and splitting perennials. Not one plant was bought new! I love saving my clients money 🪏 #gardentransformation #gardening #northamptonshire

Sharing some of my garden transformations of 2025… Day 1 🪏#gardening #northamptonshire #gardentransformation

Wishing you a Christmas filled with the people you love and the moments that make you smile. May your home be bright and your heart be light today and all through the coming year. #merrychristmas #christmasvibes #sendingloveandlight

🌸This year’s floral vibe for me was texture coupled with high-contrast color. From “moody minimal” to “vibrant meadow,” I like my flowers to work hard through the seasons and all but the peonies, flowered for months.

These are the 10 flowers I’m keeping on repeat for 2026… what was your favourite flower this year and why? #flowersofinstagram #gardening #favouriteflower

Gardening is full of hope, especially at this time of the year 🌱 #light #hope #love

I know I keep going on about saving money in the garden. But, these cuttings show just how easy and quickly you can make more plants… for FREE! Follow me for advice and tutorials on how to save £££’s #gardening #gardenhacks #hintsandtips

Happy Winter Solstice!The Longest Night and the Return of the Light 🕯️
As the wheel of the year turns, we find ourselves at the Winter Solstice
(the precise moment when the North Pole is tilted farthest away from the sun). It is the shortest day and the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

While it marks the depth of winter, it is also a celebration of hope: from this moment forward, the days will slowly begin to lengthen, and the light returns.
Echoes of Ancestors:
In ancient Anglo-Saxon tradition, this time (historically aligned with Christmas Eve) was known as Mōdraniht, or “Mother’s Night.”
Rather than focusing solely on a solar rebirth, this festival honored the ancestral mothers and female guardian spirits. It was a time to:
• Honor female lineage: Celebrating the mothers, grandmothers, and female ancestors who came before.
• Seek protection: Asking for blessings of prosperity and safety for the coming year.
• Celebrate fertility: Acknowledging the “womb” of the night from which the new sun is born.
A Moment for Reflection
Whether you look to the sky or look back at your roots, this is a powerful time to pause. Light a candle tonight to welcome the returning sun, and perhaps another to honor the women of your past who helped guide you to this moment.

#wintersolstice #pagantraditions #mōdraniht

Do you have a favourite winter job?
Edging borders makes me feel accomplished and gives plants the space to grow 🌱#wintergarden #cottagegarden #gardening

Sometimes the best part of the garden happens after the bloom.

While we usually hunt for the brightest flowers or the lushest leaves, some plants save their best performance for last. From the architectural skeletons of Alliums to the spiky heads of a teasel, seed heads bring a whole new level of texture, movement, and “winter interest” to the landscape.

Next time a flower fades, don’t be so quick to deadhead, you might just be missing the main event. Plus, they’re a total lifeline for local birds looking for a snack! 🐦

Why we’re obsessed with seed heads:
🌿Textural Contrast: They add a structural, moody vibe that flowers can’t match.
🌿Longevity: They look stunning coated in morning frost or dried in a vase indoors.
🌿Wildlife Win: You’re providing a natural buffet for feathered friends.

#GardenInspiration #SeedHeads #WinterGarden #NatureTexture

⚠️ The Truth About Plug Plants ⚠️
Plug plants are one of my biggest pet hates. Here’s why.

They are great for seasoned gardeners, but for most people, that “50 plants for £12.99” deal is a trap.

You see a photo of a blooming bush, but what arrives is nothing but a large seedling. So, before you buy, know the workload:

🪴 Must be repotted immediately.
❄️ Will need a greenhouse/frost protection (no planting out yet!).
💧 Need constant watering.
⏳ Can take years to reach the size shown in the ad.

Bottom line: Read the small print. Unless you have the time and the greenhouse space, that bargain might not be worth it!

#gardeningtips #plugplants #gardeningtruth

Who’s with me 🤣 No matter how many seeds I have I still buy more. Look out for my new purchases in 2026! #seeds #growyourfood #growyourown

I just couldn’t resist this sunrise. Absolutely no filter! How beautiful is that 🥰 #sunrise #winter #winterwonderland

If you grow one thing in 2026 let it be the humble tomato. Tomatoes are my most favourite thing to grow. I start mine indoors with heat in January, and start to harvest around June time.

This means we have 5 months of fruiting and end up with masses to use. Here are my 5 favourite varieties and what we use them for.

🍅 Sungold. Small and sweet yellow fruits, best for salads
🍅 Beefsteak. Massive fruits and the best for Caprese (Italian mozzarella salad) and burgers
🍅 Tumble Toms. Cherry tomatoes best for small spaces as can be grown in hanging baskets
🍅 Roma VF Plum. Average size and tasty, great for sauces and soups.
🍅 Moneymaker. Normal size, prolific fruiter, not too strong so great for cooking #tomatoes #growyourown #fieldtofork

Still looking for the perfect gift for the gardener in your life. These are the three most useful things you can buy 👆🏻#GardenLife #GardenInspo #GiftsForGardeners

Guess the side order 🤣 post your answers below 👇🏻 #veggiepatch #allotmentuk #funnyreels

If only I had time to be idle… Do you find winter a quiet time in the garden? Or, are you like me and find there much planning and preparation to be done? #gardening #quotes #winter

Check out our top 10 tips to save you money in the garden💰

1. Re-use Old Compost
2. Repurpose Plastic Pots
3. Utilise Old Kitchen Utensils
4. Propagate Your Plants
5. Make Your Own Compost
6. Ask for Free Manure
7. Check the Garden Centre’s Reduced Aisle
8. Swap/ Share Plants/Cuttings
9. Grow Your Own Food
10. Make Your Own Planters

Contrary to popular belief, gardening doesn’t have to be expensive. You can garden on a budget! Drop me a comment below with any other top tips I’ve missed �👍🏻
#gardeningonabudget #toptips #gardening

Ever wondered why we love planting up pots in the autumn?
🌸 They lift the soul 🌸 They brighten up the cold wet winter days 🌸 They bring hope and excitement for the new year #gardeninglife #winter #flowers

Have you tried this kitchen tool? How did I not know about this? After years of piddling the skin off my garlic in bits, taking a up lot of time and frustration. My partner found this miracle garlic skinner. You can find them on Amazon for just a couple of quid 👌🏻 #garlic #allotmentuk #kitchentool

I’m obsessed with the “scoop your own” station at Groves garden centre in Bridport! Honestly, buying loose seeds and beans is a total game-changer. Here’s why I’m loving it.

🌱Zero Waste: No more foil or plastic packets. Just paper bags (or bring your own jars!).
🌱Budget Friendly: Only have space for 4 bean plants? You don’t have to buy a pack of 50. You pay for exactly what you need.
🌱Try Something New: It’s the perfect way to experiment with a crazy new variety without committing to a whole crop.

Have you ever found a spot that sells seeds like this? Let me know in the comments below👇
#SustainableGardening #ZeroWasteLiving #AllotmentLife

Watch until the end for our butternut squash & chilli recipe. A real winter warmer for a dreary day 🌶️ #butternutsquashsoup #winterwarmer #growyourown

UNPOPULAR OPINION: I’m struggling with peat-free compost.
Let’s be real for a second. I know we are doing it for the planet, but my plants are not loving the switch. Has anyone else noticed this?
Here is what I’m finding:

🌱 Germination rates are down.
💧 It doesn’t hold water.
🥀 The nutrients vanish quicker.

💡 How To Fix It:
If you have the space, don’t use it straight out of the bag! I’ve been mixing in my own leaf mould and homemade compost. It adds structure, holds the moisture, and gives it that nutrient boost it’s missing.
Tell me I’m not the only one? How are you finding the peat-free switch? 👇
#peatfreecompost #leafmould #gardeningtips

A Merry Christmas from Country Cottage Borders.
As an early Christmas present and a thank you to all my followers, I am giving away this month's gardening magazine for FREE. You can find it via my linktr.ee in my bio above 👆🏻

#gardening #magazine #wellbeing

Weekend fun, here to make you smile 😊 ✨No cats/wildlife were harmed in this reel✨ #funnymemes #funnyreelsvideo #funnyanimalvideos

Look closely at your bushes! If you’re seeing berries like rowan, hawthorn, or holly in massive abundance, the old country wisdom says we’re in for a cold, hard winter.
Folklore suggests Mother Nature provides extra food to see birds and animals through a brutal season ahead. 🍎🍇🫐
Is it scientific fact? Maybe not! But it’s a beautiful way to predict the weather! 😉 #Folklore #Berries #oldwivestales

Take a look at what’s still in our greenhouse. What’s done well and what hasn’t? 🥬 #greenhouse #wintergardening #growyourown

New home, new tree 🌲 It was fun finding our first ever real Christmas tree at @bellplantationgc It’s looking a lot like Christmas now 🔔#christmas #realchristmastree #gardencentre

✨ Echinacea Key Benefits:
• Immune Support: Famous for helping your body’s defenses.
• Cold & Flu Relief: May help reduce the severity and duration of symptoms.
• Anti-Inflammatory: Contains compounds that may help fight inflammation.
• Antioxidant Power: Rich in compounds that protect your cells from damage. #echinacea #healthychoices #wellbeinginnature

The garden clock has officially hit "snooze." December is here, and while the days are shorter, the joy of gardening doesn't stop; it just quietens down!

This is the perfect month for planning and dreaming.

Remember, every great spring garden begins with a cosy winter afternoon and a pencil. Take a read of our magazine for inspiration and motivation. With articles on...

🌿How to attract wildlife into your garden.

🌿A renters' guide to garden design.

🌿How the amazing Wild Rose can boost your health and wellbeing.

🌿PLUS, the usual monthly garden jobs and reminders.

Buy today for only £3.99👉👉 https://online.fliphtml5.com/CountryCottageBorders/zepp/

My 5 top tips for perfect cauliflowers
1. Net them, to protect from critters
2. Feed them to help grow & flourish
3. Water consistently
4. Wrap the leaves up to protect from sunlight
5. Pick before the heads start to yellow and separate #cauliflower #allotmentsofinstagram #growyourown

Meet Sven and Jen from @grovesnurseries Christmas display in Bridport, Dorset. Worth a sing along if your down that way 🦌🎶 #gardening #gardencentre #bridport #dorset #christmas #reindeer #singalong #disney #disneyfrozen #frozen

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What I offer my clients includes:

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Gardening Tips & Advice

Plant Nurseries & Garden Centres in Northampton.

11 Plants For A Shaded Border

March Gardening Jobs

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Follow me on Instagram

Get in Touch

Operating Hours

Social Links

Garden Consultant

Let Me Create a Beautiful Garden For You To Enjoy

SUBSCRIBE

What I offer my clients includes:

​

What I don't offer:

​

Gardening Tips & Advice

Plant Nurseries & Garden Centres in Northampton.

11 Plants For A Shaded Border

March Gardening Jobs

Follow Me on Insta

​

Follow me on Instagram

Get in Touch

Operating Hours

Social Links