A professional self-assessment for established gardens
Created by Geoff Ashton – professional gardener (16+ years)
Most gardens don’t suddenly fail.
They slowly drift off course — shrubs become crowded, plants are pruned at the wrong time, borders lose structure, and performance gradually declines.
When I first assess a garden professionally, I instinctively check a number of structural indicators that reveal how well the garden will perform over the coming years.
The Established Garden Health Check explains those indicators and allows you to assess your own garden using the same framework.
A structured self-assessment used by professional gardeners to evaluate established gardens.
• Identify structural problems in your garden
• Learn the key indicators professionals check first
• Score your garden and prioritise improvements
Get the Health Check
Instant download after payment • 30-page guide • Use it year after year
You’ll be redirected immediately to the download page.
A professional garden review normally costs £95.
This guide allows you to carry out the same structured assessment yourself.
If you later decide to book the full Garden Guidance Service, the £29 cost of this guide will be credited towards it.
What the Established Garden Health Check helps you assess
When professional gardeners evaluate an established garden, we instinctively look at several structural factors that determine how well it will perform long-term.
This guide walks you through the same process, helping you check:
• Plant spacing – Are shrubs and perennials starting to compete and decline?
• Pruning timing – Are you accidentally removing next year’s flowers?
• Structural balance – Are shrubs dominating areas that should remain open?
• Seasonal interest – Does the garden still perform across the whole year?
• Plant suitability – Are some plants simply in the wrong place for long-term success?
• Maintenance efficiency – Are small issues slowly increasing the workload?
You can work through the assessment in under an hour and identify the areas most likely to benefit from correction.
Most gardens don’t suddenly fail — they slowly drift off course. This health check helps you spot the drift early.
Get the Health Check
Instant download after payment • 30-page guide • Use it year after year
You’ll be redirected immediately to the download page.
A professional garden review normally costs £95.
This guide allows you to carry out the same structured assessment yourself.
If you later decide to book the full Garden Guidance Service, the £29 cost of this guide will be credited towards it.