Great Dixter House & Gardens

The nursery was started in 1954 by Christopher Lloyd. He propagated, tended and sold from here for many years. Mr Lloyd passed away in January 2006. Our aim is to continue his tradition of running a small professional business where we produce the majority of our plants in our own soil-based potting compost. We will aim to maintain our high standards without over commercialisation.

Our compost
The majority of plants raised at our nursery are grown in a soil-based compost made by us using Dixter soil, based on the John Innes formula. This is more expensive than other potting composts (pure peat, coir etc) and is heavier to handle but has the following advantages:
-Loam is a natural growing medium for most plants. It has a natural source of nutrients and trace elements.
- It maintains good drainage/ moisture retention balance.
- It is easier to wet when it becomes dry.
- It offers greater ballast and stability for containerised stock.
-Plants grow harder and, we think, more resilient.
-Plants establish in the garden better as a result of being used to the growing medium.

We add a controlled release fertiliser (pale yellow granules) which may be mistaken for slug or snail eggs.

We are not organic at Great Dixter but use as few chemicals as possible in the garden and nursery. So it’s not a fortnightly spray regime but only as and when necessary, resorting first to product recommended for organic use and if all fails then trying something stronger with great care.

Autumn planting
We would encourage all our customers to autumn plant. Trends have moved away from this but a hardy plant put in the ground in autumn to early winter will have a chance to put on some root growth and settle in before it begins to grow in the spring. This way it will have a head start on plantings the following year, and reduce the need to water in the coming season.