Our work in the garden at Glendurgan

Gardener trimming the maze hedges at Glendurgan Garden, Cornwall | © National Trust Images/John Miller

Glendurgan Garden’s unique layout combines subtropical planting, a laurel maze, and a productive orchard, creating a dynamic array of spaces with distinct horticultural demands. From the challenges of maintaining its sheltered valleys to conserving the historic maze, each area requires tailored gardening techniques and dedicated management. Discover more about how the gardening team cares for these spaces, preserves their historic character, and undertakes conservation efforts to ensure the garden thrives for future generations.

Hear from the Assistant Head Gardener, Tom Cutter

For our Garden Team, summer arriving at Glendurgan means a start to meadow cutting and raking. We begin our first cut of the meadows from summer through to autumn, depending on how vigorous the grass is in the meadows. This cut halts the grass from seeding as much, while leaving enough time for the meadows plants to spread their own seed. We rake to remove the organic matter and to keep the quality of the soil poor. The poorer the soil, the better the meadow plants flourish and the less the grass takes over, outcompeting the biodiversity in the meadows. The raked cuttings are distributed like donuts around the trees and shrubs to improve the soil for their success.

Summer also means mowing and weeding are in full flow, with the few lawns on site requiring constant attention and the borders coming alive with weeds.

Pink rhododendrons frame a view towards the Helford River from the top of the valley, Glendurgan, Cornwall — Pink rhododendrons frame a view towards the Helford River from the top of the valley at Glendurgan | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

The Entrance Route and some of the other more herbaceous areas of the garden start to require some more attention as plants will need dead heading and tidying to encourage a longer season of interest. It is also a great time for us to enjoy our work and plan for the coming year to continually improve all the areas around the garden.

We have just cut the maze and it is now looking very neat and ready for a new flush of foliage to shoot throughout the coming season. This is usually an all day job for the whole team of staff and some very helpful volunteers, and can sometimes run over into the next day!

Other odd jobs can include a volunteer favourite, involving a machete, where we tidy the Gunnera leaves that have decided to call the pathways home and block the way for our visitors! But also, tidying of Tree Ferns and Bananas, a real jungle vibe as everything puts on exuberant lush growth.

While the majesty of spring has passed, summer still has a lot in store for you at Glendurgan, do enjoy!