If you have tried to line up a gardener in Forest Hill only to find the earliest slot is "next week at the soonest" or, more frustratingly, not available at all, you are not imagining it.

If you live, work, or garden near Dartmouth Road, you already know the truth: small outdoor spaces can become either a calm little retreat or a never-ending weekend chore.

If you are looking after a heritage garden near the Horniman Museum, you already know it is not just another patch of green. It has character, structure, memory, and a fair bit of pressure on it too.

Do you dream of an elegant outdoor retreat shielded from prying eyes? The magic lies in choosing the right tall-potted plants for privacy.