20 Plants for Beautiful, Biodiverse Newbuild Gardens

The Problem

Newbuild gardens often start with compacted, low-nutrient soil that’s hard to plant and slow to establish. Turf struggles, borders fail, and maintenance costs rise — leaving both residents and developers disappointed.

The Solution

20 plants that thrive where others fail. Chosen for their ability to establish quickly, stabilise soil and support wildlife, these species create biodiverse gardens that flourish even on challenging newbuild ground.

What's Inside

• 20 detailed plant profiles with growing notes

• Soil, sunlight, and moisture preferences for each species

•  Advice on planting density and long-term establishment

•  Biodiversity and wildlife-support value explained

•  Guidance on soil preparation for newbuild plots

•  Designed for low-maintenance, high-impact results

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

“This guide helped me finally get plants to take in heavy, compacted soil. Everything looks healthier and fuller already — and the wildlife came back too.”

- Laura P., Exeter

About Mike

I’m Mike Carthew — a qualified permaculture designer, teacher, and founder of Garden Footprint. After more than ten years teaching environmental science and sustainability, I now focus on helping people and organisations create gardens that are both beautiful and biodiverse.

My work bridges education and design, making complex ideas like soil health, planting resilience and biodiversity simple and practical. I’ve developed courses and guides that support homeowners, landscapers and housing developers to get better long-term results from newbuild gardens.

Everything I teach is filmed and tested in real gardens, combining classroom clarity with hands-on experience.