Garden Review

    Max Letek

    Smart Garden & Robotic Mower Writer

    16+ years experience
    Surrey, United Kingdom
    Independent reviewer

    Garden-Review contributor sharing practical advice, buying guidance and hands-on gardening insight. Max is the founder and editor of Garden-Review.

    Areas of Expertise

    • Robotic lawn mowers - boundary wire and GPS/RTK models
    • Battery platforms and cell chemistry comparisons
    • Smart irrigation and connected garden tech
    • App ecosystems, firmware and cybersecurity of garden devices
    • Leaf blowers and cordless garden tools
    • Lawn Mowers, Power Tools and Garden Machinery

    Articles by Max Letek

    32 published articles

    V-Tuf Pressure Washer Buying Guide UK 2026: Are They Any Good? (V3 vs V5 vs V7) - featured image
    Pressure Washers
    14 min read

    V-Tuf Pressure Washer Buying Guide UK 2026: Are They Any Good? (V3 vs V5 vs V7)

    Are V-Tuf pressure washers any good? Our independent 2026 buying guide compares the V3, V5 and V7, explains what the specs really mean, and puts V-Tuf head-to-head with Kärcher, Clarke and Hyundai.

    Oct 13, 2026
    10 Things to Do in Your Garden Before October - featured image
    September
    11 min read

    10 Things to Do in Your Garden Before October

    10 garden jobs to do before October: bulbs, lawn repair, hedges, ponds and mower care. A UK checklist with RHS-backed timings.

    Sep 23, 2026
    September Lawn Care UK: 8 Jobs to Do for a Healthier Lawn - featured image
    Lawn Care
    13 min read

    September Lawn Care UK: 8 Jobs to Do for a Healthier Lawn

    September is the best month of the year to fix a tired lawn. Here are the eight jobs to do now, from scarifying and aerating to overseeding and autumn feeding, so your grass is thicker and greener by spring.

    Sep 22, 2026
    Who Should Replace Monty Don on Gardeners' World? The Runners and Riders, Ranked - featured image
    News
    7 min read

    Who Should Replace Monty Don on Gardeners' World? The Runners and Riders, Ranked

    After 23 years and 700-odd episodes, Britain's most soothing broadcaster is hanging up his secateurs (on TV at least). Max Letek ranks the contenders to take over Gardeners' World - from bookies' favourite Adam Frost to the presenter Monty Don mentored himself.

    Sep 14, 2026
    Waking Up to Rain: What to Plant in September in UK Gardens - featured image
    Seasonal Guide
    8 min read

    Waking Up to Rain: What to Plant in September in UK Gardens

    After the driest, sunniest summer in years the rain is back. Here is what to plant in September in the UK, and the lawn, drainage and disease jobs the change in weather makes urgent right now.

    Aug 27, 2026
    How to add colour to your garden year round
    Garden Design
    10 min read

    How to add colour to your garden year round

    Achieving year-round garden colour is defined by combining evergreen structure, succession planting, and non-floral elements to maintain visual interest through every season.

    Jun 4, 2026
    Small garden focal point ideas: 10 creative picks
    Garden Design
    9 min read

    Small garden focal point ideas: 10 creative picks

    A garden focal point is a design element that immediately draws the eye, organises space, and gives a small garden its personality.

    Jun 3, 2026
    Why garden proportion matters for a beautiful space
    Garden Design
    10 min read

    Why garden proportion matters for a beautiful space

    Why garden proportion matters for a beautiful space ! Homeowner evaluating garden layout proportions Most gardeners spend hours choosing plants, paving, and furniture, yet the garden still feels wrong.

    Jun 3, 2026
    Why formal garden design works for UK homeowners
    Garden Design
    9 min read

    Why formal garden design works for UK homeowners

    Formal garden design is a landscaping approach defined by symmetry, structure, and intentional zoning that creates both visual harmony and practical outdoor living areas.

    Jun 3, 2026
    What is a planting plan? A UK beginner's guide - featured image
    Planting Guides
    9 min read

    What is a planting plan? A UK beginner's guide

    Explore what a planting plan is and learn how to create one! This UK guide helps beginners design a successful garden layout today.

    Jun 3, 2026
    How to design a small back garden: UK guide
    Small Gardens
    10 min read

    How to design a small back garden: UK guide

    Designing a small back garden is defined by three decisions: how you zone the space, what you plant, and which single feature you let anchor the whole scheme.

    Jun 3, 2026
    What is a kitchen garden layout: a UK guide
    Garden Design
    11 min read

    What is a kitchen garden layout: a UK guide

    Discover what a kitchen garden layout is and how to design one for easy access to fresh herbs and veggies right at home. Start growing today!

    Jun 2, 2026
    Compare JCB Tools Cement Mixers - featured image
    Cement Mixers
    5 min read

    Compare JCB Tools Cement Mixers

    Compare JCB electric and petrol cement mixers. Discover which 134L model suits home projects, commercial sites, or remote landscaping jobs.

    May 29, 2026
    JCB Tools Pro 18V: A Serious New Contender in the Cordless Power Tool Market? - featured image
    Power Tools
    4 min read

    JCB Tools Pro 18V: A Serious New Contender in the Cordless Power Tool Market?

    JCB Pro 18V relaunch targets DeWalt, Makita and Bosch with a new 18V cordless system built for UK trade professionals.

    Apr 7, 2026
    Can you paint your fence any colour you like? A nuanced guide to taste, law, and diplomacy - featured image
    Fencing
    4 min read

    Can you paint your fence any colour you like? A nuanced guide to taste, law, and diplomacy

    Can you paint your fence any colour in the UK? Discover the legalities, planning rules, and neighbourly etiquette of garden boundary DIY.

    Apr 4, 2026
    What to Plant in March - featured image
    March, Planting Guides,
    4 min read

    What to Plant in March

    Discover what to plant in March in the UK - vegetables, flowers, fruits & herbs for a vibrant, pollinator-friendly garden.

    Mar 7, 2026
    Is My Garden Suitable for a Robot Lawn Mower? - featured image
    Guides, Lawn Mowers, Robot Lawn Mowers, Garden Machinery
    5 min read

    Is My Garden Suitable for a Robot Lawn Mower?

    Expert guide: Discover if your UK garden is suitable for a robot lawn mower, including lawn size, slopes, layout, and setup tips.

    Mar 6, 2026
    Webb launches 20V cordless cylinder mower - featured image
    News, Lawn Mowers, Webb, Garden Machinery
    3 min read

    Webb launches 20V cordless cylinder mower

    Webb launches a 20V cordless cylinder mower, combining classic striped finish with modern battery-powered convenience.

    Feb 26, 2026
    When to Prune Hydrangeas in the UK: A Complete Guide - featured image
    Pruning & Training, Pruning, Hydrangeas
    2 min read

    When to Prune Hydrangeas in the UK: A Complete Guide

    Prune your UK hydrangeas at the right time for healthy growth and bigger blooms. Learn when and how for each type.

    Feb 24, 2026
    How to Propagate Hydrangeas: A Complete UK Guide - Garden Review featured image
    Propagation
    5 min read

    How to Propagate Hydrangeas: A Complete UK Guide

    Learn how to propagate hydrangeas with our expert UK guide. Step-by-step instructions for softwood cuttings, timing, and care to grow new plants for free!

    Feb 24, 2026
    Best Air Purifying House Plants UK - NASA Approved List - Garden Review featured image
    House Plants
    5 min read

    Best Air Purifying House Plants UK - NASA Approved List

    Discover the best NASA-approved air purifying house plants for UK homes. Improve your indoor air quality with these low-maintenance, toxin-busting plants.

    Feb 15, 2026
    How to Care for Orchids at Home UK - Watering & Light Guide - Garden Review featured image
    House Plants
    5 min read

    How to Care for Orchids at Home UK - Watering & Light Guide

    Master orchid care in the UK with our expert guide. Learn the secrets to watering, light requirements, and repotting for healthy, re-blooming orchids.

    Feb 15, 2026
    Best Indoor House Plants for Beginners UK: Easy Care Guide - Garden Review featured image
    House Plants
    6 min read

    Best Indoor House Plants for Beginners UK: Easy Care Guide

    Discover the best indoor house plants for beginners in the UK. Learn about top easy-care varieties like Snake Plants and Pothos to brighten your home today!

    Feb 15, 2026
    How to Plant Your First Garden: A Beginner’s Step-by-Step Guide - Garden Review featured image
    4 min read

    How to Plant Your First Garden: A Beginner’s Step-by-Step Guide

    Plant your first garden with confidence. A beginner’s step-by-step guide covering soil prep, tools, and simple planting basics.

    Feb 2, 2026
    Yes - They Still Make Lawnmowers in the UK! Inside Inside the Factory’s Latest Episode - featured image
    News,
    2 min read

    Yes - They Still Make Lawnmowers in the UK! Inside Inside the Factory’s Latest Episode

    Inside The Factory: British lawnmower engineering is alive, precise, and proudly still made right here in the UK

    Jan 31, 2026
    How to Maintain Your Lawn Mower
    Lawn Care
    2 min read

    How to Maintain Your Lawn Mower

    Learn how to maintain your lawn mower with our complete UK guide. Step-by-step mower maintenance tips, seasonal care, and FAQs to keep your mower running smoothly.

    Jan 28, 2026
    10 Garden Path Ideas for 2026 - featured image
    4 min read

    10 Garden Path Ideas for 2026

    Discover 10 garden path ideas for 2026, from sustainable gravel paths to modern stone walkways. Stylish, practical garden path designs for UK homes.

    Jan 26, 2026
    Garden Tool Maintenance & Cleaning in January - Garden Review featured image
    January
    3 min read

    Garden Tool Maintenance & Cleaning in January

    Jan 23, 2026
    How to Get Rid of Slugs and Snails: UK Garden Expert Guide - Garden Review featured image
    Pest Control
    4 min read

    How to Get Rid of Slugs and Snails: UK Garden Expert Guide

    Learn how to get rid of slugs and snails in your UK garden with expert tips on organic pellets, nematodes, and natural barriers. Stop pest damage today!

    Jan 21, 2026
    How to Kill Weeds Without Killing Grass: Expert UK Guide - Garden Review featured image
    Weed Control
    4 min read

    How to Kill Weeds Without Killing Grass: Expert UK Guide

    Learn how to kill weeds without killing your grass using selective herbicides and organic methods. Expert UK guide to a weed-free lawn. Read more!

    Jan 19, 2026
    How to Create a Low-Maintenance Courtyard Garden: UK Guide - Garden Review featured imageuse a
    Courtyards & Patios
    3 min read

    How to Create a Low-Maintenance Courtyard Garden: UK Guide

    Discover how to design a stunning, low-maintenance courtyard garden in the UK. Expert tips on porcelain paving, top evergreen plants, and automated care.

    Jan 19, 2026
    How to Create a Japanese Garden in the UK: Expert Guide - Garden Review featured image
    Japanese Gardens
    7 min read

    How to Create a Japanese Garden in the UK: Expert Guide

    Learn how to design and build a stunning Japanese garden in the UK. From Acer selection to Zen rock layouts, create your peaceful sanctuary today!

    Jan 18, 2026