Celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday with days out in royal gardens What better way to celebrate than to visit royal gardens? Where to start? Or end? So many gardens to choose from. Here are a few that provide enjoyment, relaxation and inspiration. But first – does the Queen ‘garden’? TV and radio coverage, books and […]

As unreliable as our British weather maybe, most of us like to cook outdoors on the BBQ at every available opportunity. This may be the time that you are planning to buy a new barbecue, or just considering increasing the range of things that you cook. Whilst you can get away with lighting a bag […]

 What is garden compost? In this post we’re talking about the compost made in a heap or bin out of garden and kitchen waste. We’re not talking about the commercially produced potting or seed compost for your seeds, seedlings and houseplants which comes in sacks from nurseries and garden centres. Phew! Glad we got that […]

Benefit from the impetus of the ‘May flush’ The ‘May flush’ is that wonderful swelling of energy when everywhere begins to burst enthusiastically with fresh new growth. Over these past few weeks I’ve been travelling regularly across North Wales and North West England, a complete and utter delight as the hedgerows, verges and front gardens […]

The risk of frost is over (in south west England) so annual bedding plants are out along my garden path and in the border I can see from the kitchen. Young Cosmos and Verbena bonarensis will grow fast. But there are gaps. Some will soon be filled with growth from last year’s new or divided […]

Plant for fruit from your garden – rhubarb! Not a fruit, but we eat it as a fruit, rhubarb is celebrated in Wakefield, the centre of England’s ‘Rhubarb Triangle’, in a February Rhubarb Festival. Plant now for fruit from your garden and grow tender stems for crumbles and pies. Rhubarb is easy to grow and […]

Why water garden plants and pots? Plants are 90% water. They may need your help to get what they need, that is why we water garden plants and pots and why you need to know what’s what in watering. Plants need water to carry food from roots to shoots, to ‘breathe’ out from their leaves, […]

Create a garden indoors Houseplants offer colours, shapes and sizes to suit every room and mood. With a little care many live for years. Most appreciate some TLC as summer, and new growth, begins. Houseplants rely on the soil in their pot for food – and over time it is used up so you need […]

IPads, smart TVs and hi-tech kitchenware are just some of the items that could catch the eye of thieves and criminals, so we take extra care to ensure that our home is locked up tight overnight to protect ourselves and our valuable from harm. It’s a different matter once you go beyond the front door […]

Most of us have had a falling out with next door at some point. Maybe it was over a broken fence, or an annoying pet? Whatever the cause of your neighbour dispute, it’s time to make peace. Two wrongs never make a right, and unless one of you decides to put the house up for […]

The 23rd April marks St.George’s Day; the patron saint of England, our green and pleasant land. Back in the days when life much harder than most of us can ever imagine, such celebratory days were known as feast days. Not a term we use much nowadays, but the sentiment remains the same; food is at […]

Summer is just around the corner, and although the Great British weather is as unpredictable as ever, us Brits just love firing up the barbecue. We all know that succulent sausages, mouth-watering steaks and crunchy corn-on-the-cobs are all part of a good old British alfresco session, but did you know that the average barbecue only […]