Rattan News

Spring is now well underway and everything is growing fast, weeds included. Weeding now stops weeds getting well established. It makes all the difference! Here are six tips to help you. 1. Know your enemy A regular stroll around your garden will show you where the weeds are and where action is required. Get to […]

Decking can turn difficult, steep or uneven spaces into something very usable. It also softens the line between indoors and outdoors, enticing people outside onto the deck and beyond into the garden. With care, it can shake up and revitalise the whole way you use your outdoor space. Just walk out of the house and […]

My friend Pat has been extra busy in her garden all this week (and it looks great). When I asked her why so much activity now, she explained that Good Friday gardening traditions include planting seed potatoes, and she is ready! Gardening traditions – plant potatoes on Good Friday One story about the origin of […]

Pommes dauphinoise makes an excellent alternative to roasties for Sunday lunch, especially as the weather turns warmer and we embrace the flavours of spring and summer. Our recipe for leek and potato dauphinoise makes the best of seasonal leeks and goes perfectly with our slow roasted lamb and savoury crumb. Baked in a moderate oven […]

We’ve had a taste of fantastic weather over the last week or so. It’s definitely been nice enough to sit outside and even sunny enough to catch a bit of sunburn. A parasol is part of the prescription for avoiding sunburn, and for sitting outside – look no further for recommendations of what will suit […]

There are at least five garden hacks associated with the common plastic milk bottle. We show you how to make a watering can, cloche, plant pot or cachepot, drip tray and plant labels. Each of these is easy, takes little effort and costs you nothing. A two litre bottle is a good size but you […]

Lawns need care and attention now to get them ready for your summer. April is the month to get a grip of your lawn and, depending on the weather where you are, it may be that the first cut of the year starts this weekend. Here’s a quick overview of what to do. Lawns – […]

Plant pots, containers, planters – there’s an enormous choice out there. How do you choose what’s best for your plants and best for your garden? We answer seven of the most common questions. 1. What should I think about when choosing a pot? As well as how good the pot looks, think about: how big […]

We could all use a bit more zen in our lives. You may have heard people say that, especially when life is frantically busy and complicated. They are crying out for simplicity and tranquillity. This post takes a look at the Japanese rock garden tradition, and the classical zen garden and what it can teach […]

Shamrocks, the emblem of St Patrick’s Day and Ireland, are a must-have for celebrations today. They might be growing in your garden right now, or something to plant ready for next year. Read on to find out more! Saint Patrick’s Day commemorates the arrival in Ireland of St Patrick. It is a national holiday in Ireland and Northern […]

If you’ve been enjoying flowers in your garden recently then now is the time to make sure you have another good display next spring. Commiserations if you haven’t had a good display but a few preparations now will improve matters next spring. Split or plant some snowdrops and/or winter aconites. Prune winter-flowering shrubs that have […]

We all want happy and healthy plants and good soil is key to making that happen. (Of course, there are a few happy and healthy exceptions to this: air plants, hydroponic plants and perhaps plants growing on gravel but here we’re talking about plants that grow in soil.) For happy and healthy plants we have […]