Use compost! But which one, garden compost or potting compost? You need both in the garden and we help you make the right choice with this post. Garden compost Garden compost is homemade from anything that will rot down, usually a mixture of mostly kitchen and garden waste plant material. Find out how to make… Read More »
This April, many of our posts will be about encouraging calm and tranquillity as it’s Stress Awareness Month. Today, I’ll talk about creating a calm corner in the garden by using natural materials and colour, water, plants and comfortable seating. A corner can be a very good setting for a quiet and private place. No-one’s… Read More »
Even if there is another burst of winter weather, spring really is practically here. The supermarket and garden centre are already starting to blossom with plants for the garden, balcony, window sill and patio. They look bright and cheerful and it’s so tempting just to pick up the nearest one. A few moments checking the… Read More »
Herbs can make lovely tea with some great health benefits. Herbal tea from home-grown herbs smells so much fresher and tastes very much better than tea bags. It’s a great alternative to tea and coffee, especially if you’re looking to reduce your caffeine intake. Many suitable herbs are really easy to grow in the garden,… Read More »
A heated propagator produces a microclimate of steady warmth and humidity. This encourages seeds to germinate quickly and reliably, and cuttings to root very easily. You could sow exotic seeds like morning glory or canna or the climbing glory lily. You could sow cosmos, kale, tomatoes, sweet peas and salvias in February or dahlias and… Read More »
Crown imperials in February? Yes, I know that you plant them in autumn and they flower in April or May. Reading about this remarkable plant in February, though, might lift our spirits as this month is often bleak, even though it’s short. Grown in Britain since before 1590 Crown imperial fritillaries (Fritillaria imperialis) come from… Read More »
Weed and grass seeds are happy to germinate in winter, and this winter has helped them along by being quite mild in patches. Unless you take them out, weed and grass seedlings grow rapidly and soon flower and seed, leaving you with even more weeds. (As I write, I know some of us are digging… Read More »
Sweet peas can transform your garden into a scented and wonderfully coloured haven. Sowing and growing them can be as complicated or as simple as you like, and it’s a subject where experts differ. No worries! Just follow our straightforward approach. Sow seed from now to March and you’ll have sturdy plants that will flower… Read More »
Mind your back! As many of us know, it’s very easy to overdo it in the garden and hurt your back. A set of wheels certainly helps in moving things around. Something to think about over the next few weeks? You might be able to pick up a bargain in the sales. Good lifting technique… Read More »
December is the month of wrapping paper, folding paper and generally trying to make paper fit round awkward objects that don’t want to be wrapped. There comes a point when you do not want to hear the word ‘origami’. It’s lucky, then, that we shan’t really be talking about full-blown origami in this blog although… Read More »