Having an open balcony is a real asset if you live in a flat or apartment, yet many people don’t make the most of this space. Read on for ideas about transforming your balcony into a welcoming and comfortable outdoor place. Transformation Make your balcony welcoming by improving the flooring. Put down something warm… Read More »
Feng shui (fung-shoo-way) is an ancient Chinese philosophy about the changing flow of beneficial energy (qi or chi) which affects us and our families, our buildings and our gardens. Feng shui means ‘wind water’ in English. Using feng shui principles encourages vibrant and beneficial energy, neutralises bad energy and makes places and people feel good.… Read More »
It’s quite possible to grow plants even if you don’t have any outdoor space. Some people call it indoor gardening and it’s fun, especially if you grow plants you can eat. Microgreens and bean sprouts Producing your own sprouts for salads, stir-fries and sandwiches is a doddle. They will sprout happily after being rinsed over… Read More »
A small conservatory is one of the most hardworking rooms in the house. That’s my conclusion from personal observation of a large number of conservatories. Engineering works have just made a train journey long and very slow, giving me ample opportunity to see how people actually use this space. You won’t be surprised to learn… Read More »
Whether you’ve just moved in or been there for years, it might be time for a garden redesign. You can move on from a tired-looking garden, creating somewhere you love, maximising space and making the inside and outside of the property all work together. Here are some tips as you pull together your thoughts, the… Read More »
Colour is everywhere Colour is everywhere in our world and, consciously or unconsciously, we respond to it. So, a bit of thought about colour in the garden won’t go amiss. The challenge Have you inherited a dull outdoor space? No problem. Keep your spirits up by adding a little colour, fast. Go straight to your… Read More »
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… Read More »
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,… Read More »
Magnificent magnolias in flower Magnolias have been looking magnificent this year. The magnolias in flower in the spring are deciduous (they lose their leaves in autumn/winter) and usually flower before the leaves unfurl. If you only know this plant through the colour of a tin of paint, go and visit a big garden, if you… Read More »
Choosing plants for your garden Different plants need different amounts of sun or shade and water. Some only grow well in soils that are acidic – others in alkaline chalky or limey soil. How do you know what your garden offers? How does it match up with the demands that the plant label lists? How… Read More »