Honey bees have had a bad winter (along with many of us). Their colonies were caught short of food when gardens were under snow. So this year, more than ever, honey bees need you to share your garden space with them. What about bumblebees? Bumblebees are tougher than honey bees, but the hard winter will… Read More »
Home grown fruit and veg is good for us, fun to grow and can be great value. Too often it seems to be an option for people with allotments, big gardens, and lots of time to garden. Not so! Home grown fruit and veg from a small garden, on a patio or balcony and in… Read More »
Now is the time to tidy up many ornamental grasses – but what to do depends on whether they are deciduous or evergreen and on the species. Read on to find out more! Deciduous ornamental grasses Deciduous usually means that plant leaves die and fall off in winter. Grasses are different. As their leaves die… Read More »
Think about your future garden now! Why now? It is not a great time of year to be in the garden: wet or waterlogged lawns, cold winds, snow, brrrr… It is a good time to sit indoors with some good books. Most gardens look their worst now and a lack of structure is all too… Read More »
Read about how to support plants to prevent wind damage. If you watched your plants moving in recent strong winds and wondered what to do, read on! Why support plants? Strong winds can rock plants and loosen their roots so that they are less likely to thrive, and more likely to lean or fall over.… Read More »
Willow screens and garden features have grown (excuse the pun) in popularity as everyone finds out how lovely they look, and that they are not difficult to create. If you need some shelter, or fancy a living feature, in your garden or patio area, between NOW and early spring is the time to start to… Read More »
Dahlia are fantastic plants for late summer colour and sheer exuberance. They may be too colourful for some tastes but the stunning colours and shapes of their flowers simply make me smile. For a really good show, it is important to keep the plants going year on year. There’s the snag. In chilly, or downright cold,… Read More »
Winter interest in containers can come from flowers or foliage, and lifts my spirits on grey winter days. So this week I am on a mission to prepare containers that I can enjoy through to spring. Join me? Flowers for winter interest Spring flowering bulbs are all-round-winners in containers and baskets. Plant dwarf or compact… Read More »
Lawns aren’t looking their best where I live. After a summer of heavy use, and just recently a lot of rain, the grass has some thin patches, while in others it has grown long and straggly (thanks to the rain). The good news is that the recent rain means I can start on my annual… Read More »
Conifers and evergreen shrubs are best moved or planted in September if your garden has sandy soil that dries out in summer. September is also a good time to move conifers and evergreens that are growing too big for their containers into larger pots. If your garden soil is heavy and wet in winter, wait… Read More »