Winter heather has been giving us a good amount of colour for a few months. Up and down the country, in beds and containers, it has been lifting gardens and outside spaces out of drabness. Now it is starting to go over, that is, stopping flowering. It’s time to trim it so it will remain… Read More »
On dark, gloomy days variegated plants can leap out and lift your spirits. Let’s have a look at them. Variegated plants are those whose individual leaves have more than one colour. These colours are commonly green and cream, pink, purple or yellow. There may be one colour around the edge of the leaf and splashes… Read More »
A rattan plant pot could make your winter holidays a great deal easier! Don’t just use them for houseplants or plants out on the terrace or patio. Decorate them with some tinsel and baubles, even fairy lights, and you can use them in a whole host of ways throughout December and on into January. Our… Read More »
Protecting plants which are young or tender against the cold and wet of winter will make the most of your hard work through the year. Read about the easy steps you can take. Protecting plants – keep them dry! Purpose made ‘pot feet’ or bricks under patio pots protects them and the roots of plants… Read More »
Although we’ve had one or two frosts, this autumn has been remarkably mild. Roses are still in bloom in many places and, amazingly, sweet peas are in flower in some Scottish gardens facing the North Sea. The autumnal leaves are looking good, though we’re losing them quickly now, and the berries are gleaming. The garden… Read More »
Christmas cacti with their fountains of white, pink, red or purple flowers are a familiar sight in the winter. They are always admired, especially by people without green fingers, but it’s really not hard to produce this wonderful display. You just have to follow the rules. Forest cacti from Brazil Unlike the desert cacti we… Read More »
The clocks have gone back and autumn is moving towards winter. Your spring and summer interior colour scheme might not suit the reality of nights drawing in and colder mornings. Is it time for a change? A change but not a full revamp? A full revamp of your interior design might not be what you… Read More »
Even though summer is over it’s still very nice to sit outside in the garden or on patios, terraces and balconies. Rugs, jumpers and a patio heater help to take off any slight coolness or deeper chill. If you’ve got an outdoor space take as much advantage of it as you can! Enjoy your outdoor… 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 »
It’s time to spring clean your rattan garden furniture! We’re in that undecided period of the year when it’s far from clear whether it’s spring or whether it’s winter. There’s evidence on both sides. On the side of Spring – snowdrops, daffodils, birds singing, earlier sunrise, later sunset. On the side of Winter – snow,… Read More »