The lawn is the mainstay of many gardens and suffers a lot of wear and tear in summer. The smaller the garden, the harder it needs to work. As autumn starts, now is the time to offer it some TLC. Grass grows fast during warm and damp weather and here I need to keep cutting […]

(This competition has now finished. A winner will be announced shortly.)   It’s time for another competition on Rattan Direct! For this competition, the rules are quite simple. All you need to do is send us a picture of wildlife that you have spotted in your garden. It can be anything. (Birds, squirrels, foxes, etc.) […]

As the cooler weather of autumn arrives, it’s time for us to help the last of the tomatoes to ripen and to protect more tender plants. Time has flown and here we are in September. Like it or not, the summer is bowing out and the autumn’s gales and rain will soon be coming on […]

How do I store rattan furniture? During the summer months, there are few things more relaxing than spending the warm evenings sat on your rattan corner sofa with a nice cold drink. But what do you do with your rattan furniture when autumn begins? Here are our tips for storing your rattan furniture when it’s […]

From 8-14 August 2016, allotment sites around the country opened their gates to tell us how and why allotments are good for you, good for communities and good for the environment.  Organised by the National Allotment Society (NSALG), National Allotments Week offered a way to find out about allotments in your area. I had a […]

Where I am, in lovely summery days, gardeners are starting to prepare for winter. For me, winter is not a welcome thought but deep in my bones there is an urge to save some summer to enjoy in winter. So this week I have two garden jobs that make the most of summer days and […]

Rain or shine, gardens keep on growing and garden jobs keep on coming. Early August, and the next few weeks, is all about keeping your garden and pots in good shape. Make sure plants have enough water: link up with friends and neighbours to water each other’s pots and gardens during holidays away. Keep on […]

It is summer – for now! A long weekend in the Cotswolds proved it – everywhere was awash with flowers spilling out from hanging baskets, pots and garden borders. Hanging baskets – ingredients for success Good planting early in the season (and a mix of plants that grow up and hang down to create a […]

Here in the UK, American style barbecue has been taking off in a big way. When the good folk of the US say barbecue, what they mean is the low and slow style of smoked meat that they excel at. Over there, cooking a burger or sausage over hot coals is known as grilling, and […]

July jobs in the garden are a mix of enjoying your garden with feet up in the sunshine (in our dreams?), holding back the tide of fast growing weeds and grass, and a chance to make the most of your plants and prolong their summer show. Deadheading We know you know, we told you in […]

Keeping your rattan garden furniture safe in poor weather conditions Here in the UK, We’re used to poor weather. Storms and windy days are commonplace throughout the year, which is why it’s so important to keep your rattan garden furniture secure. If you’re looking for ways to stop your rattan furniture blowing away in poor […]

At this time of year cutting lawn grass seems to be THE urgent job. Grass grows fast in rainy days and warm sun (so do weeds, but that is another story, and another blog). My garden lawn seems to chase me. One day it looks pretty good, the next it is OK, the next it […]