Use our handy herb guide to help you select the ones you need when shopping at your nearest GCA member garden centre. English Mace Hardy perennial. Height 30-45cm when in flower. Spread 30cm. Clusters of small cream flowers in summer. Leaves are bright green, narrow and very deeply serrated. The chopped leaves can be used…
It’s time to have some fun with your loppers and secateurs. Some plants really benefit from being pruned now but for others its bad news. So, there is pruning fun to be had but make sure it’s with the right plants! If shrubs are in good order, then most pruning will be designed to promote…
It can be very tempting during the potentially cooler days of February to stay in the comfort and warmth of your own home; however, nothing blows away the cobwebs better than some time in the garden. There’s plenty to keep you busy and your mind off the unpredictable weather, even if you’re just outside to…
On a fine day it’s easy to get carried away with your pruning but by following our handy hints you can get the best from your efforts and have some fun too. Some plants are not grown for flowers but for their foliage, or their stem colour. A number of these can be pruned in…
To help prevent weed growth and reduce water loss during warm weather, spread mulch on the ground before plants get too large, says our CEO Peter Burks, who is a trained horticulturalist. Use a thick layer of compost, bark or similar material over borders and between trees, shrubs, roses and fruit. Newly emerging perennials should…
Good news, it’s time to start getting excited about spuds! Instead of them being only for the allotmenteer or the gardener with the large veg patch, everyone can grow them these days, even if you only have a small urban balcony or patio, says our CEO and trained horticulturalist, Peter Burks. The waxy first earlies…
Orchids are very popular as Christmas and New Year gifts so if you received one and are now wondering how to care for it properly, then here are my top tips to help keep it looking good for longer, says our CEO and trained horticulturalist, Peter Burks. Orchids have a reputation for being difficult to…
Nothing beats eating the veggies you have grown yourself, says our CEO Peter Burks. Peter is a keen allotmenteer and trained horticulturalist, who has worked in directorial and senior management positions for garden centres nationwide for more than 40 years and has a degree in horticulture from the University of Bath. This is what he…
Gardening brings delight and happiness to people of all ages. Not only is it a great way to remain active, but it is also a genius way to have immediate access to fresh fruits and vegetables. If you’re keen to develop your green thumb but live without a large outside area or are unable to…
Sustainable gardening is a type of cultivation that emphasises techniques for preserving and enhancing natural ecosystems, conserving resources, and fostering biodiversity. Adopting sustainable gardening has several benefits. By feeding the soil and fostering beneficial insects and birds, it not only aids in lowering our carbon footprint and water conservation but also encourages a healthier garden.…