10 top tips for a low maintenance garden Love your outdoor space, but looking to keep tasks to a minimum? Here are our 10 top tips for a low maintenance garden: Make sure garden surfaces are easily maintained and weed-free. Minimise flower beds Grow plants in containers and group them together for easy watering. Make…
A few minutes to spare… If you’ve got a few minutes to spare today and the chance to have a potter in the garden, there are some simple tasks you might want to think about doing: If you’ve got a veggies plot or raised bed then it’s time to plan ahead and sow some late…
Jobs to do in the garden in July July is the best time to get some planting done in preparation for the autumn and winter. Sow & grow Autumn flowering bulbs such including daffodils can be planted this month. You can also plant out brassicas such as Brussels sprouts, winter cabbages and sprouting broccoli. It’s…
The life and times of chillies There are lots of different types of chillies and they come in all shapes, sizes and colours. There are tiny, pointed, extremely hot varieties, bird’s eye ones and, also, the larger, milder fleshy pepper types. Kitchen windowsill So, if you would like to grow your own, then think about…
Going wild for a flower meadow? If you’ve thought of creating your own beautiful wildlife haven, then next month (July) is the perfect time to start preparing the ground for autumn seed sowing. Here are our tips for creating a field of wildflowers or just a small patch if you haven’t the space for something…
Keeping windowsill herbs With a little love and a bit of care you can keep fresh potted herbs on your kitchen windowsill for many months and use them in your cooking as they grow. To find out how you can keep your herbs in good condition and get the best from them follow our three-point…
Cottage gardens for beginners Cottage gardens and naturalistic planting schemes were once again very popular at the Chelsea Flower Show this year. The easiest way to create a small cottage garden feel within your existing front or back garden is to develop a herbaceous border. Herbaceous borders are much more rigid than they appear on…
June tips Eight key things to do in the garden this month: Earth up late potatoes. Thin rows of vegetable crops when overcrowded. Propagate strawberries from unwanted runners. Keep an eye on slug damage. Begin summer pruning of apples and pears. Continue weeding and watering where necessary. Cut back early flowering herbaceous plants in order…
Roses and how to take care of them The rose was given the title ‘The Queen of Flowers’ as long ago as 600BC. No other flower is more popular in this country than the rose and with its multiple uses can be recommended for the adornment of gardens both large and small. Adaptability Few shrubby…
Grow your own veggies for beginners You don’t have to have a large garden, veg beds or plots, or an allotment to grow vegetables. The best starting point is having a go in containers on your patio or balcony. If you are a newcomer to veggie growing, we recommend you start this year with a…