Autumn is traditionally the time to plant spring flowering bulbs in the garden, with daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, iris and crocus all popular choices. But while you’re planting bulbs in the garden, it’s a great idea to pot up some of those bulbs and ‘force’ them to flower early, so you can enjoy the blooms indoors before spring arrives.Forcing spring bulbs isn’t tricky, you basically need to trick the bulbs into thinking it’s already winter, ...
How to make a bulb lasagne
If you’ve never heard of a bulb lasagne you’re probably raising your eyebrows right now. It is a real gardening ‘thing’ though!Planting a bulb lasagne in a container is a clever way of layering up spring-flowering bulbs to create a display of flowers that lasts for months. It’s really easy to do and will give you a lovely display throughout the winter months for very little effort. What’s not to like?This time of year is ...
Autumn gardening tips
Collaborative postIf you’ve got green fingers, chances are summer is the season when you spend the most time working in the garden. In a lot of ways it’s the perfect season for gardening: the days are long, the sun is (hopefully) plentiful, and as long as you’re watering them regularly, your lovely plants are finding it easy to thrive.As autumn approaches, our thoughts tend to turn towards making the inside of our homes cosy for the ...
Autumn gardening: how to save seeds
With autumn getting underway and many plants starting to shut down for the colder months, now is a good time to try harvesting seeds from your garden. Like dividing existing plants, saving seeds is a great way to get lots of new plants for free - and it’s easier than you think. Here are some tips on how to save seeds. Seed saving tips Get your timing right - you need to collect seeds when they are just about to disperse, as this means they are ...
How to plant bulbs
I love growing flowers from bulbs. You can create a really colourful display at times of the year when the rest of the garden is still playing catch up, and there’s such a wide variety to choose from. Bulbs are also relatively cheap compared to buying plants, so they’re a great way to create real wow factor in your garden without spending a fortune. If you’d like to add some bulbs to your garden, here’s how to do it.Choose your ...
Saving water and time in the garden with Gardena’s automatic watering system |AD
This is a commissioned post in collaboration with GardenaHow is your garden looking now that we’ve reached late summer? We’ve finished edging our new lawn now, and I’ve started putting the plants back into the borders, but I still have quite a few gaps to fill, so I’m busy working out a plant shopping list - very exciting!Our patio containers have been fantastic this year, and are still going strong. My absolute favourite ...
Gardening for Nature: easy ways to create a bee-friendly garden
If you’re interested in gardening and nature you’re probably aware that bees are in trouble, with numbers and species in quite dramatic decline. What you might not be aware of is just how important bees are to us and the planet in general. Bees don’t just make honey and give us a lovely sound in the garden on summer afternoons. Bees are vital for the pollination of plants - including food crops - and this insect family which is in ...
Exploring the Gardena combisystem gardening tools range | AD
This is a commissioned post in collaboration with GardenaWell, the terrible weather has certainly been a challenge when it comes to the gardening this month, but I’ve finally managed to get out there and tackle some jobs on the list!If you’ve been reading the blog lately, you’ll know that I’m working with leading garden watering and tool brand Gardena this year, using their products to help take care of the garden and make the most of our ...
Plant care tips for containers
Collaborative post The world of plant care can be more than a little bewildering, can’t it? Unless you’re a gardening expert, it can be tricky working out just what you need to do (or not do!) to make sure your indoor and outdoor plants thrive. I love gardening, but that certainly doesn’t mean I’ve got the plant care right every time; in fact I’ve had many disasters over the years. I’ve also had lots of times where my plants ...
Six clever uses for your garden gazebo
Collaborative postDo you have a garden gazebo gathering dust in your shed or garage? We tend to think of these portable structures as a temporary solution on a specific occasion, such as a garden party or camping trip. But there are actually lots of ways you can use a gazebo outdoors. Whether you’ve got a gazebo that’s being neglected, or are wondering whether it’s worth investing in one, here are six ways you can put it to ...