We’re heading towards the last ‘official’ weeks of winter, phew! With spring not far off in the garden, it’s only natural to be a bit impatient for that rush of colour that the warmer weather brings. Our garden has been looking decidedly drab all Winter; for the last couple of years I’ve promised myself in December that I will make some changes to our planting, to stop this lack of interest continuing into another year. ...
How to add interest to your winter garden
A quick glance out of my kitchen window confirms that winter is definitely in residence in the garden. The light is low, the tree branches are the only real structure in sight, most border plants are dormant and the lawn is blanketed in yet another carpet of fallen leaves (note to self: make more leaf mould). Down at the allotment, everything is looking very bare, and the last time so much soil was unused was back ...
Winter gardening: how to protect tender plants
At this time of year temperatures can drop suddenly in the garden, leaving tender plants decidedly worse for wear. It’s so tempting to leave them outside when the weather is still mild, but I’ve lost plants this way before and learned my lesson. Spend a few minutes this week protecting your tender plants and you’ll be in a great position to enjoy them again later this year. So what do you need to protect? Well that depends ...
How To Create A Low Maintenance Garden You’ll Love
If you're struggling to find enough time to take care of the garden, this guest post has some great low maintenance options. No matter what the time of year, there is something so satisfying about looking out onto a well-kept garden. Our outdoor spaces connect us with nature. In a world that is increasingly preoccupied with technology and screens, spending time enjoying nature is a vital way of decompressing and destressing. If ...
How to make leaf mould
With Autumn getting into full swing more leaves are falling from the trees each day - which is good news for family walks, who doesn’t love stomping through a big pile of crispy leaves? It’s also good news for gardeners, as fallen Autumn leaves give us the perfect opportunity to make leaf mould. Leaf mould is basically rotted-down leaves. It’s low in nutrients, but it makes a brilliant mulch which you can spread on your soil to improve its ...
How to plant garlic
This week I've been planting garlic at the allotment. Garlic is a great crop to grow; it doesn't take up much space, it's not very fussy, and there are lots of different varieties available for you to experiment with. It's also a great crop to involve children with too because it's easy and fun to plant. This year we're growing three heritage garlic varieties from Marshalls. Bohemian Rose comes from the north of Bohemia near to Prague and ...
How to force Spring flowering bulbs
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 ...
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 ...
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 perfect for ...
How to find the right gardening company for your project
Have you ever called in the pros to help you with the gardening? I think garden maintenance is often one of those jobs that we feel a bit embarrassed about not doing ourselves. We should be able to find time to keep on top of it, right? Well in reality, that’s not always possible! Trying to find ways to squeeze the gardening into an already hectic home life is how my ten minute gardener series came about. And while a few minutes of gardening ...