In these strange times, more and more of us are turning to gardening as a means of exercise, escape from the pandemic worry, and growing our own fruit & veg. Gardening is brilliant for all of those things - but how do you get cracking during lockdown if you don't already have lots of gardening supplies? This post aims to help you improvise with what you've already got, and also lists UK online gardening retailers that are currently still ...
The best tools for planting seeds – and how to improvise with what you’ve got
Are you growing seeds right now? It's a great low-cost way to grow your own vegetables, herbs and salad crops - not to mention lots of garden flowers and plants. And you don't have to be a gardening pro - or have lots of fancy tools for planting seeds - to do it. What tools do I need to plant seeds? It's fair to say that having some basic tools for planting seeds can make life easier, and also increase your chances of success. Don't be ...
My top winter plants to perk up your garden
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 that I will make some changes to our planting, to stop this lack of interest continuing into another year. Guess what? It ...
How to make the most of artificial grass
Collaborative post Do you have artificial grass in your garden? It’s certainly a lawn option that’s growing in popularity, offering a practical, low-maintenance way to green up your outdoor space. Whether you’re considering artificial grass for your garden, or looking for help with artificial lawn maintenance, these tips have got you covered. Here’s how to make the most of artificial grass. A quick guide to artificial ...
Japanese knotweed: How close is too close?
Collaborative post Are you worried about the impact of Japanese Knotweed on your property? This article by Stuart Snape, Managing Partner at Graham Coffey & Co. Solicitors, explains what you need to look out for, how to deal with Japanese knotweed, and your legal rights should this invasive plant become a problem. What is Japanese Knotweed? Japanese knotweed - also known by it's Latin name, Fallopia Japonica - is a feared ...
Tackling my autumn garden maintenance with Gardena tools | AD
This is a commissioned post in collaboration with Gardena I do love the slower pace of autumn in the garden. There’s less weeding and watering to do, which gives me a chance to potter about, tidy up and make plans for new projects. We’ve had a lot of rain so far this season, but also some gloriously sunny days - it’s hard to beat autumn sunshine isn’t it? I’ve been working with leading watering and garden tool brand Gardena ...
Autumn gardening tips
Collaborative post If 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 ...
Saving water and time in the garden with Gardena micro drip automatic watering system |AD
This is a commissioned post in collaboration with Gardena How 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 ...
Exploring the Gardena combisystem gardening tools range | AD
This is a commissioned post in collaboration with Gardena Well, 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 ...