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 plants are dormant, and the lawn is blanketed in yet another carpet of fallen leaves (note to self: make more leaf mould). This all sounds more than a little bleak, but actually it’s not that hard to add interest to your garden in ...
Tips for protecting plants from frost and cold weather
If you're a bit confused about protecting plants from frost and cold weather, you're not alone! Which plants to protect from cold weather, what temperatures cause damage, and what to use to protect your plants are all things you need to know if you want to avoid losing your precious plants. These tips on how to protect plants in winter will help you take care of your tender plants, so that you can enjoy them again next year. When to ...
Forcing bulbs indoors: an easy autumn project for early flowers
This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links will be clearly marked with a * and if you click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission from that sale. Autumn is traditionally the time to plant spring 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 ...
How to plant 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! What is a bulb lasagne? A bulb lasagne is a clever way of layering up spring-flowering bulbs to create a display of flowers that lasts for months. Layering bulbs is really easy to do, and will give you a lovely display throughout the winter months for very little effort. What’s not to like? Can ...
Planting bulbs: a step-by-step guide
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 *flower bulbs to your garden, here’s a step-by-step guide ...
Holiday houseplant care: how to keep them alive!
With the end of the school term fast approaching, I bet lots of us are counting down the days to a long-awaited summer holiday. And with that comes the inevitable pre-holiday organising. Last-minute shopping, packing lists and pet care arrangements probably spring straight to mind, but if you’ve got any houseplants, you also need a plan for keeping them alive while you’re away. Most houseplants will be able to tolerate neglect for a ...
How to grow potatoes in bags: easy step-by-step guide
It's potato planting time! If you'd like learn how to grow potatoes in bags, this guide covers everything you need to know. Growing potatoes in bags I think it's impossible to beat the taste of homegrown new potatoes, and they're not difficult to grow at all. In fact they're a brilliant veg to grow with kids; they're nice and chunky to handle when planting, the kids get to pile soil on them as they grow, and harvest time is ...
How to make twig-wrapped flower pots
If, like us, you have an ever-growing stick collection, this is the perfect nature craft for you! Sticks and twigs are just brilliant for crafting, and this little project turns them into a lovely homemade gift. All you need is a plant pot, some string, and a little plant to pop in when you're finished. The idea is to create a length of tied-together twigs that you then fasten around the pot. Start off by measuring each stick against ...
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 ...
Gardening in February: jobs to tackle this month
Here's your one-stop resource for gardening in February. If you're struggling to carve out time to stay on top of the garden, or just need some help with what to focus on each month, this is a great place to start. You can check out my garden jobs for every other month in this post. While January was a low-input month in the garden, we spent a lot of time planning, sketching and dreaming. Now the end of winter is temptingly in sight, ...