Are you providing food for the wild birds who visit your garden this winter? We usually spend less time in our gardens during winter, but wild birds are often still visiting just as much as in the warmer months. Garden birds will be searching for food, and also water when temperatures drop low enough to freeze their usual supplies. Providing a winter food source for wild birds is a great way to support your local wildlife, and you'll also ...
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 on a couple of ...
How to grow radish
Radish can really perk up a salad, and it's speed of growth makes it great to grow with children too. This guest post has lots of tips to help you get a bumper harvest.Radish is very easy to grow, and doesn't need any complicated care measures. It handles low temperatures well and the vegetation period is short, so it is perfect for cultivation in early spring, although you may also sow it at the end of summer for the autumn ...
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 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 ...
Win a OneLeg ergonomic stool plus discount code
Are you tidying up the garden after the long, hot summer? I know mine is definitely in need of some tlc!This great giveaway courtesy of OneLeg is perfect for taking some of the hard work out of your autumn gardening jobs. I've got a OneLeg stool with seat cover to give away, read on to find out more and enter.I spend a lot of time kneeling down when I garden - don't we all? - and my knees really suffer after a while. OneLeg stools ...
9. The 10 minute gardener: quick gardening jobs for early Autumn
Welcome to the latest post in this series, looking at quick gardening jobs you can fit into a busy schedule.Now that autumn has arrived things feel like they’re slowing down in the garden; plants are starting to shut down, lots of crops are coming to an end, and leaves are starting to fall. This doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do this month though, there are lots of quick jobs you can make a start on to prepare your garden 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 ...
Autumn gardening: tips for saving 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 give it a try.Get your timing right - you need to collect seeds when they are just about to disperse, as this means they are ripe and ...
Product Showcase: Wickey climbing frames
The kids may be back at school this month, but autumn is still a great time to get them playing outdoors. Mine have been heading straight out into the garden to let off steam after a day of lessons. To be honest, after a summer of reduced working hours and the shock of getting back to normal working patterns, I feel like doing the same thing! If you read the blog regularly you’ll know that I’m a huge fan of outdoor activities. I ...