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 ...
The kit you really need for growing seeds
We may still be trying to wave goodbye to winter, but if you’re even remotely green-fingered your thoughts are bound to be turning to what plants you want to grow this year. I’ve already spent a lovely afternoon with the kids planning what to grow on their plots, and a couple of evenings working out what I want to grow in our garden and allotment over the coming months. I've done my seed order and now it’s a case of waiting for the weather to ...
4. The 10 minute gardener: spring planning
Wow, it’s February already. While January was a low-input month in the garden, we spent a lot of time planning, sketching and dreaming; the kids chose what to grow in their plots and I sorted out my seed order. It’s definitely time to get on with some spring planning, as well as some quick garden jobs that will pay dividends when the new season arrives. Here are some ideas for quick and productive garden jobs to tackle now. Save your egg ...
My top plants for your late Winter 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 in December that I will make some changes to our planting, to stop this lack of interest continuing into another year. Guess what? It hasn’t ...
1. The 10-minute gardener: early winter gardening jobs
So here’s my dilemma: life with a young family is hectic and it’s never easy to carve out time for hobbies. And my big passion is gardening, which by it’s very nature involves season-specific maintenance that, no matter how crazy family life gets, I can’t really ignore without suffering the consequences. The last thing I want to do is turn my passion into an endless list of chores that I feel like I’m failing on. What to do? Mulling over ...
5 things a family with small children should consider when choosing holiday accommodation
If you're in the midst of planning a family holiday, today's guest post on choosing holiday accommodation is full of tips to make the task easier. Enjoy! If you’re off on your travels this summer with the little ones in tow, there are a few things you’ll need to bear in mind when choosing the most suitable holiday accommodation for you all. No matter where you’re headed, either at home or abroad, keep these things in mind and your getaway will ...
6. The 10 minute gardener – quick gardening jobs for late Spring
I’m feeling more than a little behind with my gardening jobs this month. Everything just grows so fast at this time of year! I’ve managed to stay on top of things at the allotment, but the garden is another story. And with all the loveliness and perfection of the Chelsea Flower Show on the horizon, it feels like I need some quick gardening jobs now more than ever. Despite this urge to gain control in the garden, I don’t think ...
5. The 10 minute gardener: quick Spring gardening jobs
This week, for the first time in months, I’ve been warm while gardening - which must mean that spring is definitely on the way! With the sun streaming in through the window as I write this, it’s hard to resist the call of some spring gardening; that lovely leisurely pottering that only the warmer weather of spring and summer allows. So far it’s been all about wrapping up warm, concentrating on the task in hand, then heading back indoors for a ...
How to choose the best garden building for your home
Do you have an outdoor building in your garden? I would guess that most of us have a shed of some sort, but increasingly we are looking to our outdoor areas to provide additional living space too. Rising house prices, the growing popularity of home working, and the trend towards slower living and re-connecting with nature are just a few factors contributing to the growing range of garden buildings on the market. If you’re looking to replace or ...
What to plant now for your Summer garden
A glorious summer garden. Sitting here in the depths of winter it feels a long way off, doesn’t it? Planning for your summer garden by sowing seeds and introducing plants at this time of year may sound a little hasty, but it really isn’t too early to make a start. It’s actually very sensible to start planning your borders now, because doing so will give you plenty of time to grow a large proportion of plants yourself and save you lots of ...