December is arguably the quietest month in the garden. And with the Christmas prep in full swing, that's no bad thing in my opinion! Having said that, I do like to escape into the garden now and then this month; it's a lovely way to take a breather from the fast pace that Christmas often demands. And there are still plenty of things to plant, which is perfect for helping us look forward to spring. If you'd like to do some planting this ...
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 ...
Win a bundle of stunning Poinsettia plants for your Christmas home
This is a collaborative post in partnership with Stars for Europe. Welcome to a new giveaway - if you're already thinking about decorating your home for Christmas, this is definitely one for you! I've got four bundles of poinsettia plants in a variety of colours from Stars for Europe to give away. These lovely prizes will be perfect for bringing the outdoors inside, and giving your home a real festive feel in the run-up to ...
Gardening Calendar: What to Plant in November
As the gardening year starts to draw to an end, the amount of work to be done outdoors gradually decreases. So far this month my gardening time has been spent clearing up and putting away, rather than looking ahead to next year’s flowers and harvest. But it’s not all about putting things to bed for winter this month! There is still some planting to be done in November if you feel like a more uplifting task in the garden. Here ...
Easy Halloween crafts: spooky spider plants
We've had so much fun making these spooky spider plants! Aren't they just perfect for Halloween? I saw this easy Halloween crafts idea on the Amateur Gardening website, and thought the kids would love to have a go. We did this craft outdoors, but it would work perfectly well indoors if the weather isn't great. How to make spooky spider plants Here's what you need to make your very own spooky spider plants. Plant pots ...
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 ...
Gardening Calendar: What to Plant in October
Autumn is really underway now. Leaves are falling everywhere you look, and I’m a little obsessed with the pumpkins we’re about to harvest for Halloween. October isn’t all about harvesting and hunkering down for the colder months though; there are still some crops and plants you can grow. Here are some ideas for what to plant in October. Flowers to plant in October Autumn & winter bedding plants Our gardens can ...
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 ...
Gardening Calendar: What to Plant in September
Well here we are - autumn. Summer is such a busy time - with the kids off school, but also in the garden - and September always seems to arrive so quickly. It’s a lovely month though; harvest time, beautiful angles of sunshine, and still plenty of warm weather to enjoy. And it’s also quite a productive month for sowing seeds, planting bulbs and growing new plants - some to enjoy soon, and some to get started for next ...