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 ...
Six easy ways to revive your home
Collaborative post Is your home starting to show its age? Time and money might be short, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make some simple changes to revive your home and add value. If your home is in need of a makeover, here are six easy ways to get it back into shape. Paint it One obvious way to rejuvenate your home is to give the exterior a paint job. Think about your walls, window frames, doors, fences and ...
Tips for saving seeds in autumn
With autumn getting underway and many plants starting to shut down for the colder months, now is a good time to try saving 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 might think. How do I save seeds for next year? If you'd like to have a go at saving seeds from your garden, read on to find out how to do it, plus some suggestions for ideal ...
Easy autumn gardening: planting wildflowers to support bees
This is a collaborative post in partnership with The Grass People Would you like to make your garden more bee-friendly? If the answer is yes, autumn is a great time to do just that by planting wildflowers. You may already be aware that bees are struggling, with species and numbers in dramatic decline. Bees play a crucial role in the pollination of plants - and that’s all plants, including food crops. Around a third of the ...
Six quick and easy kitchen cleaning tips
Collaborative post When it comes to keeping the kitchen clean, I think we'd all agree that the aim is to get the job done as quickly and effectively as possible. Let's face it, there are much more fun things to spend time on! Here are six easy ways to keep your kitchen clean and prevent the dirt building up, so you can avoid a major cleaning session altogether. Minimise worktop clutter This is a great place to start when it comes ...
Gardening Calendar: What to Plant in August
August is definitely a less hectic summer month in the garden, and chances are you're able to sit back and enjoy the view a little more than in previous months. But if you'd still like to start off some new plants, there are plenty of options that will either give you a quick edible crop, or prepare your garden for the seasons to come. Here’s what to plant in August. Flowers to plant in August Winter flowering pansies & ...
The best flowers for bees, and easy ways to make your garden bee friendly
Is your garden popular with bees? If not, here are some easy ways to transform it into a bee friendly garden that these vital insects will love to visit. Why bees are important If you’re interested in gardening and nature, you’re probably aware that bees are in trouble, with numbers and species in quite dramatic decline. What you might not be aware of is just how important bees are to us, and the planet in general. Native bees ...
Tips for effective summer garden watering
Having spent the last few months coaxing seeds and plants to grow, everything in the garden and allotment is now shooting off at a crazy speed. Suddenly it feels as if I’m in a race to provide the plants with what they need in order to thrive. Watering forms a big part of this job; with the summer months upon us and plants growing so fast, the demand for water is at it’s peak. Providing your plants with adequate water at this time of ...