Are you opting for a real Christmas tree this year? It’s hard to beat the impact of a real tree laden with all your treasured family decorations - even if those decorations are all in one small area thanks to the kids’ creative efforts!A real Christmas tree isn’t a cheap option, so naturally we all want to choose a really good one - but it can be quite bewildering knowing what to look out for and what to avoid when you make your choice. ...
Tips for feeding garden birds in winter
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 prep your heating system for winter
Is your home's heating system ready for winter? We’ve only just waved goodbye to summer, and temperatures are still mild enough to avoid flicking the heating on, but now is the ideal time to check your heating system and make sure it’s ready for the colder months. The colder seasons of the year place the greatest strain on your heating system, which is why most boiler breakdowns happen during winter. Our old combi boiler packed up during a ...
How to make 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!Planting a bulb lasagne in a container is a clever way of layering up spring-flowering bulbs to create a display of flowers that lasts for months. It’s really easy to do and will give you a lovely display throughout the winter months for very little effort. What’s not to like?This time of year is perfect for ...
Free plants – how to divide perennials
Does your garden have holes in it at the moment? Not actual holes in the ground you understand, but holes nonetheless. Are the borders are looking bare, with whacking great patches of soil with nothing in them? Mine certainly are, and it’s not very uplifting to look at!Gaps in your borders are perfectly normal for this time of year, because lots of plants are in their dormant phase until the weather warms up and they start to put on new ...
What to plant now – February
We’re almost there.... February is underway and spring is just around the corner. I still want it to hurry up though!It really won’t be long before I’m up to my neck in packets of seed and fussing over my labelled pots like a mother hen. But the fact remains that it’s still winter, and most plants just won’t tolerate being started off until the weather warms up a bit and the light improves. There are some that will happily get going in ...
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 ...
Review: Vine House Farm super suet fat ball bird feed
Our garden has been a hive of activity in the last couple of weeks. We’ve been reviewing some high energy bird feed from Vine House Farm, and it’s safe to say it’s been a big hit! We always make an extra effort to feed our local wild birds in winter, because this season is really tough for them. The cold weather causes wild birds to use more energy keeping warm, and also natural food sources are thin on the ground. Providing a source of ...