It’s been a cold few days here, temperatures below freezing at night and barely climbing above zero degrees in the day. Hard to believe then, that a lot is happening in the garden in January. Underground, roots are developing, gearing up for the year ahead. Above ground, if you look closely, … [Read More...]
Seed-Heads and Grasses in Winter
Gardeners seem to fall into two camps, tidy and neat or relaxed and nauturalistic. My aim is to convert everyone to the latter camp, and there are good reasons … [Read More...]
What to do in the Garden in November
The fiery-coloured autumn leaves have dropped now and the scene outside my window is monochrome, wintery and calm. My garden is changing into a more restful state, … [Read More...]
Brilliant, Autumnal Wisley Garden
A lesson learnt during these last few months, is how good it is to have two or three favourite, local/easy to get to, uplifting places to visit. Although I've … [Read More...]
What to do in your Garden in October
October is usually a nice month here. The days are shorter, but mild and lovely to be outside, it clears the head and steadies the nerves. The Vegetable Garden in … [Read More...]
Reasons to Plant Trees
It always takes me a while to get used to the idea that summer. But the wonderful colours and fruitful bounties of autumn, eventually convince me it's time to move … [Read More...]
What to do in the Garden in September
The garden may seem to be winding down, but it’s a pivotal month of preparation, with plenty of things to look forward to. Spring Flowering Bulbs: Every year … [Read More...]
Sustainable Gardening Ideas – Two
I hope you enjoyed last weeks post about sustainable gardening, here's a few more ideas to help you. Small steps and we will get there, reducing our carbon footprint … [Read More...]
Sustainable Gardening – One
August is a busy month in the garden, thankfully a lot of that is harvesting vegetables and cutting Dahlias. But I’m also thinking about the bigger picture of … [Read More...]
What to do in the Garden in August
August this year feels very different to any other year. Covid has changed everything in recent months, but we've also had to deal with brutal heat. Plants that … [Read More...]
How to Collect and Store Seeds from your Garden
Deadheading plants is a nice task, almost mediative, and it keeps plants flowering for longer. However, if you want to collect seeds from your favourite plants, you … [Read More...]
What to do in the Garden in July
Here we are right in the middle of summer, and I hope you find time to just sit in your garden, and do nothing but enjoy it. However, we have to look ahead, and plan … [Read More...]
Favourite Gardens from R.H.S. Hampton Court Show
Following on from yesterdays post about past Hampton Court Garden Shows, here's more of the glorious show gardens from recent years. In no particular order, but … [Read More...]
Dreaming of Hampton Court Palace Garden Show.
Some say that the best gardens evolve over time, that layers of beauty can only be added with the years. But garden shows demonstrate that it's possible to build a … [Read More...]
Beautiful Biennials to Sow Now
Biennials plants sown from seed are easy and such great value, and now is a good time to sow them. Biennials germinate and grow their leaves, often as a low … [Read More...]
What to do in the Garden in June
These long, midsummer days are blissful. But we’re just past midsummer now, and the days are beginning to gradually get shorter. Gardening needs a change of … [Read More...]
Chelsea Flower Show 2020
Like many things during this pandemic, the Chelsea Flower Show is happening in a virtual world, Each day this week, on the R.H.S. website there's a great mix of … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In May
The last week has been spent battling with pests in the garden & trying to encourage friendly creatures to create some sort of balance. This is typical May, the … [Read More...]
Gardening To Help You Feel Good
We all know how nurturing plants & watching them grow, enjoying the colours & scents in a garden, help reduce anxiety & stress. It’s not surprising then, … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In April
The current lockdown & plethora of seeds I’ve accumulated, has focused my mind on the business of sowing plants from seed this month. Fortunately April is a good … [Read More...]
How To Grow Edible Flowers
Edible flowers are just the thing to grow at the moment. They're easy, your food will look amazing & many flowers are surprisingly full of punchy flavour. Let's … [Read More...]
How To Grow Herbs – part 2
Following on from how to grow hardier types of herbs, Part 2 of How To Grow Herbs is all about growing annuals. Quick and easy to grow, they're the gems of the herb … [Read More...]
How To Grow Herbs – Part 1
Freshly picked herbs are a complete joy, they add so much flavour to any dish. Think of parsley or coriander scattered over a dish, or mint simmered with new … [Read More...]
How To Grow Fuss Free Vegetables
How different everything is in the short space of time, since I last wrote on here. In our own little way, growing a few fuss-free vegetables will make a difference … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In March
Fat little buds are developing on trees & shrubs in the garden, & the glorious sound of singing birds has begun. All this is usual for this time of year, but … [Read More...]
The Joys Of Growing Plants From Seed
The joys of seed sowing are many, but probably the most joyous thing, is how these little seeds will, within a matter of weeks be transformed into … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In February
The days are lengthening, & more daylight means the garden is waking up fast. It's the perfect time of year to get set for the coming seasons in the … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In November
It's that quiet time in the garden when growth slows down, at least it does above ground. Frankly, it's quite a relief after months of rampant plant growth & … [Read More...]
The Big Benefits Of Planting A Tree
The benefit of planting trees is huge. To begin with, you probably know trees have this ability to soak up CO2 emissions. We need all the help we can get to do … [Read More...]
Autumn Sown Sweet Peas.
As everything winds down in the garden, I almost forgot about sowing sweet peas this month. Here's a reminder about why autumn sown sweet peas are such a good … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In October
Autumn reaches its' peak in October. The colours are at their best, not yet spoiled by wind & rain. There's still a reasonable amount of daylight & the light … [Read More...]
What To Do About Climate Change Overwhelm.
When climate change-overwhelm & frustration gets to you, & it does pretty much on a daily basis. Remember this positive fact. Your garden, balcony or … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In September
Right on cue, as August ended there was a real autumnal feel in the air, bringing chilly evenings & shorter days. Nevertheless, it’s a joyful month. Our … [Read More...]
How To Take Pelargonium Cuttings
For gardeners, there’s a fine balance between enjoying the present moment & planning ahead. It’s not a difficult to achieve this in August, because apart from … [Read More...]
What To Do in The Garden In August
After months of working hard in the garden to get things to grow, August is the month when quite a bit of effort has to be put into stopping plants from growing too … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In July
The trick with gardening is approaching it as a pleasure rather than a chore. I've found the best way to do this is to have a daily wander round the garden. … [Read More...]
Do we need fewer garden chores?
I didn't intend to spend half the weekend gardening, it's just that it all took much longer than I thought it would. Does this happen to you, & if it does did … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In June
This is one of those glorious months in the garden, when the work really begins to pay off. Now that night-time frosts are no longer a possibility, I've been … [Read More...]
Unmissable Garden Shows in 2019
Garden Shows are the perfect day out. There's the opportunity to talk to plant sellers, the people who actually grow the plants. This is the case at Royal … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In May
This is it, the time is here to plant out those carefully nurtured seedlings & small plants, & generally get things ship-shape for summer. All plants … [Read More...]
How To Grow Plenty Of Plants From Seed.
Growing plants from seed can be an uncertain business, so let me share a simple method that guarantees plenty of plants for your garden. Sowing seeds is … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In April
What to do in the garden in April, well quite a lot since you as you ask. Though its all quite manegable, I've been making lists & getting through them … [Read More...]
Gardening with less plastic.
My word, April is a busy time in the garden, but busy in a good way, with the promise of this fresh season unfurling before us. And because we're in the … [Read More...]
How To Re-Pot Houseplants
They’re there day after day, almost part of the furniture, but houseplants deserve more than a weekly watering, they also need to be re-potted into fresh … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In March
We’re teetering on the edge of Spring here in the South-East of England. The days are getting longer, & there’s more bird song around, it really is a time to be … [Read More...]
How To Grow The Best Sweet Peas.
I'm dreaming of a billowing row of divinely scented, colourful sweet peas, lasting all summer long. So here's the plan to help you grow the best sweet peas, & to … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In February
I've been wondering about re-naming this monthly series of looking after your garden. I don't want it to sound like a list of chores or something you put off doing. … [Read More...]
Vegetables To Grow And Sow In February
What vegetables to grow & sow in February largely depends on the weather. The longer days are noticeable, but its a few weeks before there’s a good amount … [Read More...]
The Advantages of A January Garden.
As the end of January approaches, I have to admit, I’m going to miss her. There’s a clamour & a whole host of hashtags dedicated to the arrival of Spring, … [Read More...]
How To Grow Chillies
And we’re off! … its time for the first vegetable seeds to be sown. January is too cold & dark for most seeds, but ideal for chillies. Chilli plants like … [Read More...]
Garden Plans For 2019
Here we are, teetering on the edge of a new year, with dreams of a garden of lush vegetables, fragrant herbs & sweet smelling roses. But this will only happen … [Read More...]