Scent connects with people in so many different ways. It switches on lights from your past, drawing forward precious memories. It’s a good idea therefore, to build a garden around…
Gardening
Your garden: How to plant it
One of the toughest parts of planning your garden is figuring out how to plant it. For an instant, new-look garden, take a tip from the experts and reshape the…
Perfect perennials: Plant and flower ideas
Flower beds stuffed with plants is the key to creating a great garden and reliable, perennial favourites, like bee balm or Monarda which attract pollinators such as butterflies and bees,…
Gold plant inspiration for your garden
Plants that have yellow-gold leaves add a splash of instant sunshine to a shady corner, an effect that lasts longer than any flowers. They look fabulous beside perennials with red,…
Growing potatoes and top types to try
There are potato varieties for salads, roasting, boiling, baking and mash – and if you start planting after the danger of frost has passed, you could enjoy them from June…
Cactus tips: How to care for your cacti
It’s easy to get hooked on cacti as their spiked, ridged, tall, squat and hairy forms are very collectable – especially with children as they are often sold at pocket-money…
How to fight off garden bugs with plants
Even though the good weather means plants are growing fast and strong now, they can still be prone to pest attack by garden bugs. Keeping them healthy by regular watering,…
How to be weather-wise in the garden
Tropical air blowing in from the south-west along with a strong El Niño phenomenon have been given as reasons for this winter’s mild, wet and windy weather. Unseasonal temperatures have…
Grow your own drinks
If you grow your own fruit and vegetables you will no doubt have made jams and chutneys galore – and probably given a lot to friends and family. So what…
Heavenly hydrangeas
For summer colour nothing will beat the sight of a mass planting of mophead hydrangeas. These spectacular shrubby plants, which flower from June right through to the frosts, have large,…
Ravishing roses to brighten up your garden
The rose is England’s favourite flower and can be found in almost every garden in the land. In recent times, shrub roses, and especially the English roses bred by David…
Clever climbers: Clematis blooms will make a bold statement
Clematis blooms come in a variety of shapes, from tiny bells and lanterns to enormous glittering stars. Flowers can be singles or petal-packed doubles and range in colour from white…
Fuchsia flair: 6 best plants for your garden
Sunshine and showers are perfect fuchsia- growing conditions, so providing we don’t have a sudden drop in temperature this summer, you can expect beautiful hanging baskets and colourful containers. There…
How to grow a cottage garden
The romantic cottage-garden image is unkempt and informal, with bulging borders spilling on to pathways filled with a joyful jumble of old-fashioned flowers with fruit bushes, vegetables and herbs squeezed…
Best hanging baskets
Even with very little planting skill, it’s easy to make a memorable display if you plant up your hanging baskets with just a single species. For sophisticated good looks, choose…
How to grow your own mini orchard
Growing your own fruit bowl is rewarding and possible in the tiniest of gardens, where pots are used to support vitamin-rich favourites like apples, pears, plums and cherries, plus the…
Be weather wise in the garden
Gardening and the weather go hand in hand as we rely on it to help seeds and plants thrive and to ripen crops – not to mention those brilliant days…
Lawn care made easy
After a busy summer in the garden, lawns can be left worn out and exhausted – especially if the weather has taken its toll. Where the soil is shallow, a…
Houseplants: Give your home an exotic vibe
Houseplants make a home healthier, cleaning the air from airborne contaminants and allowing you to breathe more easily. They also make a room feel cosier and with a bit of…
Create an indoor garden with a terrarium, succulents and cacti
How to create a mini garden with a terrarium, succulents and cacti. You will need: Terrariums Succulents and cacti Gravel Soil suitable for succulents Spoon Gardening gloves if handling cacti…