English vs Spanish bluebells
UK woodlands are home to 50% of the world’s English (common) bluebells, but larger showier Spanish bluebells may pose a threat to this much-loved native species. Here’s how to spot the difference between different types of bluebell and how, as gardeners, we can do our bit to help preserve our native species.
Potatoes: a whole new language
Traditionally, Easter is potato planting time. But before you start digging, do you speak Potato? Do you know your first earlies from your maincrops, your indeterminates from your determinates, and have you chitted before planting?
How to choose the right Mahonia
Mahonias provide winter colour and much-needed nectar for foraging bees when there is not much else in flower. Now is a good time to plant them, so find out more about the different types and what will suit your garden.
Love letter to my garden
Hidden Hellebores
March may be filled with the sunny glow of the daffodil, but it has a loyal compatriot in the tough, cold-hardy Hellebore. These harbingers of Spring thrive side-by-side in the flower borders around my pond, and together with the early-evening song of a vociferous blackbird, they mark the turning of the season. Hellebores have a demure charm, with gently nodding…
Persevering with snowdrops: planting in the green
Despite planting snowdrops in the green for the past few years, they are slow to get established in my garden. But every clump of snowdrops that reappears the following winter makes me smile, so I’ll keep persevering with them.
Can you plant spring bulbs in January?
It’s not too late to plant spring bulbs, but you’d better get a shift on, as they need about 6 weeks of wintry weather to get established. Here’s how to plant in layers in a pot for a spring display that will last several months
How to chase the January gardening blues away
Rain, rain and more rain. It’s bleak out there. To avoid going completely stir crazy I’ve been dreaming of, and planning, what plants to buy, what seeds to sow and which places to visit this year for some gardening inspriation.
2022 End of year review
The Met Office has confirmed that 2022 has been the warmest year on record in the UK. Here, I look back at the ups and downs of the gardening year, which has very much been dictated by the vagaries of the weather.
A poinsettia is not just for Christmas
Do you throw out your poinsettia(s) after Christmas? If so, join me in the #PoinsettiaChallenge2023. Give your plant some TLC and let’s see if we can give poinsettias across the UK a second chance of Christmas glory.
Protecting plants in winter
Winter has arrived. With overnight temperatures falling below zero this week, I’ve been putting some frost protection measures in place.
How to use your autumn leaves
You can’t escape the fall of leaves right now, but should you leave them or collect them? Here are my reasons for getting out your garden rake.