If you enjoy raising plants from seed, you can begin sowing them by the end of this month. Provided they are kept in a sunny, frost-free environment they will get off to a flying start. No matter how long you’ve been gardening, raising your own plants from seed is very satisfying. To get seeds such as tomatoes and tender bedding … Read More
What Vegetables to Plant in January
What Vegetables to Plant in January The vegetables you can plant in January depend on your specific climate and growing conditions. January is typically a lot cooler so you’ll be looking at cold-hardy vegetables that can withstand colder temperatures. As we roll out of Christmas, we might be setting some goals to become healthier or live a more sustainable lifestyle. … Read More
January: Time to Plan Ahead for a Year-Round Garden of Cut Flowers
Now is the time to plan your garden to grow flowers for cutting this year. Establishing a long succession of flowers for cutting is easy and not hugely costly. Perennials that self-seed, such as the frothy yellow Alchemilla mollis or aquilegias, are plants no flower arranger should be without but until they become established it’s simple to sow annuals for … Read More
Gardening by the Moon
Gardening by the Moon In the age-old practice of gardening, there’s a mystical and fascinating method of gardening by the moon. This ancient method, deeply rooted in folklore and agricultural traditions, suggests that the phases of the moon can significantly influence plant growth. The moon affects the tides so some gardeners believe that it can also affect the water on … Read More
Keeping Busy in the January Garden
The comforting thing about the march of the seasons in a garden is the inevitability of the cycles. It won’t be long before snowdrops make their first welcome appearance heralding spring and the whole show can start again – January is an optimistic month. Although the days are cold and the nights long, there is always something to do in … Read More
Interesting Plants for the December Garden
Plants can be so attractive in the frost. The bright stems of dogwoods, underplanted with a winter creeper, such as Cornus Alba ‘Siberica’ and Euonymus fortune ‘Silver Queen’, give a festive glow to the garden, especially in the low, early sunshine. Although colour is rare in the garden at this time of year, it’s not completely bleak. Plants such as … Read More
Maintenance Jobs for the December Garden
As the weather begins to turn and we venture inside, gardens can easily become dormant spaces, forgotten until spring. When the greenery has died back, however, and you get to see the bare bones of your garden, winter presents a fantastic opportunity for adjusting or changing your perimeter fences – the backdrop to your spring, summer and autumn display. With … Read More
Bee Friendly Garden Design
A Natural Bee Friendly Garden Design A bee friendly garden design is not hard to create. According to the national wildlife trust, nature is in crisis. However, if you have a garden, there is much you can do to help the plight of bees. Private gardens cover an area bigger than all of Britain’s nature reserves combined, so they are … Read More
Money-Saving Tips for your January Garden
If you enjoy raising plants from seed, you can begin sowing them by the end of this month. Provided they are kept in a sunny, frost-free environment they will get off to a flying start. No matter how long you’ve been gardening, raising your own plants from seed is very satisfying. To get seeds such as tomatoes and tender bedding … Read More
Where to See Snowdrops
If you live in or near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire and want to know where to see snowdrops; for a stunning display, visit the gardens at Colesbourne Park. Described by Country Life as ‘England’s greatest snowdrop garden’ admire snowdrops en masse this is the place to head to this winter. The collection of snowdrops at Colesbourne Park was started in the … Read More