Gardening in Retirement An estimated 27 million people in the UK are involved in gardening and the activity remains a popular hobby for the British who are proud of their green spaces. For retired people who have spare time on their hands, gardening is an interesting pursuit with around 62% of adults 65 years and above engaged in the activity, according to … Read More
A Rabbit Proof Garden
Making your Garden A Rabbit-Proof Zone Rabbits are some of the cutest creatures to grace our fields, ahem, and in my case garden. The problem with having a colony of rabbits in situ is their voracious appetite for most things green. If you have rabbits in your garden you’ll have to forget about planting anything remotely ‘interesting’ because the rabbits … Read More
Preparing trees, shrubs and perennials for autumn
Bare root trees and shrubs will become available later in the season so now, while the soil is relatively warm, is the time to prepare the ground if you’re planning to plant a new tree or hedge. Dig over the entire area removing any weed roots and dig in plenty of organic matter. It is hard work but the new … Read More
A Tree for Every Season… and Garden
Choosing the right tree for your garden No two trees are alike in shape, form texture and colour, and, at this time of year, many are putting on a final glorious display before the long winter months. Now is the best time to plan a new tree for your garden Trees of course are vital to our environment, put simply, … Read More
Planting Bulbs
Plant bulbs in the autumn for spectacular spring colour The comforting thing about the march of the seasons in a garden is the inevitability of change and with it the opportunity to plan ahead for the following year. In this way gardening is a hopeful hobby. Few things give more hope than bulbs, which are like flowers in a packet. … Read More
Giving a Brand New Look To An Old Patio
Time to get out and about in the garden Around 40% of people in the UK spend only 15 minutes outdoors each day, putting their physical and mental health at risk. The situation is as dire for children as for adults, with one 2016 finding that 75% of British children spend less time outside than confined adults. If you are lucky enough … Read More
Making Wildlife Welcome in the Garden
Making your Garden Attractive to Wildlife Last week I learnt a particularly painful lesson. I broke my finger in a futile bid to chase away one of the numerous visiting rabbits in my garden. The war to protect my precious flowers has been lost. Peace has been officially declared. This experience has left me in a reflective mood. Wildlife in … Read More