Using plants as medicines For centuries many of the common plants we use today in our borders and hanging baskets have been grown for medicinal purposes. You can literally grow your own medicine cabinet, although it’s always sensible to check that things grown in the garden are safe. The has been a huge increase in demand for popular herbal remedies … Read More
Are Coffee Grounds Good for your Garden?
Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden Using coffee grounds for gardening is a hot tip floating around with enthusiasts. So are coffee grounds good for gardens? Like most things in life, the answer here cannot be a simple yes or no. For the sake of closure, let’s say that is true, but with caveats. Here are some tips to use … 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
Garden to visit – Badminton House
The Gardens at Badminton House One of the joys of gardening is that there is always more to learn. Finding good new ideas in the garden of a country house is one of the best ways to do this. The gardens at Badminton house are not only a pleasure to experience but a wonderful source of inspiration. In the last … Read More