Late to the cut
In the red corner, we have the “Gardeners’ World” approach: a serene, linen-clad Monty Don whispering sweet nothings to a germinating seed. In the blue corner, there’s the reality of me, armed with rusty pruners and the spatial awareness of…
The temptation of a special offer
There is a specific kind of madness that descends upon a gardener when they see the words “Special Offer.” It’s a primal, twitchy-eyed greed that overrides common sense. So, when an internet advert promised two packs of bedding geraniums for…
Supporting birds in April
As April unfolds and the vibrant pulse of spring quickens, the challenges facing our garden birds undergo a dramatic shift. While the biting frost of winter has retreated, this month marks the beginning of the gruelling breeding season. For many…
Plant lily bulbs in containers
There is something undeniably magical about seeing lilies emerge in your garden. If you want one of the most stunning and fragrant displays of the summer, planting them in pots is an absolute game-changer. Containers offer you total control over…
Mulch bare soil in April
As April brings the first true warmth of spring, the garden undergoes a rapid transformation, making it the perfect window to protect your soil before the summer heat settles in. Applying a generous layer of organic mulch across your garden…
Pruning a Buddleja in April
As April arrives, the window for pruning your Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii) is reaching its peak. While many gardeners traditionally aim for March, the early weeks of April are often the best time to tackle this hardy shrub, especially in…
Pond-ering over a siphoning disaster
On Good Friday, the start of the Easter gardening weekend, I walked out into the garden to a scene of absolute, unmitigated carnage. My pond—my pride, my joy, my little aquatic sanctuary—looked less like a tranquil garden feature and more…
Prick out tomatoes
Timing is everything when it comes to the delicate transition of young plants, and for tomato seedlings, that golden moment arrives the second you spot their first set of “true leaves.” These are the ones that actually look like miniature…
Sow some lettuce
Cultivating your own salad greens is one of the most rewarding endeavours a gardener can undertake, primarily because the flavour difference is staggering. There is a crisp, peppery vibrancy in a leaf plucked straight from the garden that a grocery…
Make sure to do this if you have tulips in containers
As we transition into the heart of spring, it is incredibly easy to fall into a sense of complacency regarding our garden maintenance. After all, the winter months were characterised by a deep, passive dormancy, during which our plants required…