Why you should deadhead tulips now
The arrival of spring is often heralded by the vibrant, waxy cups of tulips nodding in our garden borders. They provide that much-needed explosion of colour after a long, grey winter. However, as the petals begin to wilt and drop,…
Time to be garden brave
The art of aggressive vegetation management is rarely about delicate snips; it is about having the backbone to tell a shrub that its residency has been revoked. For most people, the idea of attacking a plant they’ve nurtured is horrifying,…
Divide and move grasses
When it comes to the rhythm of the garden, ornamental grasses dance to a slightly different beat than your standard herbaceous perennials. While you might be used to splitting most plants during their dormant winter slumber, grasses demand a bit…
Cut back allium leaves
While many gardeners are accustomed to the long, lingering wait for bulb foliage to wither, alliums offer a refreshing departure from the norm. Most spring bulbs require you to leave their yellowing leaves intact for weeks to recharge the bulbs…
The Chelsea Chop
As the calendar turns to early May, gardeners should begin transitioning citrus plants from their winter shelters—such as greenhouses or conservatories—into the open air. While the increased sunlight is beneficial for growth, the move must be gradual. It is wise…
Bring citrus plants outdoors
As the calendar turns to early May, gardeners should begin transitioning citrus plants from their winter shelters—such as greenhouses or conservatories—into the open air. While the increased sunlight is beneficial for growth, the move must be gradual. It is wise…
Harden off and plant out annuals
As we approach mid-May, the gardening season truly shifts gears, offering the perfect window to introduce tender annuals into your outdoor spaces. Popular varieties such as vibrant Zinnias, towering Sunflowers, ethereal Cosmos, and fragrant Tobacco plants are ready to take…
What to do in May
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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…