Fill that flowerless hole in the border with something that’s going to keep the colour coming right through to autumn. You should be able to pick these plants up from…
Sally Charrett
Summer clematis
Their gently scrambling habit makes them the perfect follow up act for June-flowering roses and early summer-flowering shrubs. Pruning couldn’t be simpler: Just cut them down to the lowest shooting…
How to grow: Streptocarpus
Once you’ve grown one Cape primrose successfully you’ll be hooked forever, says Anne Swithinbank. There are literally hundreds of varieties of streptocarpus and they are very collectable. As the common…
Sowing and growing sweet peas
The steps you need to follow for growing sweet peas success! 1. Buy quality seeds from a sweet pea specialist because seed quality varies. 2. Sow in late…
5 Easy steps to sowing sunflower seeds
Sowing Sunflower Seeds in 5 Simple Steps Step 1: At the end of March/early April sow seeds into 9cm pots. Use an equal ratio of loam, perlite and sand. Step…
Best roses for containers
Pot-grown roses can be planted into patio containers at any time of the year, but around the end of February is a good time, as plants are just about to start…
Berries on holly explained plus 5 top buys
Hollies are either male or female – only the females berry. Very few are self-fertile, so a female generally needs a male nearby (in the same garden or a neighbour’s)…
How to grow the perfect Christmas roses
To grow Christmas roses start off by buying cheaper ‘tester’ Helleborus niger in smaller pots. If possible, buy your Christmas roses in flower, looking for rounded blooms and plenty of healthy…
How to make a Christmas containers
For a cool, sophisticated look choose white and silver plants and embellish them with silver decorations and bright lights. This display will look classy for many months and the cineraria…
Five top winter flowering bulbs
1. Eranthis hyemalis The golden glow of this charming low-growing winter perennial is a heartwarming sight indeed. The flower is set within deep green leaves. The winter aconite will thrive…