When we moved to Spring Cottage 12 years ago, the old shed contained a cocktail of chemicals, including DDT – an organochlorine pesticide that was banned in Britain in 1984.…
Spring
Time to make a seedbed
With soil temperatures warming and windowsills overflowing, many gardeners are desperate to begin sowing directly outside during April. You’d think that making a seedbed would be a simple task, and…
How to create a garden pond
© Alamy A pond adds so much to the garden on every level. It need not be massive – if space is tight you can create a patio mini-pond in…
Get instant colour from bulbs this Spring
Traditionally Autumn is the time to plant out dormant spring bulbs, but if you didn’t get round to the job last year, help is now at hand. Garden centres seem…
Lilies – how to care for lily flowers with a look at ‘Queen of The Night’
How to plant lilies in a pot Loosen the soil with a fork before planting. Plant ideally in a corner sheltered from the wind, along the fence or between other…
How to make Easter hanging baskets
If you are looking to create hanging baskets this Easter weekend – look no further than our simple step-by-step guide from Amateur Gardening magazine. For this you will need: – hanging…
Get the family gardening over Easter
I am sure this is a familiar story in many household around the UK and even the world – one of trying to drag your children away from their computers,…
How to plant summer bulbs
I HAVE always wanted more colour in my summer garden, so this year I was determined to get my summer bulbs – including corms and tubers – in on time.…
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…
How to sow seeds
THERE IS little more satisfying than growing magnificent, colourful flowers or delicious crops from a few tiny seeds. It’s also a lot cheaper than buying young plants. Many people never…