Top tips

  • February 20, 2015

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…

  • February 9, 2015

The easiest way to start composting at home is to invest in a compost-maker. Most garden centres will stock two sizes: 220-litres or 330-litres. The golden rule is to buy…

  • February 6, 2015

To ensure you achieve the healthiest and best-shaped roses, which in turn give you the best flowers, you need to prune roses annually – and this can be carried out…

  • February 5, 2015

Multi-purpose compost The best all-rounder. Once called ‘universal’ compost, these mixes cater for a host of uses – including sowing large seeds, pricking out seedlings and planting-up pots, containers and…

  • February 3, 2015

If you have a heated propagator or a space on a warm, bright windowsill, sow tomatoes seeds at the end of January or start of February. Here’s how to sow…

  • January 20, 2015

When it comes to spring lawn care there are three key jobs need doing. These are scarifying, spiking, and top-dressing. SCARIFYING removes moss and ‘thatch’ – small pieces of dead grass…

SEED STORAGE

  • December 20, 2014

If you are sorting through old seed packets through the winter months use this handy table to decide whether seeds are worth keeping. Veg and flower seeds and how long…

holly

  • December 17, 2014

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)…

  • December 17, 2014

  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…

  • December 15, 2014

WATERING tomatoes and other large plants all year round, especially during busy times, can be a lot of hard work. A number of self-watering planter systems are available to buy…