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…
Top tips
How to create a self-watering planter
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…
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…
Top tips for autumn leaves
1) Composting Autumn leaves are great for composting especially tree leaves. Tree leaves are rich in trace minerals as they have drawn in nutrients from the subsoil gained from the…
How to spike your lawn [video]
Our Amateur Gardening expert shows you how to deal with waterlogged lawns, to improve your turf and set it up for either summer or winter. This job is best carried out…
How to create a Christmas apple tree decoration
This is a great alternative to traditional Christmas decorations. Use up surplus apple harvests or buy a few bags from the supermarket. Take a walk and see what berries you…
Grape pruning in winter
Grape pruning is a vital job in winter, the vines need a hard prune to encourage heavy cropping. However the way you grow them will determine how you prune them, we…
From veg patch to flower patch
We have put two unlikely planting partners together on the veg patch this weekend. And I wonder if anyone else is growing onions along side roses in their garden?! Unfortunately we haven’t…
Compost maker J Arthur Bower’s to launch peat-based Masterblend compost
In January, J Arthur Bower’s will launch Masterblend Compost, made from 100 per cent Scottish peat with added John Innes. Bord na Mona recently unveiled bales of Irish Moss Peat.…
Add topiary to your garden this winter
No matter what time of year, a well-tended topiary shape is guaranteed to catch your attention. Usually created using evergreen plants, these shapes take centre stage during the winter months,…