In this post we cover some of the best Thalictrums to grow in your garden, as well as running through the key points you need to know in order to help your Thalictrums thrive. Commonly known as the Meadow Rue, Thalictrums are herbaceous perennial plants and typically have fine blue-green or green foliage of various …
Anemanthele lessoniana is a beautiful clump forming ornamental grass with a nice upright habit. Its leaves are a mixture of green and bronze, turning red and orange in summer and autumn. It generally prefers full sun, but can take some shade, although, in my experience, the colouring is less fiery in shade. Small feathery red …
Plant hardiness Plant hardiness can be described as follows: Assuming the right amounts of nutrients, light and water the survival of a plant in a particular location is determined by the lowest temperatures it will have to withstand. We therefore say that a plant that can withstand the temperature extremes in a particular place is …
The value of garden chipper shredders In my view even the best garden chipper shredders can be can either be incredibly useful tools or intensely frustrating ones. Incredibly useful, because there is something very satisfying, almost magical, about clearing away your tangled mess of clippings, prunings and fallen leaves reducing them in volume and turning …
In many ways a cordless electric lawn mower gives you the best of both worlds when you are looking to select the best lawn mower. With a cordless lawn mower you get the flexibility and freedom of movement associated with gas powered lawn mower models, but the quietness and environmental soundness found in the the …
Featured Image: Photo by zhang kaiyv on Pexels.com Weeding is a job that is traditionally considered to be one of those that gardeners like least. And, the truth is, if weeds have really taken over your garden, then getting rid of them will be a tough job. However, weeding your garden beds is also one …
Cordless leaf blowers (also known as battery powered lead blowers), offer users a number of advantages over other types of leaf blowing machines. If you are looking for the best leaf blower, a cordless model might be the best choice for you – especially if you have a fairly small area to clear and you …
In this short podcast I focus on growing conditions and in particular what I have learned about the relationship between temperature and plants in my garden in the two years I have been gardening here. The transcript below is an edited version of the podcast. Transcript I’ve been musing about the way the garden has …
Lawn care is one of those gardening tasks that can take you as much or as little time as you are willing to give it. Once you know how to take care of your lawn – which this article will show you – you can take these lawn care tips and tailor them to the …
How do you choose an electric mower? Are you looking for a new electric lawn mower – may be as an upgrade from an older model or because you’ve got your own lawn to mow for the first time. Either way, an electric lawn mower will suit you if you have a relatively small lawn, …
How to choose the best lawn mower The critical thing to remember when choosing a lawn mower, is that it should be the best lawn mower for you and your garden. To work out which is going to be the best lawn mower for you, there are a number of questions you can ask yourself …
There is a well established link between gardens and art. Throughout history, gardens and plants have provided the inspiration for some of the worlds greatest art – most obviously examples like Monet’s paintings of his garden at Giverny, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, or Manet’s Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe. Gardens can also be the settings for great …
Weeding is generally one of the gardener’s least favourite tasks, but a good hoe can make the task not only easier but often, in my experience, actually enjoyable. Now, I had better qualify that last statement. A lot depends on the type and quality of your hoe. So, let’s look at these points below. When …
This post is designed for you to come back to again and again. By the miracle of technology, I can bring you a feed from some of the best gardening blogs and websites on the internet – updated daily. Sources, drawn from around the world, include: The latest updates The latest updates are below. For …
As we approach the end of 2020, it seems quite hard to imagine what life was like before the Coronavirus pandemic. I realise that readers in different parts of the world will have had different experiences, but here in the UK, the full lockdown and the closing down of normal life for several months, generated …
It is well worth learning how to plant and grow tulips, because they are outstanding spring flowering plants that you can grow in garden beds, through lawns, in container, or even indoors. We generally plant tulips in Autumn/Fall, although later than other spring bulbs, such as daffodils. As Sarah Raven points out in the video …
Tomato plants will keep growing as long as you let them, and as long as they are not hit by frost. But, as you get towards the end of the growing season, you may find that your tomatoes won’t ripen and turn red. In this article, we look at 7 ways to help you get …
If herbs were a royal family, rather than (a) savoury or fragrant plants used for flavouring food, or (b) characters in an early 70s TV programme for kids then, in my opinion, Basil (Ocimum Basilicum) would be king. But sometimes Basil doesn’t get treated like a king, and we don’t get to see and taste …
It is that wonderful time of year when the dahlias are really getting into their stride. And, if we keep up with the deadheading, we can have their company until late into the autumn – unless of course they get battered down by storms, like some have this week. I have to be honest when …
This is my first contribution to the Six on Saturday gardening conversation that started on the Propagator’s blog. As I reflected on what I could contribute, I looked around the garden and realised it was the red plants that were jumping out at me, calling for my attention. Red plants are not hugely abundant in …