garden

Fruit and veg allotment

How to keep your crops fruiting throughout summer

Veg growing can be endlessly rewarding, but this spring, there was a huge increase in people ripping out their lawns to build veg beds, and adapting their windowsills into mini-greenhouses for the first time.

Lockdown turned many of us into fledgling gardeners, and now those hopeful seeds planted during a crisis, are growing up – and nothing quite beats your first homegrown courgette...

Plants for pots in garden

Ten of the best plants for pots

Patio plants come into their own in summer, adding wow factor to your outdoor space even on the smallest balcony or in the tiniest courtyard.

“Think of container gardening as the art of choreographing individuals into a joyous composition,” says broadcaster and multi award-winning garden designer Chris Beardshaw, best known for his regular appearances on BBC Gardeners’ World....

Dried Flowers hanging on wall

How to dry home-grown blooms

Gardeners may be looking for new ways to make the most of their fruit and flowers this year – and dried flowers are once again catching on. Head-dresses, gift cards, wreaths and framed indoor displays can all be made using dried flowers you’ve grown yourself.

Floral artist Bex Partridge, author of a new book, Everlastings, explains: “Most of us have probably done this at some point...

Man in garden

Eight ways your garden can make you feel better during lockdown

There’s never been a better time to have a garden, as outdoor space means you can at least enjoy some fresh air and greenery while staying at home during lockdown.

And the benefits don’t just apply to avid gardeners – new research shows spending time in the garden may be beneficial for overall health and psychological wellbeing, whether you’re gardening or just relaxing.

The...

Mark Lane in the garden

How to spruce up your garden in just 30 minutes

Even if you only have half an hour in the garden, you can still spruce up your plot – so says BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Mark Lane.

He’s supporting The Great British Garden Spruce Up, an initiative by Jeyes to coincide with National Gardening Week, to try to get the public to keep a daily gardening diary and spruce up their plots in preparation for summer.

“It’s...

How to brighten your garden with berries and feed the birds at the same time

As autumn leaves fall and the days become shorter, many gardens are plunged into gloom.

One saving grace is berries – from reds and oranges to blacks – which brighten up the often colour-free winter garden, and provide vital food for birds. Many of them stand bold against evergreen leaves, providing an impressive display of contrast.

Rosehips last through winter

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Got a garden for the first time? 9 of the easiest things beginners should start with

If you've never had a garden before, it's a real revelation when you finally move into somewhere with a patch of grass to call your own – space to potter around in, barbecues in the summer and drinks in the fading evening light.

But for people who've never so much as bought a pair of garden gloves and pulled a weed out, suddenly having to care for and nurture a garden year-round can...

Do you struggle with a small garden? 7 hacks to make it look bigger

If your garden is the side of a postage stamp and you just want a feeling of space when you step outside, landscape expert Gena Lorainne of home care specialist Fantastic Services ( fantasticservices.com ) and planting designer Carolyn Dunster, author of Urban Flowers, offer the following tips...

1. Use mirrors

Placing a mirror or two in your small garden can create an...

The garden is most popular renovation space for South West homeowners

Following a survey indicating that an increased number of people chose to carry out renovations in their homes in 2022, with outdoor areas being the most popular for spend in the South West, RGB Building Supplies is giving advice on budget-friendly improvements people can make in their gardens this spring.

The research, carried out by consumer spending experts at money.co.uk for its...

Plan and design a family garden with hints and tip from our friends at Homebase

Plan and design a family garden with hints and tip from our friends at Homebase

A family garden is a space that needs to work hard to meet the wishes of every member of the family – a fine balance between the seemingly conflicting needs of imagination and play for children, privacy for teenagers and relaxation, entertainment and aesthetics for adults. Here are some ideas from our friends at Homebase ...

Often the garden is given over entirely to just one generation of...

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