Garden care, advice & courses
If you put a group of gardeners together, it won’t be long before someone starts complaining about clay soil. Clay soil is hard work (literally!). However, it’s not all bad: clay soil is high in nutrients and responds well to regular mulching. Plus there are plenty of plants that love it. As with all aspects … Read more
If you live near the sea, or in a windy, dry area, then a beach or gravel garden might be the perfect choice for you. If you choose the right plants, they will thrive with little or no water, and not be bothered by salt winds. However, there are a few important details to consider … Read more
So I’ll confess straight away that Chaenomeles (or Japanese Quince) is one of my all-time favourite shrubs. It comes in shades from white, through red, orange and peach – but for me, the only colour is red. The flowers of the Japanese Quince emerge with the first of the crocuses, and continue for several months. … Read more
By mid-winter, most of our gardens are sad and colourless. Let’s face it: winter interest in a small garden is tricky. It’s difficult to justify setting aside large areas for plants which look lovely in winter but a bit ‘meh’ the rest of the year. (Dogwoods – I’m talking about you…) But Cyclamen coum will … Read more
Plants can be victims of their own success. This is the case with Skimmia japonica: it’s easy to grow and uncomplaining, so it’s planted everywhere. It’s a bit of a ‘carpark’ plant – you might see it outside Tesco’s with plastic bags and old beer cans wedged inside it. However, that’s no reason to reject … Read more
When we think of spring bulbs, we think daffodils, tulips, crocuses … maybe snowdrops or anemones. Camassias are less well known – you might not find them at your local garden centre. I was inspired to try out Camassias when I watched Stella Exley on the BBC’s Chelsea Flower Show. Stella is a Camassia superfan, multi-Chelsea-medal-winner … Read more
All too often, Mahonias are found lurking in the back of a border: neglected, straggly and unloved. They seem to have little to recommend them, except the ability to survive huge amounts of neglect. However, just like Cinderella, Mahonia can be a real beauty. Some varieties have lovely autumn leaf colours. In the depths of … Read more
