Autumn Gardening

There’s something truly magical about those first sunny daffodil blooms breaking through the cold British soil each spring. After 35 years of gardening, I can honestly say that daffodils remain one of my absolute favourite plants for adding effortless colour and naturalising in UK gardens. But one question I hear time and time again from […]

You know what gets me every autumn? Those glossy gardening magazines showing pristine pots stuffed with layer upon layer of spring bulbs, promising you’ll have continuous flowers from February through May. Instagram is awash with them. YouTube tutorials multiply like rabbits. Everyone’s at it, stacking tulips, daffodils and crocuses like they’re building some horticultural wedding […]

When it comes to planting hundreds of spring bulbs, any gardener will tell you, it can be back-breaking work, that is, unless you have the hidden tool all us pros use for speedy bulb planting. I’m talking about one of the absolute weapons in any gardener’s arsenal: the humble bulb planter. Now, I know what […]

Making your own compost is one of the most rewarding things you can do as a gardener. Not only does it save you a fortune on bagged compost, but it’s also brilliant for the planet and turns your kitchen and garden waste into absolute gold for your soil. I’ve been gardening for a long time, […]

Staring out at your perfectly square garden through those patio doors, you might be feeling distinctly uninspired. That predictable rectangle of lumpy turf bordered by fence panels on all sides probably looks less like a garden and more like a green prison yard, especially if it’s one of those typical new build plots where developers […]

Staring down that narrow strip of garden stretching away from your house, you might be feeling like you’ve drawn the short straw in the garden lottery. Long thin gardens are probably the most common awkward shape in British suburbia, particularly in Victorian terraces, post-war developments, and those estate properties where developers sliced up former agricultural […]

November often gets dismissed as nothing more than a leaf raking and garden tidying month, with most gardeners thinking there’s nothing left to do except clear up and wait for spring. This mentality drives me absolutely spare! Whilst others are already planning their seed orders for February and ignoring their plots, I’m out here at […]

After twenty-odd years of planting thousands upon thousands of bulbs across Manchester, Liverpool, and beyond, I’ve developed something of an obsession with getting colour combinations absolutely spot on. There’s nothing quite like that moment in February when your carefully orchestrated rainbow of bulbs starts emerging through the frost, transforming what was a barren winter wasteland […]

Slugs and snails can be controlled effectively without chemicals by using physical barriers, setting traps, encouraging natural predators, and creating less hospitable conditions. Beer traps, copper tape, and wool pellets work brilliantly when used correctly. But it’s up to you to decide the ethics of beer traps! If you’ve ever woken up to find your […]

Short answer: If your garden is already thriving with happy, healthy plants, you probably don’t need soil testing. However, if you’re starting a brand new plot, battling persistent plant problems, or growing fussy plants like rhododendrons or blueberries, testing your soil is absolutely essential for success. Why Most Gardeners Skip Soil Testing (And Whether You Should […]