if your garden is bigger than a courtyard, but smaller than an acre

Lupins Band of Nobles series

Perennials made simple – how to choose and grow the best plants for your borders

Perennials are the main flowering element of a successful mixed border. So I went to one of the UK’s premier perennial plant nurseries, Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants, to talk to…

Updated on October 15th, 2024

Posted In: Beautiful Borders, Gardening Know How


Ruby flowered broom

10 low maintenance plants for an instant – but long-lasting – garden

I’ve been finding out about the ultimate low maintenance plants for an instant – yet long-lasting garden. And holiday homes really need easy-care gardens, because there’s so little time when…

Updated on November 6th, 2022

Posted In: Garden Trends & Design


How to create a beautiful and welcoming front garden

What to consider when creating a beautiful front garden – the architecture of your home, your gate, your colour scheme and low maintenance!

Updated on November 10th, 2024

Posted In: Garden Trends & Design


Day lilies are edible.

What you need to know about edible flowers

Edible flowers have been one of the surprise successes of the last few years. Many of us are suspicious of the idea of eating flowers, but they do look so…

Updated on April 12th, 2024

Posted In: Garden Trends & Design


Osmanthus delavayi

How to choose plants for shade – for year round garden success

If you’re buying plants for shade, firstly think about what kind of shade you have in your garden. At least half your garden – wherever you live – is shady….

Updated on April 23rd, 2023

Posted In: Gardening Know How


How to grow tulips

How to plant and grow tulips for a stunning display

If you want dramatic garden colour in spring, then you have to grow tulips. And they are easy to grow. They don’t always come back the following year the way…

Updated on April 23rd, 2026

Posted In: Gardening Know How


Daffodils with different cup and trumpet sizes

Daffodils – the star of the show or the Cinderella of the garden?

Do we take daffodils for granted? My Twitter feed is packed with people posting images of snowdrops in February. They’re beautiful. Snowdrops are so sweet and innocent – the first…

Updated on September 17th, 2023

Posted In: Gardening Know How


The basics of gardening

What are the basics of gardening that everyone needs to know?

The basics of gardening in an easy-to-understand list – find out what you need to know to create a beautiful garden that’s right for you.

Updated on February 20th, 2026

Posted In: Gardening Know How


10 practical and beautiful outdoor seating ideas

Outdoor seating ideas for your garden – how to incorporate attractive garden seating into your design, including DIY and recycled ideas.

Updated on March 31st, 2026

Posted In: Decorations/Parties, Garden Trends & Design


Recycled greenhouse

3 very simple things you can do to create an eco friendly garden

How to create a more eco friendly garden. 3 easy, practical tips from Sally Nex, author of How to Garden The Low Carbon Way. They’ll save you time and money, as well as reducing your carbon footprint.

Updated on February 14th, 2022

Posted In: Wildlife & Eco


Bronze weeding tool

My favourite garden tools and products

The right garden tools and products make gardening so much easier and more comfortable. We’ve suffered from gloves that don’t fit, garden forks that bend under the slightest pressure, secateurs…

Updated on April 2nd, 2023

Posted In: Gardening Know How


The really simple guide to making your own garden compost

Making your own garden compost is really easy. And it’s fabulously good for your garden plants. Professional gardeners call it ‘garden gold.’ Plus it will save you taking garden clippings…

Updated on February 20th, 2026

Posted In: Gardening Know How, Wildlife & Eco