Autumn Gardening

September is often overlooked as a month for taking a breather rather than planting, with many gardeners thinking the growing season is winding down and focusing primarily on tidying up summer’s glorious chaos by cutting back. Knowing what to plant during September is where the experienced gardeners beat newbies! September is the prime time for […]

Damsons are a subspecies of the Plum family and have a really high fruit rate, which is great for bakers, preservers or foragers in the garden. As Damsons have a high pectin rate, they set jam with just sugar alone, with no need for manufactured pectin additives. Damsons are a nutritious and versatile fruit with […]

August arrives, and suddenly your garden feels tired. Spring’s enthusiasm has worn off, summer’s peak has passed, and you’re left staring at gaps where earlier perennials have finished flowering. Meanwhile, the weeds seem to have endless energy, popping up everywhere you don’t want them. Sound familiar? I’ve been there too, and it’s exactly why I’ve […]

Sometimes in gardening, even the best-laid planting plans don’t quite work out. Maybe that once-small shrub has become a thug in the border. Perhaps a new shed’s gone up and plunged your prized Calycanthus into shade. Or perhaps you’re redesigning your entire garden and need to start fresh with proper plant positioning and spacing. Whatever […]

Raspberries (Rubus idaeus) are one of the most rewarding cane fruits to grow in your garden. Their juicy dark pink berries and fuss-free growth raspberries provide an abundant harvest with minimal effort. They are the perfect soft fruit for beginner gardeners to grow even in smaller gardens. This guide will show you how to grow […]

As autumn approaches, many trees put on a spectacular display of vibrant colours before shedding their leaves, creating one of the most beautiful seasonal changes in any garden. Deciduous trees turn their colours from green to orange, red, gold, and yellow. It begs the question, why do trees drop their leaves? This beautiful phenomenon is […]

As the summer fades and the days get shorter, your garden doesn’t have to lose its vibrancy or beauty. By using plant species that flower in late summer and autumn, you can extend the gardening season through what we designers call ‘succession planting’ into September, October, and even November. For beginner gardeners, it’s a perfect […]

Smudging is an ancient practice rooted in many cultures, particularly among Native American traditions, used to purify spaces, cleanse energy, and promote a sense of calm and well-being. Smudging, smoking or saging has also been adopted by the witchcraft community and those who seek guidance from the universe connected with spiritual matters. Different dried herbs […]

Hello, fellow green-thumbs. It’s Garden Ninja here, your trusty guide to all things gardening. Today, I’m here to revolutionize your gardening calendar by extolling the wonders of autumn planting over the traditional spring or summer sowing. There are so many benefits to planting up a garden in autumn and often new gardeners think they can […]

Shrubs play a vital role in the garden’s aesthetic by providing structure and texture to help connect your gardens planting scheme. They also offer a home for wildlife and ensure that any garden design has a good grounding with what we garden designers call ‘punctuation‘ (the ability to break up an eyeliner with shrubs or […]