Autumn Gardening

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 […]

Updated 2024: Wildflower meadows are making a comeback, even in the smallest UK gardens, with ‘no-mow’ strips appearing in tiny urban gardens. Meadows have the ability to reduce garden maintenance, offer stunning summer flowers, and provide a rich habitat for struggling garden wildlife, which means they are becoming increasingly popular. Whether you have created a […]

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 […]

Are you dreaming of a stunning garden that doesn’t require endless hours of toil and trouble? You’re not alone! Many garden enthusiasts are embracing the concept of low-maintenance, high-impact garden designs. (Though most guides for a low-maintenance garden only show boring, shrub-heavy gardens that are less than inspiring for homeowners). I will spill the secrets […]

When it comes to selecting trees for your garden or landscape, one crucial factor to consider is the rootstock size. The rootstock serves as the base or foundation onto which the desired tree variety, known as the scion, is grafted. Fruit trees and some ornamental trees are grafted to control their growth making them suitable […]

If you’re considering starting a meadow, no-mow zone in your lawn or mini meadow in your garden, the yellow rattle is a vital plant ally you need to grow! This plant will help reduce the competition and vigour from native lawn grasses, enabling plants to flourish that otherwise would be overshadowed in the garden. So […]

Recycling is a key part of the Garden Ninja ethos when it comes to gardening. So I was pleased to hear from my good friends over at J.Parkers, one of the North West’s oldest nurseries and online plant suppliers, about a number of recycling tips they had. Here’s the advice they have to help improve […]