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When I first started gardening many, many moons ago, I always gardened bare-handed. It gave me a genuine sense of connection with the earth and the gardening process. It wasn’t long, though, before coworkers in my old IT 9-5 job were giving my dirt-stained hands and nails the look of horror. It looked like I’d […]

Quick Answer The best raised beds for most UK gardeners are galvanised steel (longest lifespan at 20 to 30 years), pressure-treated timber kits (10 to 15 years, most affordable), or composite WPC beds (15 to 20 years, minimal maintenance). For vegetables, aim for at least 30cm depth; for root crops, 40cm minimum. Fill with a […]

Quick Answer Prune pear trees in late winter between January and March when the tree is fully dormant. Remove all dead, diseased and damaged wood first, then cut out any crossing branches. Finally, shorten the remaining laterals by up to one quarter, cutting to an outward-facing bud at 45 degrees. Never remove more than 25% […]

Quick Answer Repot houseplants in spring when roots are growing out of drainage holes, water runs straight through the pot, or growth has noticeably stalled. Move up only one pot size at a time, use the right compost for your plant type, and water thoroughly afterwards. Most houseplants need repotting every two to three years, […]

Quick Answer Designing a townhouse or terraced garden successfully comes down to three things: breaking the space into distinct zones, using vertical growing to maximise every centimetre of boundary, and choosing low-maintenance plants that earn their place in all four seasons. A small plot is never a barrier to a beautiful garden. With the right […]

BBC Garden Rescue designer Lee Burkhill reveals how to get privacy in an overlooked back garden using standard trees, pleached screens and clever planting.

Learn how to build a raised bed with BBC Garden Rescue designer Lee Burkhill. Step-by-step instructions, cut lists, soil mixes, a free soil calculator and 20 years of professional experience — all in one complete UK guide.

Quick Answer The right lawn mower depends on your lawn size. For small lawns under 300m², an electric or battery mower is ideal. Medium lawns up to 600m² suit a self-propelled petrol or cordless mower. Large lawns over 1,000m² need a ride-on. Cylinder mowers give the finest finish; rotary mowers handle everyday British lawns best. […]

Quick Answer A cottage garden is designed around dense, layered planting using a mix of roses, perennials, biennials, annuals, herbs, and climbers in an informal layout with curved beds and natural path materials. Start with a backbone of roses and structural shrubs, build layers from tall to low, choose a soft harmonious colour palette, and […]

Photinia red robin going brown? Discover the 7 causes including leaf spot, frost damage and drought, with expert diagnosis tips and fixes from a BBC Garden Rescue designer.