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Quick Answer Hellebores are hardy, evergreen perennials that flower from December to April. Plant them in autumn or late winter in partial shade, in humus-rich soil that stays moist but drains freely, with the crown level with the soil surface. Cut off the old leaves as the flower buds emerge in midwinter, mulch each autumn, […]

Quick Answer The best time to sow grass seed in the UK is late August to the end of September, with mid April to May as the second window. Sow when the soil is above 8°C. Prepare a weed-free, level, firm seedbed, sow 35 to 50g per square metre in two passes at right angles, […]

Quick Answer Grass seed takes 7 to 21 days to germinate in the UK when the soil is above 8°C and kept moist. Perennial Ryegrass appears first, in 5 to 10 days, Fescues take 7 to 14 days and Bents 10 to 21 days. A new lawn is usually ready for its first cut after […]

Quick Answer Water new turf until the soil underneath is wet as soon as it is laid, then soak it every two to three days for the first fortnight, easing to twice a week by week five. Keep off it for two weeks. Once it passes the tug test, usually at three to four weeks, […]

Quick Answer The best grass seed for most UK gardens is a hard wearing mix led by Perennial Ryegrass, such as Johnsons TuffGrass for family lawns. For shade, choose a Fescue and Meadow Grass mix like Boston Seeds Shady Lawn. For fine ornamental lawns, pick a Fescue and Bent mix with no Ryegrass. Match the […]

Quick Answer Rolled turf in the UK costs about £3.30 to £5.40 per square metre delivered when you buy 40 rolls or more, and up to £10 per roll for very small orders. A typical 50m² lawn needs about £235 to £300 of turf if you lay it yourself, or roughly £750 to £1,750 for […]

Quick Answer To level a lawn, fill shallow dips by top dressing with a sandy loam mix no more than 1cm deep at a time, letting the grass grow through between layers. For deeper hollows or bumps, cut an H shape in the turf, peel it back, add or remove soil, then relay it and […]

Quick Answer Lay turf in autumn (September to November) or spring (March to April) when the soil is above 8°C. Clear every perennial weed, dig to 15cm, add compost or topsoil, rake level, firm it by treading, then rake a fine tilth. Lay rolls in a staggered brick pattern, butt joints tightly, and soak the […]

Quick Answer Plant garlic in the UK in October or November, ideally before Christmas, so the cloves get the winter cold they need to split into full bulbs. Push individual cloves into free-draining soil in full sun, pointed end up, with the tip about 2.5cm below the surface, 15cm apart in rows 30cm apart. Keep […]

Quick Answer To protect plants from frost in the UK, cover tender plants in the border with horticultural fleece on any night a frost is forecast, pegging the edges down so cold air cannot creep underneath, and take it off again once temperatures rise. Use cloches for individual plants and salads, a cold frame for […]