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Knowing when and how to lift and divide spring bulbs is a common question that thousands of new gardeners have asked me, the Garden Ninja, over the years. I understand why it’s confusing, as you may think you should lift bulbs when dormant as you do with shrubs, but that would be incorrect. The three […]

This guide covers everything you need to know about topping trees, also known as crown reduction, pollarding, heading back, lopping, or simply pruning to restrict height. We’ll look at which trees respond brilliantly, which ones will just laugh at your efforts and grow back twice as fast, and why conifers are in a category entirely […]

The trouble is that March can be a bit of a deceiver. One week, it is mild and sunny, and you are convinced spring has landed. Next, it’s snowing, and you are wondering if winter ever actually left. This is completely normal in the UK, and the secret to March gardening success is knowing which […]

I hear this worry from gardeners constantly, and it arrives in my forum week after week without fail. The good news is that a dying ceanothus is rarely a mystery if you know what to look for. The less welcome news? Some ceanothus problems can be fixed, and some simply cannot. My job in this […]

The short answer is that neither approach is universally better. What suits your garden depends on your soil, budget, mobility, the plants you want to grow, and frankly, how much effort you’re willing to put in upfront. Let me explain why you would choose a raised bed or growing directly in the ground so that […]

I made the leap from IT project manager to BBC Garden Rescue presenter and professional garden designer. After 12 years of managing IT projects, I completely changed careers, and I’m here to give you the honest truth about what it actually takes. Not the motivational fluff you’ll find elsewhere, but the real deal based on […]

Whilst the days are noticeably lengthening and there’s a palpable sense of spring approaching, frosty nights and unpredictable weather still dominate the garden this month. This creates both exciting opportunities and frustrating limitations, making February a month that requires careful planning, realistic expectations, and a strategic approach to what you plant and where you plant it. The […]

Quick Answer: Pruning Overgrown Star Jasmine Prune star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) immediately after flowering finishes in late summer (August-September). Cut back overgrown stems by up to two-thirds, removing old woody growth to encourage fresh flowering shoots. Star jasmine flowers on the previous year’s growth, so avoid spring pruning, which removes flower buds. Established plants tolerate […]

Quick Answer: Moving Established Acer Trees Successfully The best time to move an established Acer is November through February, whilst the tree is dormant. Prune the root ball 6-8 weeks before moving by cutting around the tree with a spade to encourage fibrous root growth. Dig a root ball at least 40cm wide for every […]

Quick Answer: Getting Rid of Leather Jackets What kills leather jackets in lawns? Nematodes (Steinernema feltiae) applied in late summer or early autumn are the most effective organic treatment, killing leatherjacket larvae within 2 weeks. Manual removal by encouraging birds, improving drainage, and scarifying heavily infested areas also works, but is less effective for large […]