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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 […]

Standing at your patio doors staring out at that wedge of green space narrowing away into a sharp point, you might be wondering what possessed the original planner to carve up gardens into geometric nightmares. Triangle shaped gardens are one of those design challenges that can make even experienced gardeners throw their hands up in […]

Quick Answer: Dying Conifer Diagnosis Conifers turning brown typically indicate one of five problems: Avoid hard pruning back to old wood, then check soil drainage, as overwatering or heavy clay kills more conifers than any other cause. Improve drainage, remove affected portions, and ensure adequate spacing for air circulation. Most fungal problems cannot be reversed, […]

Quick Answer Yes, daffodils are hardy perennials that return and multiply year after year with almost no effort. Plant the bulbs between September and November, three times their depth, and let the foliage die back naturally after flowering rather than cutting it early, since this is what feeds the bulb for next year’s display. There’s […]

After presenting over 60 gardens on BBC Garden Rescue, viewers always ask me the same question: “How do you come up with designs so quickly?” The truth is, there’s a systematic process I use on every single project, the same one I teach in my online courses. Let me pull back the curtain and show […]

The Flamingo tree (Salix integra ‘Hakuro-nishiki’) is one of the most popular small ornamental trees in British gardens, and it’s easy to see why. With its stunning variegated pink, white and green foliage that resembles flamingo feathers, compact size, and RHS Award of Merit for reliability, it’s the perfect choice for small gardens, patios, and […]

QUICK ANSWER Peace lily leaves turning black usually indicates overwatering combined with cold temperatures, causing root rot. Move the plant to a warmer location (minimum 15°C), allow the compost to dry out almost completely, then resume watering only when the top inch feels dry. Cut off all black leaves cleanly at the base. New, healthy […]

Working out which direction a garden faces is one of the first things I do when I’m designing new gardens as a garden designer. I do this before anything else, and I am going to explain why every gardener needs to follow this step! After decades of designing gardens, this is the one thing that even […]

While the frost may nip at your fingers, there are plenty of winter-flowering plants that thrive in the chill, bringing vibrant colours, delightful fragrances, and even attracting pollinators to your outdoor space. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting your journey, winter-flowering plants are a fantastic way to keep your garden lively and beautiful […]