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I have seen box hedges go from perfectly clipped and healthy to completely defoliated within a single season, and I have also seen plants that looked near-dead make a full recovery with the right care. Whether you are dealing with a beloved parterre, a row of box balls in pots, or a formal edging hedge […]

Quick Answer The best flowers for bees in the UK provide pollen and nectar from February through to November, giving both honey bees and solitary bees a continuous food source across the whole season. Single-flowered, open-faced blooms are always better than double-flowered varieties. Aim for a mix of spring bulbs, summer perennials, and late-season plants […]

Quick Answer To keep bees in the UK you need a National hive, a bee suit, smoker, and hive tool (budget £500 to £800 to start), plus a nucleus colony of bees from a local association. No licence is required, but you must register your hive free on BeeBase. Join your local BBKA branch before […]

Quick Answer June is one of the most rewarding months in the UK garden. You can plant out tomatoes, courgettes, runner beans, sweetcorn, cucumbers, and squash outdoors with confidence now that frost risk has passed. Ornamental highlights include cosmos, sunflowers, lavender, and dahlias. It is also the perfect month for taking softwood cuttings and starting […]

Quick Answer Tree grafting joins a scion (a cutting from your chosen variety) to a rootstock (which controls eventual tree size) using a clean angled cut, grafting tape, and sealing wax. Late winter to early spring is the best time for whip grafting in the UK, when trees are still dormant but sap is beginning […]

Quick Answer Divide herbaceous perennials in early spring or autumn when plants are not in flower. Lift the clump with a fork, split it by hand, with back-to-back forks, or with a sharp spade depending on root type, and replant divisions immediately with good compost and thorough watering. Most perennials benefit from division every two […]

Let’s talk softwood cuttings, the easiest way to propagate plants for free! Learn exactly when and how to take softwood cuttings from your favourite shrubs, perennials, and climbers. This step-by-step guide covers timing, technique, rooting methods, and aftercare to transform garden trimmings into thriving new plants. Perfect for budget-conscious UK gardeners wanting instant results. Taking […]

Quick Answer Prune Cornus (grown for winter colour) in late March to early April, once established for three or more years. Cut all stems back to around 10cm above ground level. This hard pruning, called coppicing, encourages vigorous new growth that produces the brightest stem colour the following winter. Young plants under three years old […]

Quick Answer Dahlias are tender perennials grown from tubers that flower from July until the first frosts, giving you three to four months of colour. Plant outdoors after the last frost in late May, in full sun with well-drained fertile soil. Feed fortnightly, deadhead consistently, and lift tubers in autumn for frost-free winter storage. In […]

Quick Answer The Hayter Osprey 46 is one of the best petrol lawn mowers for medium-sized UK gardens up to 500m². Built in Britain with a steel deck, Briggs and Stratton engine, and Hayter’s excellent Easy-Wash system, it delivers a sharp, consistent cut. The Autodrive version is the one to buy: the fixed 2mph drive […]