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Quick Answer Water plants at the base with a watering can or hose rather than a sprinkler, giving established plants a thorough soak once or twice a week rather than a daily splash. Prioritise new plantings, vegetables and containers first, let an established lawn go dormant and brown, since it will recover, and check your […]

Quick Answer Prune cherry trees in mid to late summer, ideally July to August, and never in winter, since cold, damp cuts invite silver leaf disease and bacterial canker. Remove dead or crossing growth first, thin congested branches, and aim for an open goblet shape, taking no more than a quarter of the canopy in […]

Quick Answer UK gardens grow around a dozen distinct rose types, from hybrid teas and floribundas to climbers, ramblers, shrub roses, English roses and tiny patio varieties. Each has different height, flowering habits and maintenance needs, so the right choice depends on your space, your soil and how much pruning you fancy taking on. From […]

Quick Answer Snake plant drooping is almost always down to overwatering and root rot, underwatering, poor light, temperature stress, a rootbound pot, or occasionally pests. Check the soil first, then the roots. Correct the cause and firm new growth usually appears within weeks, since snake plants are tough succulents that recover well once the underlying […]

Quick Answer Yes, you can create a thriving garden on even the smallest, most exposed balcony. The secret is understanding your light, wind and weight conditions, choosing the right lightweight containers and compost, and editing your planting ruthlessly so each pot earns its place. With the right approach, herbs, vegetables, fruit and ornamental plants can […]

Quick Answer Henchman tripod ladders are UK designed, EN131 certified ladders with a unique standing platform that lets you work hands free at height on sloping or uneven ground. In my testing, the extra stability made pruning, hedge trimming and tree work far safer and less tiring than a standard ladder, though they do come […]

Quick Answer Mulching means spreading a 5 to 7cm layer of organic material, such as compost, bark or leaf mould, over weed free, damp soil in April to May or September to October. Keep it clear of stems and trunks. Done properly, it cuts weeding by up to 80 percent, halves summer watering, and steadily […]

Quick Answer Kill moss with an iron sulphate based moss killer applied in spring or autumn, wait seven to fourteen days for it to blacken, then scarify to remove the dead material and overseed any bare patches. Moss only thrives where grass is struggling, so the treatment will not last unless you also fix the […]

Quick Answer Most garden buddlejas, Buddleja davidii and its hybrids, are pruned hard in late March to mid April, cutting back to 30 to 60cm above the ground since they flower on new wood. Buddleja alternifolia and Buddleja globosa flower on old wood instead, so prune these immediately after flowering finishes rather than in spring, […]

Quick Answer The most effective way to remove lawn weeds is to combine hand weeding with a purpose-made tool such as a hori hori knife or dandelion weeder to remove the full root, then overseed the bare patch immediately. For large infestations, a selective lawn weedkiller applied during active growth in late spring gives the […]