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Quick Answer Niwaki and Okatsune secateurs give the sharpest, cleanest cut and the best feel in the hand, but need regular cleaning and oiling to stay rust free. Felco secateurs are slightly less razor sharp out of the box, but their replaceable parts, huge UK service network, and low maintenance make them the practical choice […]

Quick Answer Glazed ceramic pots hold moisture best and suit shade or thirsty planting, resin and composite pots are the lightest option for balconies and roof gardens, galvanised metal and zinc bring a durable industrial look, and wooden planters give the best insulation for raised beds and permanent features. Stone, faux lead, self-watering and recycled […]

Quick Answer Olive trees grow successfully in the UK in a sunny, sheltered position with free-draining soil or gritty compost. Most varieties tolerate light frost down to around minus five degrees Celsius, but containers should be moved into a porch, greenhouse or against a sheltered wall during hard winters. Prune lightly in spring to maintain […]

Quick Answer Prune gooseberries twice a year for the best crops. In winter, while the bush is dormant, remove dead and crossing wood, take out a third of the oldest stems and shorten the rest by a third to create an open goblet shape. In late June, trim the current season’s side shoots back to […]

Quick Answer Prune forsythia immediately after flowering finishes, usually in April. Cut back flowered stems to a strong new shoot lower down, remove around a fifth of the oldest stems at the base, and thin out crowded growth in the centre of the shrub. Never prune in autumn or winter, since you will cut off […]

Quick Answer A DIY sedum green roof for a garden shed costs roughly £40 to £85 per square metre and takes about a weekend to fit. Build a tanalised timber frame with a 3cm lip, fit a waterproof membrane and protective fleece, add a thin layer of free draining substrate, then lay pre-grown sedum blankets […]

Quick Answer Plan your layout before spending anything, and grow as much as you can from seeds, cuttings, and divided plants rather than buying mature stock. For hard landscaping, the most expensive part of any garden, choose gravel or reclaimed materials over new paving slabs, and check Facebook Marketplace and local salvage yards before buying […]

Quick Answer Prune camellias immediately after flowering finishes, never before. For Camellia japonica and x williamsii varieties this is usually May or June, and for sasanqua varieties it’s February or March. Remove dead, damaged and crossing growth first, then trim back up to one third of the current year’s growth to shape, always cutting just […]

When I first started gardening in my teens, I made the classic rookie mistake of thinking any old spade or fork would do the job. Mainly because I had zero funds and was working with whatever I had in my shed. How wrong I was! After years of designing gardens on BBC1’s Garden Rescue and […]

Quick Answer The best cordless hedge trimmer for most UK gardens is the Ryobi OHT1855R ONE+ for everyday domestic use, the Ryobi OHT1850X for hard-to-reach hedges and taller boundaries, and the STIHL HSA 56 if you want premium build quality and are prepared to pay for it. I have used Ryobi ONE+ tools extensively in […]