Garden Advice

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 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 A hedge witch is a solitary practitioner of folk magic who works with the plants, trees and rhythms of their own garden and local land rather than through a coven or a formal Wiccan structure. The name comes from the old English wisewoman or wiseman who lived at the edge of the village, […]

🌿 Quick Answer Winter pruning happens while plants are dormant and encourages vigorous new growth, so it suits apples, roses, wisteria and gooseberries. Summer pruning happens while plants are in leaf and restricts growth while boosting flowers and fruit, so it suits plums, cherries, forsythia and trained fruit trees. Get the season wrong on a […]

Sowing seeds is an activity that brings joy and smiles all around to gardeners. Each year, gardeners and allotment holders around the country eagerly sow seeds of both flowers and vegetables to grow in their gardens. Sowing seeds is really cost-effective and offers gardeners an unbelievable variety of plants that you simply can’t buy from […]

Quick Answer To build your own fire pit, dig a circle in the lawn or lift paving, lay a fireproof gravel base over weed membrane, arrange reclaimed stone or bricks around a steel fire bowl, and dress with decorative gravel. The whole project takes a day, costs as little as £30 using salvaged materials, and […]

Quick answer: The best garden plants for shade in the UK are Hostas, Epimediums and Pachysandra for deep shade, Hellebores and Tellima for dry shade, and Astilbe, Ligularia and Hydrangea for damp shade. Shade lovers cope with less light thanks to larger leaves and slower growth. Match the plant to your exact type of shade, […]

Quick Answer Mare’s tail, also called horsetail, cannot be eradicated in a single season. The most reliable organic approach is cutting or pulling shoots every one to two weeks to exhaust the root reserves, combined with smothering under cardboard or heavy duty membrane for at least a full growing season. Standard glyphosate struggles against the […]

Quick Answer Sharpen secateurs and shears with a whetstone at a 20 to 25 degree bevel, working only the outer edge. Spades and hoes take a metal file, mower blades come off and go in a vice, never sharpened in place. Clean and oil every tool afterwards, and do a full service each autumn. Sharp […]

Quick Answer Cut hedges with sharp, clean tools working from the bottom upwards in a sweeping motion, keeping the sides slightly narrower at the top so light reaches the base. Most hedges need trimming twice a year, in spring and late summer, and UK law protects nesting birds, so always check the hedge for nests […]