Horticulture & Plant Ideas

Every garden should have at least one tree, and when I speak to clients with tiny gardens, the apple tree is the one I recommend most frequently. Not only do apple trees provide a rich source of pollen for bees, but they are also beautiful trees for a small garden. The bonus is that with […]

From the time-honoured elegance of Old Garden Roses to the modern sophistication of Hybrid Tea roses, the world of roses is a captivating tapestry of colours, fragrances, and forms for your garden. Whichever type of rose you choose to grace your garden, each rose brings unique character and beauty. As you explore the diverse spectrum […]

Compost is the life force of many gardens. Whether buying it in bags from the garden centre (hopefully peat-free) or making your own with composting bins, this black gold is a multi-purpose wonder feed for the garden. However, most gardeners I speak to don’t know what to do with compost once it’s finished feeding your […]

When I started this gardening blog, I was on a simple mission: to help inspire, educate and encourage all gardeners to succeed in their green spaces. One of the most exciting groups of gardeners I help is beginners or new gardeners. However, there are several common mistakes that all new gardeners make unless they have […]

Recycling is a key part of the Garden Ninja ethos when it comes to gardening. So I was pleased to hear from my good friends over at J.Parkers, one of the North West’s oldest nurseries and online plant suppliers, about a number of recycling tips they had. Here’s the advice they have to help improve […]

Now that your seeds have germinated, you may suddenly struggle to work out what to do next. Well, the next stage in growing your own plants is known in the gardening world as ‘pricking out‘, where we take seedlings and separate them into their own pots. If we don’t prick them out, they get congested, […]

You may be thinking why on earth would anyone want to be out planting roses in the middle of Winter? I’d usually agree but did you know that by planting bare root roses in winter you can save yourself a whole heap of expense and hassle next year? Saving you time and money to enjoy […]

When you’re new to gardening, you tend to buy plants that simply look nice in the garden centre without considering what plant type they are. This can lead to disjointed gardens or things that look nice for a few weeks and then return to their bland previous state. By understanding the 5 different plant groups […]

July is often considered the pinnacle of gardening activity, when summer blooms are at their best. August is often discussed as the poor cousin, often without any real supporting evidence! With careful plant choices and selection,s nearly every month of the year can have something extraordinary growing or producing. In this month’s garden tour, I tackle […]

It’s a sad fact that an area the size of the UK is being lost each year worldwide to deforestation. Trees are being felled and cut down at an alarming rate. Now, even local UK councils are stealth tree felling claiming that their ‘maintenance’ costs outweigh trees’ environmental benefits. It’s all too easy for homeowners […]