Propagating & Growing Plants

Quick Answer Rhododendrons need very little pruning. The main tasks are deadheading spent flowers immediately after blooming, removing dead or diseased wood at any time of year, and light shaping after flowering in May or June. Hard renovation pruning to reduce an overgrown plant is best done in late winter between January and March, accepting […]

Quick Answer Roses fail to flower for eight main reasons: not enough sun, wrong pruning time or technique, too much nitrogen fertiliser, lack of deadheading, drought or waterlogging stress, pest and disease pressure, blind shoots, or the plant being too newly planted to flower freely. Most of these are simple to diagnose and straightforward to […]

Quick Answer In July you can plant container-grown dahlias, hydrangeas and buddleja for instant summer colour, sow biennial flowers like foxgloves and wallflowers for next spring, and get autumn-flowering bulbs like nerines and colchicums into the ground. In the kitchen garden, July is your last chance to sow French beans, carrots and radishes for an […]

Quick Answer Clematis most commonly dies back from clematis wilt, a fungal disease that causes sudden stem collapse, but the majority of cases blamed on wilt are actually caused by slug damage, physical stem injury, waterlogging, or drought stress. Cut all affected stems back to ground level, dispose of the material without composting it, and […]

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 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 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 […]

Growing your own fruit and vegetables is a fantastic way to engage with your garden, reduce your carbon footprint and help eat better organic produce. Tomatoes are among our most popular fruits to buy in supermarkets and can be found year-round (usually flown halfway around the world, sadly). Often, these ‘forced tomatoes’ taste rather lacklustre […]

Wondering which trees are safe near a garden fence? Discover 12 expert-recommended boundary trees for UK gardens, the legal rules you need to know, and which species to avoid at all costs.