Pruning Guides

Updated 2024: 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 […]

Updated 2024: Understanding how to prune hydrangeas is key to ensuring fantastic flowers on your hydrangea shrubs. Hydrangeas give a real show of huge flowers for months during the summer. Their flowers can then be left in situ, fading from their vibrant early summer colours into translucent winter flower heads. The hydrangea is the true […]

Pruning conifers is an essential task to maintain the health, shape, and overall appearance of your garden hedges and trees. However, there are a few major flaws when it comes to cutting back conifers without the proper knowledge, mainly resulting in dead, brown or dried-out conifer trees and hedges. This guide is going to help […]

Cornus is a genus of about 30–60 species of woody plants in the family Cornaceae, commonly known as Dogwoods. Cornus are common in the UK and grow vigorously here, making them an almost bulletproof garden shrub for beginner gardeners. In fact, you may have one and not even know as established Cornus lose their firey […]

Gooseberries are a fuss-free fruiting shrub that are a great fruit bush for beginner gardeners. Suitable for container gardens, small gardens, big gardens or allotment patches. They are a brilliant addition to the edible garden. Gooseberries, however, have a crisis of conscience with gardeners. Given their rugged, thorny appearance, many people are either discouraged from […]

Cherry trees, with their delicate blossoms and luscious fruits, are fabulous fruit trees for any sized garden. But to ensure their health, productivity, and aesthetic appeal, it’s essential to understand how to prune them correctly. Pruning a Cherry or Plum tree might sound daunting at first, but fear not! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break […]

Pruning herbaceous perennials is essential to make sure that year after year, you get beautiful blooms in your garden. However, it can confuse many gardeners as to when to prune and how. However, most people struggle to know when or how to prune this plant group. With annuals, it is easy; at the end of […]

Lavender is one plant that people are immediately drawn to in gardens. Lavender has beautiful aromatic foliage, bringing heady scents to the garden, along with purple spikes of flowers. It has many uses, whether as an herb, aromatherapy for the home, sensory applications as you brush past it or just as a beautiful relaxing colour […]

This guide from guest writer and gardening enthusiast Rosie Buckley gives the Garden Ninja community some top tips when planning any hedge cutting. As birds are a vital part of our garden’s ecosystem ensuring we don’t disturb them is key to clean hedge cutting. This page contains affiliate links for products I use and love. […]

Growing a wisteria in your garden can be one of the most impressive plants to welcome you home. In summer, wisteria has jaw-dropping pendulous (raceme) lilac flowers that hang down like purple pendants in mid-summer. These climbing giants can add a green vertical gardening layer to your home. Whether it is around a door to […]