Spring Gardening

Photinia red robin going brown? Discover the 7 causes including leaf spot, frost damage and drought, with expert diagnosis tips and fixes from a BBC Garden Rescue designer.

This raised bed guide will explain exactly when and how to build raised beds for successful gardening. Raised beds can be used in nearly all gardens, regardless of the condition of your existing soil. They let you build up away from poor, stony ground and choose the soil you need for the types of plants […]

Quick Answer Prepare the ground by digging to 15cm, removing all weeds and debris, levelling, and creating a fine tilth. Lay rolled turf in a staggered brickwork pattern, butt joints tightly, water immediately, and keep moist for four to six weeks. The best time to lay turf in the UK is September to November or […]

I started recommending spreaders to every client asking about lawn care about ten years ago, after watching too many autumn lawn renovation projects produce disappointing results when clients were scarifying or de-mossing their lawns but not overseeding. Once I made a spreader part of the standard recommendation alongside the seed and feed, the difference was […]

Lee Burkhill, RHS-qualified horticulturalist and BBC Garden Rescue presenter, explains exactly when and how to prune magnolias without losing next year’s flowers. Covers all UK varieties.

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 […]

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 […]

I always remember standing in my own garden one May morning a few years back, coffee in hand, looking at a potting bench absolutely groaning with tomato plants, sweet peas, dahlia tubers and courgette seedlings, all waiting to go out. The garden felt like it was holding its breath. By the end of that weekend, […]