Summer Gardening

Quick Answer Save water in the garden by watering with a can rather than a hose, collecting rainwater in a water butt, mulching to lock in moisture, and only spot watering the plants that truly need it. Water early morning or evening, leave an established lawn to look after itself, and choose drought tolerant plants […]

Quick Answer Water plants at the base with a watering can or hose rather than a sprinkler, giving established plants a thorough soak once or twice a week rather than a daily splash. Prioritise new plantings, vegetables and containers first, let an established lawn go dormant and brown, since it will recover, and check your […]

Quick Answer UK gardens grow around a dozen distinct rose types, from hybrid teas and floribundas to climbers, ramblers, shrub roses, English roses and tiny patio varieties. Each has different height, flowering habits and maintenance needs, so the right choice depends on your space, your soil and how much pruning you fancy taking on. From […]

Quick Answer For most UK gardens you need three feeds. A seaweed based tonic such as envii SeaFeed Xtra for general plant health, a balanced NPK feed like Growmore or fish, blood and bone for hungry beds and vegetable plots, and a specialist feed for anything that needs it, meaning an ericaceous feed for rhododendrons […]

Quick Answer Gardening with arthritis or a bad back is still possible with a few thoughtful changes. A kneeler with handles, angled hand tools, ratchet secateurs and a raised bed built to a comfortable height remove most of the bending and gripping that causes pain, letting you garden in shorter, kinder sessions. Over the years […]

Quick Answer Olive trees grow successfully in the UK in a sunny, sheltered position with free-draining soil or gritty compost. Most varieties tolerate light frost down to around minus five degrees Celsius, but containers should be moved into a porch, greenhouse or against a sheltered wall during hard winters. Prune lightly in spring to maintain […]

Quick Answer Prune forsythia immediately after flowering finishes, usually in April. Cut back flowered stems to a strong new shoot lower down, remove around a fifth of the oldest stems at the base, and thin out crowded growth in the centre of the shrub. Never prune in autumn or winter, since you will cut off […]

Quick Answer Plan your layout before spending anything, and grow as much as you can from seeds, cuttings, and divided plants rather than buying mature stock. For hard landscaping, the most expensive part of any garden, choose gravel or reclaimed materials over new paving slabs, and check Facebook Marketplace and local salvage yards before buying […]

BBC Garden Rescue designer Lee Burkhill reveals how to get privacy in an overlooked back garden using standard trees, pleached screens and clever planting.

Designing a family friendly garden that works for kids AND adults? BBC Garden Rescue designer Lee Burkhill shares expert zoning tips, DIY play features, safe plant choices and before-and-after examples. Free guide.