Hartley Magazine

All the latest news, hints, tips and advice from our experts

Soil and water ‘the keys to container gardening’

The secret to successful container gardening is to pay close attention to the soil and the way that plants are watered, an expert has said. In an article for thecalifornian.com, Christa Jennings – a California Certified Nursery Professional and Master Fruit Taster who works at McShane's Nursery and Landscape Supply in Salinas – said these […]

Proactive gardening ‘the way forward’

Being proactive is much more productive than being reactive when it comes to cultivating plants, a greenhouse and gardening expert has said. Master Gardener and TV personality Joe Lamp’l wrote in the Evansville Courier & Press that getting the best out of an outside space is all about doing things to prevent problems occurring. This […]

Gardening can be fun and frugal, expert says

Working in a greenhouse or garden is fun and can save you money, it has been suggested. According to horticulture writer Jamie McWade in the Old Northeast-Downtown St Pete Patch, growing vegetables at home can cut annual bills by around $300. Not only, that, it is fun, environmentally friendly and creates a valuable space for […]

Water roots in summer, expert says

Greenhouse enthusiasts should always water the root of a plant rather than the whole thing during hot weather, an expert has said. According to an article in the Chicago Tribune by horticulture specialist Sean Conway, watering at the root is more efficient and better for them. It is also important to water plants early so […]

Container watering: Not too little, not too much

The so-called “self-watering” or sub-irrigated container has been a great boon to those of us who want the satisfaction of growing our own food but don’t have space for rows of tilled earth or even raised beds. Of course these containers don’t actually water themselves. You still have to water. And as the plants get […]

Teenagers using gardening to get over drug dependency

Teenagers who have suffered with substance abuse are being shown how gardening can help them to rebuild their lives. At the Camp Recovery Center 's Meadow Lodge in Scotts Valley, California, parents donate a plant in recognition of their teen's work during drug rehab, which their child plants in the Parent Appreciation Garden . Meanwhile, […]

University garden open to the public

The University of Maine (U-Maine) is to open its garden to the public and lay on classes providing helpful hints on how greenhouse enthusiasts can make their outside spaces more environmentally-friendly. The outdoor classroom – as U-Maine gardeners have labelled it – off Bennoch road in Orono at Rogers farm will be open for everyone […]

Rosalind Creasy Recommends—Best Edibles among the Flowers

I love the unexpected look of vegetables growing with ornamentals. Several years ago when we visited Paris, I found many public gardens featured a riot of cabbages, lettuces and colorful beets, all corralled by classic clipped boxwood hedges. Fun. Yet, my own efforts to plant this way have been disastrous. Last year, I boldly grew […]

They’re Tough and They’re Roses Too

What plants would you guess might survive if your garden had been covered by 20 feet of salt water for two weeks? When Louisiana gardener,, surveyed her garden in the wake of hurricane Katrina, she found one rose and one crinum still alive. That rose, a vigorous, thornless climber, continues to be smothered by medium-pink […]

Gardening is ‘good for your health’

Cultivating crops in a garden or greenhouse is good for people's wellbeing, it has been claimed. According to Health.com, working in an outside space can be a good way of relieving stress, with scientific studies providing the evidence to back this up. The publication pointed out that recent research conducted in the Netherlands found that […]

Beat the shade ‘with a few simple steps’

Too much shade can be a problem for many greenhouse and gardening enthusiasts, but one expert has outlined ways to stop this becoming an issue in the first place. According to Wayne Kessler on aNewsCafe.com, there are a couple of simple steps that everyone can take to make sure they are not depriving their plants […]