Hartley Magazine

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

Gardens ‘can create certain moods’

Gardens can be styled in a wide range of highly creative ways, many of which can be tailored to recreate certain moods. For example, designer Jo Thompson's main garden for the UK Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea show offers a nostalgic feel with a contemporary twist. She is a highly acclaimed gardener, having won a silver […]

Gardeners can take inspiration from literary novels

Creative gardeners can look to a wide range of sources when seeking inspiration for their green space. For instance, a number of designers have modelled their entries into the UK Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS's) Chelsea Flower Show on works of literature. Tracy Foster has created The Welcome to Yorkshire Garden, which takes ideas from the […]

What’s Worse Than This Bug’s Bite?

Already embattled by climactic changes that threaten to turn our seasons upside down, gardeners might not welcome the news of other threats on the world horizon– but these are challenging times. Before the 1970’s who would have guessed that suburban Connecticut could become the epicenter of a disease humans contracted through contact with the natural […]

The Subject is Roses – Will new roses keep coming to the marketplace?

Tough economic times seem to be hitting the rose industry like an outbreak of black spot on a damp morning. After bankruptcy reorganization, Jackson & Perkins was acquired by J&P Park Acquisitions Inc. Weeks Wholesale Roses was bought and reorganized in 2011 by Gardens Alive. Other growers have consolidated or simply shut their greenhouse doors. […]

New York Botanical Garden offers inspiration

The New York Botanical Garden could offer green-fingered individuals across the US a great source of inspiration It has a constantly changing range of displays, so is always worth a look when considering new themes for your own garden. The Orchid Show: Patrick Blanc's Vertical Gardens is said to be a particularly breathtaking attraction, forming […]

Depression ‘can be beaten by gardening’

Stepping outside and getting to work with the garden tools can be a great way for people to cheer themselves up if they are feeling down. Indeed, Sir Richard Thompson, president of the Royal College of Physicians across the pond in the UK, is calling on doctors to start prescribing a session outdoors as a […]

Drought-tolerant plants great for gardeners in hot climates

Drought-tolerant plants could be the perfect solution for people who are struggling to maintain their garden in hotter parts of the US. There are plenty of suitable varieties on offer, it is simply a question of selecting one that is most appropriate for the space available. Climbers are likely to be a top choice for […]

Gardens ‘can counter climate change’

Gardens can be used to counter the impact of climate change, particularly for people who live in built-up urban areas. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) notes that this will be a generally positive trend for city landscapes. In order to raise awareness of this, the gardening charity is hosting an Environment exhibit at its forthcoming […]

Take inspiration from Flower Show gardens

There are plenty of places gardeners can look to take inspiration on how to give their outdoor space a distinctive edge. Events such as competitions are a prime example, as there are often a lot of unusual design and arrangement ideas on display. With the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show set to take place […]