Hartley Magazine

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

Christmas Cacti ‘are very low maintenance’

While the colder winter months may be setting in, there are still plenty of activities for green-fingered enthusiasts to be getting on with. Indeed, some plants grow very well at this time of year and require more attention than might be the case in the summer months. For instance, Christmas Cactus is a very popular […]

Greenhouses need protection from frost

Green-fingered enthusiasts simply cannot afford to rest on their laurels and leave their garden to its own fate in the colder winter months. For instance, it is hugely important to take steps toward protecting plants from frosts – and this is particularly the case in greenhouses. These controlled spaces are designed to store solar heat. […]

Daffodils make a great gift

Growing plants in a greenhouse can be a hugely rewarding task for green-fingered enthusiasts. There are so many little extra benefits that can be gained from the task as well. For instance, keeping a small herb garden to complement indoor cooking activities is very popular. Something else at the forefront of everyone's mind at this […]

Three Holiday Gift Books – Control deer and other uninvited visitors in your garden

It’s the season for welcoming family and friends to our homes. However, we don’t greet all creatures great and small with open arms. Here are three informative books for your holiday gift list— to give or to get. If the noise you hear isn’t the charming clatter of eight tiny reindeer on your roof but […]

Now is the perfect time to prune (and even start growing) blackcurrant bushes

Almost all of us will be familiar with blueberries, but fewer people are probably aware of the delights of blackcurrants, whether it's growing them or eating them. It's largely because blackcurrant cultivation was banned in most US states during the 20th century due to a fungus that had been lurking in the bushes and damaging […]

Make sure your plants have the help they need to beat the frost

With winter now in full swing, it's only natural for gardeners to worry about the effect that frost will have on the plants and wildlife in their green space. Cold weather – and particularly frost – can lead to lots of damage to plants, as it causes the water in their cells to freeze up, […]

Winter is the perfect time to complete gardening chores

Don't let the cold, wet, dreary weather stand in the way of your gardening – with a bit of imagination, you'll be able to find plenty to keep you occupied during the winter months. One chore that's well worth completing when the conditions are less than ideal is checking up on your garden sundries. Every […]

Rambling roses ‘need to be pruned now’

Rambling roses are a beautiful plant that could look great allowed to grow over a greenhouse or similar garden construction. They usually flower with great freedom just once a year – and this sees them produce large sprays of small to medium-sized flowers. Their stems are very strong and can grow very tall from the […]

Greenhouses ‘can protect cordyline’

Cordyline is a genus of around 15 different species of woody flowering plants from the Asparagaceae family. Their name is Greek in origin, having its etymology in the word kordyle. This translates as club – and the plant is named in reference to the enlarged rhizomes that it grows underground. They are native to the […]

Nerine and Camellia ‘still have a lot to offer late fall’

Gardens are clearly starting to fade to prepare for winter at this time, but there are still a few plants that are enjoying something of a last hurrah. Nerine and Camellia are just two of these. Nerine is native to South Africa – and it is the name of the genus that includes about 30 […]