As the summer sun comes out, sunflowers will be starting to blossom for the first time in the year – and these plants are often a favourite with gardening enthusiasts. This has always been the case – and there are many reasons for this, not least of which is the fact that they are so […]
One of the many tasks facing gardeners up and down the country is the careful management of plants. This can involve everything from careful cultivation and maintenance – such as pruning unwanted shoots and leaves – to ensuring that the plant is exposed to the right conditions. The most common kind of daisy is characterised […]
As the summer sun really begins to make its presence felt, gardeners will be making the most of their favourite pastime and getting to work outdoors. There are so many tasks to be done that it would be perfectly understandable if some tasks were to be overlooked. However, it is absolutely essential that planning ahead […]
When my husband and I moved to New York’s Hudson Valley, we weren’t really prepared for the deer. Our yard slopes steeply down to a creek on one end, and ends at a busy curve in the county road at the other. What deer in their right mind would want to deal with that? Well […]
Greenhouse gardeners have such a wide range of techniques to make the most of the plants at their disposal that it would be easy to overlook some considerations. Earthworms are typically associated with natural habitats, but they can easily be introduced to artificial environments. This can be tremendously beneficial to gardeners and can really help […]
There are many things that appeal to people about getting to work outdoors and improving their green spaces. Green-fingered enthusiasts use their garden for a wide range of purposes – from growing fruit and veg to creating a beautiful array of flowers, to simply creating an area to impress the neighbors and entertain guests in. […]
Moles are often seen as little more than pests by green-fingered enthusiasts – and there certainly are a wide range of reasons for this. The subterranean creatures burrow lawns and raise mole hills, which can undermine plant roots and inadvertently cause damage or death. However, gardening expert Roger Mercer has argued that mole populations are […]
Green-fingered gardening enthusiasts have many problems to deal with, not least of which is unwanted wildlife encroaching on their plants. Needless to say, something like a slug tear through your flowers, fruit and vegetables is undesirable, although they can also cause damage in less direct ways – such as by consuming nutrients and limiting a […]
The potential for sources of inspiration for gardeners considering a renovation of their green space is almost unlimited. Individuals have claimed to have been inspired by a wide range of disparate things over the years – and nowhere is this better demonstrated than at flower shows. Indeed, some of the entries for the forthcoming 2012 […]
There are many pleasures gardening can offer the keen enthusiast, not least of which is watching wildlife go about their daily business. Seeing as this is the case, why not try and optimise the ways in which your green space welcomes pollinating insects such as bees? This activity has a wide range of benefits – […]
A greenhouse is not strictly necessary for growing grapes as a few varieties can do quite well outdoors. But by far the tastiest, more luscious and gorgeous varieties do have to be grown under cover and indeed there are few more rewarding crops. Now a large greenhouse used to be needed as grapevines are very […]
Whether growing plants in greenhouses or out in the ground, it’s common to complain that we don’t have the space we need. The more I garden, the more I find that making the most of my gardening space is an enjoyable challenge. Some years produce greater success than others; here are some tips based upon […]
