When planting new flowers and shrubs planning ahead is very important. One vital thing that you will have to establish is the PH of the soil that you are going to be working with.   What is PH   PH is one of those things you might remember from science lessons when you were back at school. We aren’...

An evergreen plant can provide your garden with a feature that looks good all year round. However before you rush out and buy one you should consider a few things.   Is Your Garden Suitable   Firstly would an evergreen plant grow in your garden Evergreens have certain light requirements, like all plants...

A greenhouse can provide the perfect environment for growing unusual plants which would not survive outdoors in our temperamental British weather. However the prospect of building or buying one can seem daunting.   Planning a Greenhouse   When considering getting a greenhouse there are some things you sho...

Rhubarb can be a great winter warmer desert in the form of crumble and, because they are tough, hardy, vegetables (or are they fruit ) they can be almost completely left to their own devises. With a little help from a green finger or two at the right time you can have a truly spectacular crop. One warning to heed is t...

If you have any covered outside areas around your home then you may be considering the best way to breathe some life into them. Hanging baskets can be a great way to do this. As hanging baskets are reasonably easy to maintain and offer huge bursts of colour in summer (if you so wish) they can be a great way of livening...

A water garden can be a beautiful feature of your garden’s design – or if you are particularly into water and water-features, it can be your whole garden! You may like a small, cool, section at the back of the garden – divided by an ivy covered trellis – which can be a safe haven for the Sunday ...

The rose is a symbol of love and beauty as espoused by poets throughout the ages – and with good reason, these beautiful flowers are likely to bring any garden out into huge bursts of colours. A whole garden of these wonderful plants will astound guests in summer months and keep the head gardener (whether that&rs...

We all know that the quality of your cooking relies heavily on the quality of the raw produce. One way to get the freshest produce is to do it yourself. Growing your own food can one of the best ways to keep a complete control over what you eat – knowing exactly how your food has been treated can be invaluable. ...

A gooseberry bush can be one of the easiest fruits to grow in your garden. If you have a small garden it can be ideal as it is easy to grow, produces plenty of fruit and doesn’t mind being in partial shade. They are hardy plants which can withstand cooler areas and harder winds. Another great thing about gooseber...

For those with enough space and time you may have considered changing your garden design into something more refined. A formally designed garden can be visually pleasing, easy to maintain and allows managing a garden efficiently. For those who are keen on gardening this is the perfect way to show off your expertise. ...

Gardening is an endless struggle to control and craft nature into pleasing forms for the human eye. Yet this relationship need not always be combative. Of course it does feel like war sometimes; against the endless growth of grass and the constant need for pruning. And then there are slugs. While we may have spent s...

To get the fullest and tastiest fruit from your apple tree you will be required to do some selective pruning.  The advantages of pruning are in the quality of the fruit and controlling the shape and the size of the tree – the latter can be vital in smaller gardens. By pruning you are attempting to limit t...

Most of us like to have some fruit in our garden. While we might not be able to have some of the more exotic fruits which we have come to enjoy and take for granted, we can always rely on a crisp and fresh apple. As the apple is native to Britain they usually thrive with a little attention. There are several things to ...

We all use herbs and spices in our cooking. A lot of the time we can settle for dried herbs out of convenience – but sometimes the difference between a fresh herb and one from a pot is vast. With your own herb garden you have access to all your favourite herbs, fresh, right on your doorstep. Assuming they are wel...

The best way to design a garden which is low on water consumption is to use the landscaping practice of Xeriscaping. Aside from the issue of pronunciation the biggest question surrounding Xeriscaping is, of course, what is Xeriscaping Xeriscaping is a form of sustainable and low maintenance gardening or landscaping d...

Ornamental Grass Guide While most of us may feel that we are in a constant war with grass – the lawnmower being our main weapon – some find grasses to be perfect for a stylish edge in their garden. They can offer a great accompaniment to brighter blooms with their subtle and delicate colours and flowers....

A garden path is the way we control how our garden is viewed. It encourages anyone in the garden to follow certain routes and see the garden from predetermined points. They also offer a divide in the garden, allowing separating lines and contrasts between each side to be drawn. Garden paths come in many styles, and no...

For those of us who have little room for hundreds of flower beds climbers can be a great way to get a colour into the garden. All climbers use vines to grow upwards when there is something of enough strength to support them.  The reason that these plants use vines is that in the wild they are engaged in a race to ...

For those of us who prefer garden design and landscaping with clean lines then brick, tiled or vertically defined paths may be the best option when it comes to garden paths. This suits any gardener who is attempting to keep their garden looking clean, stylish and minimalistic. If your garden has a focus on pristine law...

Mus domesticusYou have Well, lucky, lucky you! No wonder Walt Disney chose this sweet, shy, moustache-twitching little furry fellow as his inspiration for Mickey Superstar. And we've all been