Late frosts can be a gardeners worst nightmare – especially if they come after days of warming sunshine! Here in Yorkshire (and much of the UK) late frosts are common in April and May. Worrying about them shouldn’t stop you from planting your garden, but frost can be a killer for your tender plants and seedlings! Here are a few tips on how you can protect your garden plants from late frosts.
It's easy to sing the praises of a gloriously sunny, south-facing garden. Just like the plants we grow, many of us love to soak up the sun! It's tempting to think that beautiful plants only grow in sunny gardens - but there are lots of wonderful plants for shady...
When winter is nearing its end and the garden is just starting to come back to life, there are a few ‘old faithful’ plants that I know I can rely on to bring bursts of colour to my garden. Whilst most other plants slumber in the depths of winter, these early risers...
It's tempting to draw the proverbial curtains on your garden over the winter, and any outdoor space can easily become a bit of a dumping ground. Tatty, carpeted in dried leaves, stacked with empty pots - a winter garden might hardly be a feast for the eyes! I'm a firm...
The garden is largely quiet and still during the winter, with the odd evergreen, winter bloom and hardy shrub brightening things up. It could seem that during the colder months, most home-grown crops wouldn't survive, but there are actually some excellent vegetables...
It's a real joy to watch all the birds and animals that might visit our garden in the spring and summer - but did you know that it's even more important to make an extra effort to support winter wildlife in the colder months? Although in the winter your garden may...
There's a real magic about the depths of winter in the garden, when you're able to spot the rich colours of evergreen and hardy plant life still brightening up the space. In the summertime, bold and colourful flowers are everywhere - but in winter, it's important to...
As the days start to draw in, autumn could be mistaken for a time where you can relax and put your feet up in the garden. But not so fast! Just as we might prepare for the colder, darker months by getting the heating on, lighting a candle or two and settling in front...
There's a hint of wistfulness in the air for me as the seasons change, days get shorter and the weather starts to turn. Where has summer gone?! On the other hand, there's a majesty about autumn colours that's really easy and rewarding to bring into your garden. Seeing...
My readers often ask how to use planting in their gardens to create privacy, block an unsightly view or cushion noise pollution from nearby roads or train tracks. Whether you're keen to forget about a not-so-attractive vista at the end of your garden, create a private...