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In the Garden: Start your winter tasks

Julia Smith Mon, 19th Dec 2022 at 09:00

Julia Smith 19/12/2022

Another year is starting and who knows what the weather will bring to us! This is part of the fun of gardening – you have to roll with the punches and not get too het up about... Another year is starting and who knows what the weather will bring to us! This is part of the fun of gardening – you have to roll with the punches and not get too het up about heatwaves in February or hailstorms in June.

Global warming is affecting all our weather and although we may not have the... Another year is starting and who knows what the weather will bring to us! This is part of the fun of gardening – you have to roll with the punches and not get too het up about heatwaves in February or hailstorms in June.

Global warming is affecting all our weather and although we may not have the Mediterranean climate some were promising us, we have...

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In the Garden: The great Christmas tree debate

Julia Smith Wed, 23rd Nov 2022 at 09:00

While gardening magazines love to show outdoor havens rimmed with frost in their Christmas editions, it is getting less and less likely that we will have weather like that at this time of year – mild and soggy would probably describe it... While gardening magazines love to show outdoor havens rimmed with frost in their Christmas editions, it is getting less and less likely that we will have weather like that at this time of year – mild and soggy would probably describe it... While gardening magazines love to show outdoor havens rimmed with frost in their Christmas editions, it is getting less and less likely that we will have weather like that at this time of year – mild and soggy would probably describe it...

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In the Garden: Plant bulbs ready for spring

Julia Smith Tue, 25th Oct 2022 at 09:00

The nights are really starting to draw in now and the amount of light available to plants is increasingly restricted. Depending on the weather, you may find that some summer flowering plants like pelargoniums (geraniums) are still in bloom! Tidy... The nights are really starting to draw in now and the amount of light available to plants is increasingly restricted. Depending on the weather, you may find that some summer flowering plants like pelargoniums (geraniums) are still in bloom! Tidy... The nights are really starting to draw in now and the amount of light available to plants is increasingly restricted. Depending on the weather, you may find that some summer flowering plants like pelargoniums (geraniums) are still in bloom! Tidy...

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In the Garden: Prepare for cooler weather

Julia Smith Mon, 26th Sep 2022 at 09:00

October already – where has the summer gone?! The month of pumpkin heads and apple bobbing, the first fires in the house and the lovely cosying down with jumpers on and slippers! Now is a good time to plant wallflowers, which will fill gaps... October already – where has the summer gone?! The month of pumpkin heads and apple bobbing, the first fires in the house and the lovely cosying down with jumpers on and slippers! Now is a good time to plant wallflowers, which will fill gaps... October already – where has the summer gone?! The month of pumpkin heads and apple bobbing, the first fires in the house and the lovely cosying down with jumpers on and slippers! Now is a good time to plant wallflowers, which will fill gaps...

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In the Garden: Autumn is coming

Julia Smith Wed, 24th Aug 2022 at 09:00

What a lovely month September is with all the conkers ripening and the rosy apples and pears fattening in the trees. The berries start to come into their own on the Rowan trees as the transition from summer to autumn speeds up. If your garden is... What a lovely month September is with all the conkers ripening and the rosy apples and pears fattening in the trees. The berries start to come into their own on the Rowan trees as the transition from summer to autumn speeds up. If your garden is... What a lovely month September is with all the conkers ripening and the rosy apples and pears fattening in the trees. The berries start to come into their own on the Rowan trees as the transition from summer to autumn speeds up. If your garden is...

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In the Garden: Have a go at ‘no dig’ gardening

Julia Smith Thu, 28th Jul 2022 at 09:00

It’s August and to be honest, most people’s minds are full of holiday thoughts, whether it’s sitting on a beach in the hot Mediterranean sun, or hammering tent pegs into a tent in a force 10 in North Wales! Perhaps with the... It’s August and to be honest, most people’s minds are full of holiday thoughts, whether it’s sitting on a beach in the hot Mediterranean sun, or hammering tent pegs into a tent in a force 10 in North Wales! Perhaps with the... It’s August and to be honest, most people’s minds are full of holiday thoughts, whether it’s sitting on a beach in the hot Mediterranean sun, or hammering tent pegs into a tent in a force 10 in North Wales! Perhaps with the...

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In the Garden: Your kitchen garden

Julia Smith Wed, 22nd Jun 2022 at 09:00

Summer is really here now and the garden should be a colourful, scented haven, filled with birds, bees and butterflies. Our gardens need to support wildlife, but not only the pretty species – creepy crawlies are so important for our... Summer is really here now and the garden should be a colourful, scented haven, filled with birds, bees and butterflies. Our gardens need to support wildlife, but not only the pretty species – creepy crawlies are so important for our... Summer is really here now and the garden should be a colourful, scented haven, filled with birds, bees and butterflies. Our gardens need to support wildlife, but not only the pretty species – creepy crawlies are so important for our...

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In the Garden: Glorious June!

Julia Smith Wed, 25th May 2022 at 09:00

This month, take time to revel in the garden, smell the roses and take every opportunity to sit outside – even if you only have room for one chair and a pot of petunias! Think of nurturing your mental health: it’s like taking a tonic. ... This month, take time to revel in the garden, smell the roses and take every opportunity to sit outside – even if you only have room for one chair and a pot of petunias! Think of nurturing your mental health: it’s like taking a tonic. ... This month, take time to revel in the garden, smell the roses and take every opportunity to sit outside – even if you only have room for one chair and a pot of petunias! Think of nurturing your mental health: it’s like taking a tonic. ...

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In the Garden: Enjoy time outdoors this spring

Julia Smith Mon, 25th Apr 2022 at 09:00

May is usually a lovely month, especially with the Bank Holidays – although don’t forget the Spring Bank holiday falls in early June this year to coincide with the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations! It seems a perfect time in the... May is usually a lovely month, especially with the Bank Holidays – although don’t forget the Spring Bank holiday falls in early June this year to coincide with the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations! It seems a perfect time in the... May is usually a lovely month, especially with the Bank Holidays – although don’t forget the Spring Bank holiday falls in early June this year to coincide with the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations! It seems a perfect time in the...

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In the Garden: Feed your garden

Julia Smith Wed, 23rd Mar 2022 at 09:00

April showers notwithstanding, there is now the real promise of lovely bright days to come, with all the plants in the garden shooting up to make the most of the sunshine. Start feeding the fruit in the garden, as most soft fruits will be... April showers notwithstanding, there is now the real promise of lovely bright days to come, with all the plants in the garden shooting up to make the most of the sunshine. Start feeding the fruit in the garden, as most soft fruits will be... April showers notwithstanding, there is now the real promise of lovely bright days to come, with all the plants in the garden shooting up to make the most of the sunshine. Start feeding the fruit in the garden, as most soft fruits will be...

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In the Garden: Pruning season

Julia Smith Wed, 23rd Feb 2022 at 09:00

We’ve done it! We can see the Holy Grail of warmer weather and the long sunny days approaching. I know the weather can still be breathtakingly sharp at times in March, with ‘beasts from the east’ etc. but we also have mild, sunny... We’ve done it! We can see the Holy Grail of warmer weather and the long sunny days approaching. I know the weather can still be breathtakingly sharp at times in March, with ‘beasts from the east’ etc. but we also have mild, sunny... We’ve done it! We can see the Holy Grail of warmer weather and the long sunny days approaching. I know the weather can still be breathtakingly sharp at times in March, with ‘beasts from the east’ etc. but we also have mild, sunny...

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In the Garden: Rejuvenate your winter garden

Julia Smith Wed, 26th Jan 2022 at 09:00

February is always welcome after the interminably long first month of the year. January is only three days longer than February (two in a leap year), but it seems to drag on and on. February brings with it the first sniff of spring when it is mild... February is always welcome after the interminably long first month of the year. January is only three days longer than February (two in a leap year), but it seems to drag on and on. February brings with it the first sniff of spring when it is mild... February is always welcome after the interminably long first month of the year. January is only three days longer than February (two in a leap year), but it seems to drag on and on. February brings with it the first sniff of spring when it is mild...

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