Tips & Advice

What to do in the garden now? May/June

Flowers Plant out tender summer-bedding plants Look out for aphids on lupins, and spray with a soap-based insecticide if infected Push canes into pots of tall-growing lilies and tie their stems to it for support Lift and divide clumps of primulas Cut back the foliage of daff... View Details

What to do in the Garden Now, March/April?

Flowers Fill gaps in flower beds with primulas and polyanthus Prune forsythia and flowering currants as soon as flowers have faded Leave daffodil foliage intact for at least six weeks after flowering to regenerate bulbs, so they'll bloom again next year Plant out groups o... View Details

What to do in the Garden Now? January 2011

Around the Garden Clean and sharpen knives and secateurs, and spray metal tools with oil Put up nesting boxes for birds in suitable trees or on buildings Move shrubs growing in the wrong place Service petrol lawn mowers Search through seed, bulb and nursery catalogues for ne... View Details

What to do in the garden now? December

Around the Garden Cover soil with polythene sheets to keep it dry so that winter digging can be completed Keep your Christmas tree outside in a bucket of water until you're ready to bring it indoors to decorate Flowers & Shrubs Clear away annual climbers, like sweet pea... View Details

What to do in the garden now? September

Flowers Buy tulips now while they're fresh in garden centres, but hold off planting till next month Plant daffodils, hyacinths, daffodiles and crocus in pots Lift and pot up tender perennials to protect over winter Clear away faded summer bedding and annuals, compostin... View Details

What to do in the garden now? August

Deadhead pelargoniums and other summer bedding plants Summer prune wisteria, cutting back whippy sideshoots to about 20cm Water plants in pots and baskets Take cuttings from shrubs choosing non-flowering shoots Collect seed from flowers that you want to propagate including ... View Details

What to do in the garden now? July

# Keep lawn edges trimmed by cutting with a half-moon edging tool # Look out for cabbage white butterfly eggs and rub them off with your fingers # Remove blanket weed from ponds # Feed hanging baskets and patio pots every week # Prune fast-growing hedges like privet # Keep m... View Details

What to do in the garden now? June

Plant out tender summer-bedding plants, such as begonias, once all risk of frost has passed............... Push canes into pots of tall-growing lilies and tie their stems to it for support........... Cut back the foliage of daffodils to clear beds for summer planting.......... View Details

What to do in the garden now? May

Dig out lawn weeds, such as daisies and dandelions............................................... Invest in an extra compost bin, so that as much green waste from your kitchen and garden can be recycled..................................... Plant out container-grown roses and sh... View Details

What to do in the garden now? April

Spread mulches of compost or well rotted manure over herbaceous borders.........Prune summer-flowering shrubs like Buddleja davidii, Spiraea japonica, and hardy Fuchsia. They benefit from cutting down hard in early spring. If your garden is prone to late frosts, then cover the cu... View Details

March 2010 What to do in the Garden Now?

Mow lawns then trim new edges with a half-moon edging tool..............Hoe bare areas of soil on dry days to remove weed seedlings.................Now is a good time to lift and divide overgrown clumps of perennials like Hosta..................The soil starts to warm up in March... View Details

February 2010 What to do in the garden now?

Deciduous shrubs and trees are still dormant enough to transplant this month, once the buds have begun to swell, it will be to late...............Prune your summer flowering shrubs now..................Did you check your garden tools yet? Don't wait 'til the spring rush t... View Details

What to do in the garden now-January

Tidy up piles of flowerpots and debris that could harbour snails................. Raise patio containers on feet or bricks, to ensure their compost drains properly............. Avoid walking on lawns covered with heavy frost, as you'll kill... View Details

What to do in the Garden Now? December

General Garden Pick Christmas greenery from your own garden using up suitable plants such as holly, ivy, conifer sprigs, rose-hips, gaultheria and Monarda. Any excess you can use in your Christmas displays at your front door. You will need to protect non hardy plants an... View Details