Free expert tips and advice

  Peat contains humus-forming substances, and is partly pure humus formed in peat bogs where it lays compressed, away from the air, storing up all its beneficial qualities. For garden use, peat is subjected to various processes of preparation and is sRead More..

If your lawn has been abused by years of heavy use and neglect it may be worth re-laying the lawn to bring your garden back to life. A quality well-kept lawn can make time spent in the garden during the summer months more enjoyable and at the same time add value to your home. It takes time to create a new lawn, but if done properly a new lawn will last a life time.   There are two options available when looking to create a lawn; lay pre-grown turf or grow your lawn from seed. There are prRead More..

  All concrete products such as block paving, brickwork or paving slabs are susceptible to a naturally occurring phenomenon known as efflorescence. In chemistry, efflorescence is described as a growth of saltRead More..

  As well as providing your plants with additional supplies of water, it pays to conserve water already present in the soil. Below is a list of various ways in which this can be achieved:   • Mulch moist ground with an 8cm layer of organic matter such aRead More..

Climbing plants are a great way to screen off parts of your garden as well as helping to merge walls and fences into the garden. However, climbers need proper planting, support and training to ensure they serve their purpose correctly. Below are a few tips to help you train the climbers in your garden.   • Before planting climbers at the foot of a wall or under a tree, use compost to improve the soil, as the soil will typically be of a poor quality in these areas of the garden. You willRead More..

Here’s a list of do’s and don’ts when it comes to pruning trees in your garden.

Do…

  ...check variegated tress and remove plain green shoots when you see them, at any time of year, or they will take over as they grow faster than variegated shoots.   …remove any dead, broken or diseased branches with loppers or a pruning saw as soon as you see them.   …buy a well-shaped tree in the first place. Look for one with about 5 main branches sRead More..

Typically, town gardens consist of a rectangle of grass surrounded by straight flowerbeds and raw-looking fences. However, this can be vastly improved out of all recognition by redesigning its basic shape. A professionally designed garden will not only look visually stunning but will be easier to maintain and can be perfectly attuned to your specific needs. Here are a few tips and ideas to improve small gardens:   • Make the most of a typical long narrow plot by using features that run Read More..

  Even in small gardens, ponds are beautiful and ever-changing features that provide an ideal environment for moisture-loving plants and a habitat for wildlife. Most gardens only have space for a small pond but there are many different possibilities and variations that can be used Read More..

A lawn is the garden background to everything from starter homes to huge country estates. The quality of your lawn can make or break your garden and if you are considering a new lawn you have 2 options available. You can either lay turf or you can grow the grass from seed. If you are planning on growing your lawn from seed, as opposed to buying in pre-grown turf, then here is a step by step guide on how to seed a lawn.  

Step 1

  Fork the ground over and use your feet to trRead More..

    Having well cultivated soil, rich in humus, is essential for creating a good environment in which to grow plants. If you have recently had any kind of building work taking place either on your garden or to your home, the building operations will have entailed a lot of disturbance to the original soil structure, so measures must be taken to prepare it for future horticultural use. As thorough care of your gardens’ soil is vital when it comes to your plants survival, here are a fRead More..