Sowing and Planting This is a good time to take root cuttings from perennials. Take 5cm cuttings and lay them horizontally on a growing medium of perlite and cuttings compost ( 50-50 mix). Cover with a thin layer of compost, water lightly and keep in an unheated greenhouse or coldframe. Plant out spring bedding such…
This small garden was in a lot of trouble, with bad soil and drainage, poor quality turf and inaccessible planting. The client needed easy access to all parts of the garden and a low maintenance planting solution so that she could enjoy her outdoor space. The wet turf was replaced with artficial turf, whilst the…
If you think there is nothing to do in the garden in November apart from tidying up leaves – think again! Now is the time to think about next year. Where are the gaps you need to fill? What worked and didn’t work? What is doing well in the garden? Filling gaps with existing perennials…
This is the time of year to gather your leaves and make the best soil improver you can find – Leafmould. It is by far the most efficient way to deal with leaves and it means you can re-use them in the garden, saving your petrol on the dump-run or the cost of someone else…
One of the most common questions I get is when to prune hedges, and how to control their size. I like to keep things straightforward , so start by establishing a few facts about your hedge. First of all – is your hedge evergreen, semi-evergreen or deciduous? Does it grow vigorously? Do you need it…
July and August are wonderful months when real harvesting starts from your allotment or your productive garden. I really look forward to my Blackcurrants and Redcurrants, which are the first of my fruits to be ready. I have an abundant quantity and each year I have to decide what to do with them. This year…
Watering your plants is an important element of your garden care. The biggest mistakes we generally make is to under-water in warm weather. Even here in Scotland, the water table can drop quickly in dry weather. Shrubs and trees will be fine generally as they can search deeply for water, but herbaceous plants and anything…
Now that the weather has turned here in Scotland, the slugs and snails are back on the job. They’ve been sheltering from the sun in the soil and cool damp places all summer, leaving our Hostas and Dahlias blissfully untouched. Not so much now – I can’t believe how many I’m picking off my plants and…