Gardening Information, Tips, Help & Advice
A selection of general gardening information articles from constructing paths to weed control. Many of these articles have sub-articles.
For example, for information on controlling nettles look at weed control and you’ll find the article on controlling nettles.
Do check out the section on garden hints and tips – we’ve got 18 pages of useful tips to help you garden and grow better.
If you have an article you would like to contribute please don’t hesitate to contact us – we’re always interested in publishing articles of interest to our visitors as well as your comments and things you would like to see covered.
3 Creative Ways To Beautify Your Garden
Growing an allotment garden is a practical endeavor. You're doing it to always have a fresh supply of delicious herbs and fruit and veg, as well as sustainability, not for aesthetic value. For that reason many allotment gardens are not exactly beautiful....
6 Ways to Enjoy Your Garden More This Summer
Some of us love our gardens and allotments. We spend time in them throughout the year, and eagerly await the warmer weather when we can get out and enjoy our outdoor spaces even more. But gardening isn’t for everyone. If you work a busy job, you might f...
Cats Toileting: How to Stop Cats using Garden or Veg Plot as a Toilet
Cats toileting = 'doing their business', 'leaving their calling card', 'digging up the plot and toileting', 'using the garden as a toilet', 'doing a poo in my raised beds', 'Cats defecating on the plot' are the (repeatable) subjects of emails I've ...
Comparing Grow Lights: T5 Fluorescent vs. LED Lights
More home growers are taking advantage of affordable propagators and grow lights to extend the season and improve yields. But which horticultural lighting system is best for the individual grower?
Two popular lighting options are T5 fluorescent...
Desert Botanical Garden – what makes it so special?
Botanical gardens can be found all around the world, some more impressive and unique than others. Few, however, match the splendour of the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, in the US state of Arizona. In this article, we’ll go over what makes this g...
Full Spectrum Light - Grow Lighting using LED
Full spectrum light is a term that has gained significant attention in the field of horticulture, particularly for those involved in greenhouse cultivation, vertical farming etc. As home growers make more use of lighting, understanding is crucial to choosing...
Garden Hints & Tips
Henry's Garden Hints & Tips
I first met Henry on the forums and he kindly penned some gardening tips for me to publish for him.
These are his hints and tips on a wide range of gardening problems along with tips others have sent in since and...
Includes: 22 Pages
Garden Pests – Rabbits, Deer, Pigeons, Badgers
Beyond slugs, snails and cabbage white caterpillars many gardeners have to contend with larger pest problems. Rabbits and pigeons are common pests even in urban areas and those in rural areas and outskirts of town can see their crops devastated by deer...
Horticultural Lighting: Illuminating the Path to Plant Growth
Horticultural lighting is a critical component in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), where artificial light supplements or replaces natural sunlight to optimize plant growth. This technology is essential in greenhouses, indoor farms, and vertical...
How Fast Does Cherry Laurel Grow?
Also known by the Latin Prunus laurocerasus, Cherry Laurel is an evergreen shrub with glossy dark green leaves. Strangely, Cherry Laurel isn't a true Laurel and actually comes from the prunus genus. It gets its name from its resemblance to both Bay Laurel ...
How Inflatable Hot Tubs Improve Your Garden Ten Fold
As modern technology continues to make our lives easier, more comfortable and convenient, it has spread from inside our homes to just outdoors. More and more people are finding that owning their own hot tub is something they can really embrace, without...
How to Care for a Peace Lily Indoors: Step-by-Step Guide
Peace lilies are not only known for their elegant beauty, but also for the ease with which they can be cared for indoors. However, to truly help your peace lily flourish and fill your home with its stunning white flowers and vibrant green foliage, understanding...
How to Get the Most Out of Your Garden
There is nothing quite like gardening if you are looking for a rewarding hobby. In fact, getting out in the fresh air is also a fantastic form of therapy in today’s busy, hi-tech world. Why not create a garden space where you can not only grow amazing p...
How To Give Your Garden A Makeover During Lockdown
The recent lockdown due to COVID -19 can affect people and their mental states in many ways. For starters, not being able to step out of the house and being stuck in your home all day can affect your mood and energy. Feelings of dread and loneliness...
How to Grow Gladiolus in Your Garden
If the rose is the recognized queen of flowers, then the gladiolus is the king! Its splendour and grace will not leave indifferent any lovers of garden plants. No flower can compete with it in the variety of shapes, sizes of the inflorescence, and especially...
How To Make A Side Income From Your Garden
Gardening as a hobby or leisure activity is adored by millions over the world. There is a sense of serenity and tranquillity that one can expect by spending some quality time in a garden. Tending after plants planning fruit and flower trees provides a...
How to Protect Your Vegetable Garden from the Wind
Wind can be very destructive as we know but even low levels of wind can reduce crop yields and slow plant growth. Happily, there are a number of ways to protect a vegetable garden from the wind.
How wind damages the vegetable garden.
Strong...
How to take care of your pond
A pond is a beautiful, relaxing feature to have in your garden. They have countless benefits for both the rest of your garden and for the wider environment. But they do require a bit of maintenance to keep them this way. Thankfully, taking care of your...
Microgreens – How to Grow Micro-greens Winter & Summer
What are Microgreens
You may well be familiar with microgreens. These are basically seedlings typically harvested when they've made a little growth. A step beyond sprouted seeds but below mature plants. Usually microgreens are harvested shortly after...
Modern Garden Ideas Featuring an Outdoor Firepit
Picture your garden, not just full of flowers and greenery, but also glowing with warmth. Imagine a spot in your yard where sleek, modern design meets the comforting glow of a flame. An outdoor firepit in a modern garden setting is more than a way to...
Planning a garden or allotment clearance
Weeds, couch grass and gardening pests love to live in your unattended allotments and gardens. It’s all breezy and cool when you think about an outstanding garden or lush-green plants in your allotment; but taking care of your garden or allotment is t...
Potager Gardens
A potager garden is a type of kitchen garden that mixes both edible and ornamental plants in a beautiful, organized way. The word potager comes from the French term potage for "soup," as these gardens were historically designed to grow ingredients for...
Redesigning flower beds - How to do it
A new flower bed can give your garden exactly what it needs to make it a beautiful environment again - old flower beds can look sad and take away the life of your backyard. Some people like to give their garden a makeover when the seasons change while...
Repair Rather Than Replace Old Garden Machinery and Power Tools
We all know that looking after our possessions properly and keeping them well maintained can help to prolong their life, whether shoes, clothes, a vehicle or books. It's not only good for you pocket to repair rather than replace old garden machinery and...
Starting Them Young: 6 Homesteading Skills to Teach Children
“I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately…and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” – Henry David Thoreau
Article submitted by Zoe Morrison
Whether it's for environmental reasons, for survivalist purpose...
Storing Gardening Tools and Equipment
Proper storage of gardening tools is essential to maintain their condition and ensure they remain effective season after season. Without proper storage, tools can rust, rot, and become damaged, leading to increased costs and frustration.
Choosing...
The Role of Campus Gardens in Student Mental Health and Well-being
Imagine the amount of time kids spend on TV, gaming, social media, etc. The screen time average keeps increasing and the ways to overcome this issue seem to be not working. This is killing creativity in students, making them lonely, which leads to various...
Top tips for amateur gardeners: get started today
People with green fingers know that gardening season never ends. There are different jobs you can do in your garden throughout the year and what you really need is the right set of tools. What it actually means depends of the level of your interest and...
Why are LED Horticultural Grow Lights Purple?
A question that comes up quite often is “Why are LED Horticultural Lights Purple?” The answer is that the lights are not actually purple, although they appear to be. Horticultural LED grow lights are actually a mix combing red and blue LEDs. The reason for...
Winter Plant Protection Made Simple: Safeguard Your Allotment from Frost
Did you know that a single night of unexpected frost can destroy months of hard work on your allotment?
Many gardeners share this experience. You walk into your garden on a crisp Winter morning and find your precious plants wilted from the cold. The...
Zen Garden for Meditative Space
More and more people are enjoying their time at home and in the garden , especially during Covid-19. Restaurants and stores were closed, people are working from home and it is better to welcome your visitors outside instead of inside the house. To create...
Best Temperatures for Seed Germination
What is the ideal temperature for seed germination is a simple question but the answer is actually quite complicated.
Most seeds will germinate over quite a wide range of soil temperatures but the speed of germination will vary. Too cold and they'll...
Raised Beds - Vegetable Growing in Raised Beds
Vegetable Growing in Raised Beds
In recent years the popularity of raised beds for growing for fruits and vegetables has increased but I've noticed many people decide to start growing this way without an understanding of the benefits and drawbacks....
Includes: 1 Pages
Seed Saving
How to Save Your Own Seeds
Why Save Your Own Seed
Saving your own seed will obviously save you money on buying in seed from the merchants. However, seed saving also enables you to select for the best plants to grow in your area, on your soil.
Although...
Includes: 11 Pages
Lawn Care Guides and Advice
Very few gardens are without a lawn yet most gardeners give them little thought. They drag out the mower in the Spring and scalp the turf every Sunday like a religious ritual. The mowings are dropped into the compost bin or even into the dustbin taking...
Includes: 6 Pages
10 Ways to Increase the Aesthetic Appeal of Your Backyard
Beautifying your backyard is about more than just enhancing the visual appeal. It is about creating a space that you and your family will enjoy for years to come, having a place to entertain family and friends, giving back to the environment, and increasing...
Fluid Seed Sowing & Seed Pre-Germination
Fluid seed sowing is a simple method to help you handle tiny seeds, spacing them further apart and more evenly than you can by hand. It is particularly effective with pre-germinated seeds
Fluid Seed Sowing
Many small seeds, such as carrots, are...
Home Made Pesticides & Unlicensed Use of Pesticides
The law in the UK requires that only pesticides approved by Ministers shall be sold, supplied, used, stored or advertised.
'Pesticide' is a broad term, covering a range of products that are used to control pests. The slug pellets, ant powder, weed...
Decorative Garden Arches - Roman, Gothic, Ogee Garden Arches
Add an architectural feature to your garden with an arch over a path or even a tunnel formed from decorative garden arches.
Garden Arches Endorsed by the RHS - 10 Year Guarantee
These garden arches are endorsed by the RHS and designed,...
5 Popular Uses for Log Cabins
Whether for storage purposes, to rest, or to engage in a hobby, log cabins can be used - and enjoyed - in many different ways. Plus, they are very practical, as they don’t require a lot of work in terms of construction, are cost-effective and don’t pro...
Grow Your Own Vegetables, Fruit, Herbs & Nuts
There are all sorts of reasons to grow your own vegetables, fruit and herbs. The economical amongst us save money by home growing, others worry about the provenance of their food and, by joining the grow your own movement, ensure they know exactly what...
Weed Control
Controlling Stinging Nettles, Dock Leaves, Dandelions, Bindweed, Couch or Twitch Grass, Horse Tail (or Mares Tail)
There is an old saying that ‘one years seeding is seven years weeding’ . Unfortunately this is very true.
Most annual weeds spread tho...
Includes: 7 Pages
Gardening And The Importance Of Water Quality
Gardening is more than just splashing on some water once in a while and adding fertilizers to the soil of a garden. Water and soil play the most important part, as they work in tandem to provide adequate nutrition to plants in every garden.
Because...
How to Build a Concrete Garden Path
This concrete path is not the most attractive, but it is relatively cheap, long lasting and the surface is not slippery which is a boon in wet or icy weather.
Start by planning exactly where the path is to go. I'd suggest seeing how you walk...
Concrete Garden Path Construction - Step by Step Photo Guide
This guide is designed to be read in conjunction with the article How to Build a Concrete Path that covers the details. This photo guide should give you a quick over view of the process.
Step by Step Guide To Building Concrete Path
Preparation - Marking...
How Can Gardeners Cope with Climate Change?
When the concept of global warming first started to appear in the press and the public began to take notice, most gardeners in Britain were not convinced this would be a bad thing. After all, British summers have a reputation for not being the best, so...
Gardening & Growing Vegetables Under a Hosepipe Ban
Here in Britain summer usually consists of grey skies and rain with three fine days followed by a thunderstorm. Just occasionally we have a glorious summer, blue skies and blazing sun to rival any Spanish resort.
The downside of a good summer is lack...
Water Conservation: Garden Techniques
Half the time the UK seems to be drowning yet when we have a good summer it turns into a drought! So it appears we can either garden in the rain or try to garden without water!
Hopefully this article will be of use to those affected by drought...
Flood! Safe Growing & Harvesting of Crops After a Flood
In recent years many people have suffered flooding in urban and country areas. Once the waters recede this leaves gardeners with the problem of what to do on their plot. What is safe to harvest? What is safe to grow? And what about the crops that are...
Day Length and Growing Plants
Effects of Light Levels When Growing Vegetables and Other Plants Out of Season.
Gardener's Back Pain - Look After Your Back in the Garden
Gardening is wonderful, as well as getting to eat the fruits of your labours, you actually get some good healthy exercise in the fresh air. But gardening and allotment-keeping also have their strains, and that includes your back pain.
A Gallup...
Become an Urban Farmer and Start Growing Potted Plants
As I'm not rich, I'm always keeping an eye out for a business opportuntity that might allow some of the finer things in life to become affordable. This back garden business opportunity might be applicable in the UK as well as the USA. It sounds fun, anyway....
Allotment Vegetable Plot Planning Software
Online Planning Software for your Allotment & Vegetable Plot
Taking on an allotment or vegetable plot requires plenty of organisational skills as well as gardening ones. There are many areas that need careful planning in order to produce a successful...
Start Your Seeds Indoors For A Jump On Spring Planting
Starting your seeds off early indoors is a great way to get ahead of the season and to have plants ready to go as soon as the weather is right for them. As regular visitors to this site will know, our bedrooms and lounge turn into impromptu nurseries...
An Eco-Friendly Garden Backyard - Green Gardening
When I came across this article on an eco-friendly garden by James Paul, I thought the author was saying what I have felt. Our gardens can be a positive force for good in the general environment as well as a place of relaxation and enjoyment.
Imagine...
Lunar Gardening, planting and gardening according to the phase of the Moon
I have been gardening using the rhythm of the planets and the moon for many years and I apply the same principal passionately to every aspect in the garden and allotment. This includes planting, sowing, weeding, pruning, picking, turning the compost heap...
