April is when the garden stops hinting and starts performing properly. Growth gathers pace almost overnight, borders fill out with confident colour and the sound of lawnmowers returns to the weekend soundtrack. There is excitement in the air now, but also a noticeable increase in jobs that seem to multiply the moment you turn your back. April gardening is about keeping up with the surge without losing the joy, embracing the busyness while remembering to pause and admire what is unfolding. Here are five well-timed April jobs to help your garden thrive as spring hits its stride.

Sow With Confidence

April is prime time for sowing, both outdoors and under cover, with soil warming and daylight stretching generously into the evening. Carrots, beetroot, lettuce and radishes can all be sown directly outside, while courgettes, pumpkins and sweetcorn can be started indoors for planting out later. Prepare the ground well, rake to a fine tilth and water gently, because seeds appreciate consistency rather than chaos. There is something deeply satisfying about neat rows of newly sown crops, each one a small promise of meals and colour to come.

Plant Out, But Keep an Eye on the Sky

Hardy annuals and robust young plants can begin moving into beds and containers this month, gradually acclimatised to outdoor conditions if they were raised inside. Choose a calm, mild day for planting and water everything in thoroughly to help roots settle quickly. That said, April is not above the occasional late frost, so keep fleece within reach and avoid getting too complacent. A little caution now prevents a great deal of apologising to wilted plants later.

Stay Ahead of the Weeds

With warmth and rain working together, weeds seem to appear with impressive enthusiasm in April. Tackle them early and regularly, hoeing on dry days and removing them before they have the chance to flower and set seed. It is far easier to maintain control with small, frequent efforts than one heroic afternoon that leaves you aching and slightly resentful. Think of it as gentle persistence rather than warfare.

Support and Tie In

Climbing plants and tall perennials begin their upward journey in earnest this month, and a bit of early support makes all the difference. Install stakes, canes or frames before plants become unruly, and tie in new growth loosely but securely. Doing this now saves you from the delicate and slightly awkward task of wrestling stems into place later in the season.

Feed and Refresh Containers

Pots and containers quickly exhaust their nutrients once growth accelerates, so refresh the top layer of compost if needed and begin a regular feeding routine. Check drainage holes are clear and water consistently, especially during dry spells that can catch us off guard. Containers are often the first to look tired if neglected, but they are also the quickest to respond to a little extra care.

April is energetic, colourful and occasionally demanding, but it rewards effort generously. By staying attentive, organised and just a little bit ahead of the rush, you allow your garden to flourish without feeling overwhelmed. This is the month where spring feels real, progress is visible and every hour spent outdoors seems to pay you back in fresh growth and renewed enthusiasm.

March is when the garden finally clears its throat and starts to speak up. Spring does not arrive all at once, but in small, encouraging gestures that are impossible to ignore, with buds swelling, birds getting louder and gardeners suddenly finding themselves outside far more often than planned.
There is a sense of momentum now, a gentle urgency that nudges us into action without quite tipping into panic. March gardening is about rolling up your sleeves with enthusiasm, while still keeping one eye on the forecast, because this month has a habit of changing its mind. Here are five timely March jobs to help your garden shake off winter and stride confidently into the growing season.

Cut Back With Optimism

Now is the time to cut back many herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses that have been patiently holding their shape all winter. On dry days, clear away old growth to make space for fresh shoots pushing through from below. It feels wonderfully satisfying to reveal that bright green promise at ground level, like uncovering good news you suspected was there all along. Keep things neat, but not obsessive, because nature rarely aims for perfection.

Sow Seeds Outdoors, Carefully

March marks the start of outdoor sowing for hardier vegetables such as peas, broad beans, spinach and carrots, as long as the soil is workable and not clinging stubbornly to your boots. Take a little time to prepare beds properly, removing weeds and raking to a fine tilth, because seeds appreciate a decent welcome. There is real joy in sowing directly into the ground again, a clear sign that the growing year has properly begun.

Divide and Conquer

Overcrowded perennials benefit hugely from being lifted and divided this month, once new growth is visible but before plants get too comfortable. Split clumps of hostas, daylilies and ornamental grasses, replanting the healthiest sections and sharing the rest if you are feeling generous. It is one of those jobs that looks alarming halfway through, but always ends with a stronger, happier result.

Feed Hungry Plants

As growth speeds up, many plants start looking around expectantly, so now is the time to feed. Apply a balanced fertiliser to borders, give roses a spring boost and top up mulch where it has thinned over winter. Feeding in March sets plants up for the months ahead and reduces the likelihood of them sulking later when conditions become more demanding.

Prepare for the Unexpected

March can be enthusiastic, but it can also be mischievous, with late frosts still very much on the table. Keep fleece handy, protect tender new growth when needed and resist the urge to rush everything outside too quickly. Gardening in March is about enthusiasm tempered with experience, knowing when to charge ahead and when to pause for breath.
March brings energy, optimism and a growing sense that anything feels possible again. By meeting it with steady effort, good humour and a willingness to adapt, you help your garden move confidently into spring. After all, this is the month where intentions turn into action, plans take root and the garden reminds us why we were so eager to get started in the first place.

February is a curious month in the garden. Still winter, technically, yet full of little hints that spring is loitering just out of sight, tapping its watch and waiting for its cue. The days stretch a fraction longer, snowdrops put on their best performance and gardeners begin drifting outside more often, pretending they’re “just having a look” while secretly planning everything.

It’s also the month of Valentine’s Day, which feels rather fitting, because February gardening is all about small acts of care, gentle attention and not expecting too much too soon. Here are five satisfying February jobs to keep your garden feeling loved as the seasons slowly turn.

Tidy Gently, Not Aggressively
This is not the moment for a dramatic clear-out or any form of horticultural rage. On dry days, lightly tidy borders, remove obvious weeds and clear away winter debris while leaving some seed heads and leaf litter for wildlife. Think of it as a respectful spruce rather than a full makeover. The garden is waking up, not ready for a surprise boot camp. 

Feed the Soil, Not Just the Plants
February is an excellent time to show your soil some affection. Add well-rotted compost or manure to beds, mulch around shrubs and generally remind the ground that it is appreciated. Healthy soil is the foundation of everything that follows, and a little care now will save you plenty of effort later. Consider it the gardening equivalent of making someone a cup of tea without being asked. 

Prune With Confidence and a Sense of Humour
Roses, fruit trees and deciduous shrubs can all be pruned this month, as long as the weather behaves itself. Remove dead or crossing branches and aim for an open, balanced shape. If you find yourself hesitating, secateurs hovering mid-air, remember that plants are remarkably forgiving. Gardening, much like romance, often rewards a confident approach rather than endless overthinking. 

Start Seeds and Dream a Little
February is when seed sowing begins in earnest, albeit under cover. Tomatoes, chillies, sweet peas and early salad crops are all keen to get going on a sunny windowsill or in a propagator. There is something wonderfully hopeful about sowing seeds while it’s still cold outside, a reminder that optimism is an essential gardening tool, right up there with gloves and patience. 

Show Wildlife Some Extra Love
Food is still in short supply for birds and other garden visitors, so keep feeders topped up and water fresh. Leave undisturbed corners and resist the urge to be too tidy, because those messy patches are doing important work. A garden that welcomes wildlife feels alive and generous and provides far more entertainment than anything on television.

February may not be showy, but it’s quietly charming. By tending your garden with kindness, humour and the occasional stolen moment of daydreaming, you set the tone for the months ahead. After all, the best gardens are built on attention, trust and turning up regularly, even when it’s cold, damp and your wellies are still slightly muddy from January!

A fresh year has arrived – crisp, quiet and full of possibility. The garden may still be snoozing under winter’s duvet, but this is the ideal moment to pause, stretch and decide what kind of growing year you want to shape. While the borders bide their time and the seed catalogues whisper sweet temptations, our minds turn to resolutions: small promises that can bring more joy, intention and perhaps a tiny sense of smugness to the months ahead. Here are five thoughtful – and gently witty – gardening resolutions to spark a greener, calmer and more rewarding 2026.

Nurture Your Soil
Every great garden begins beneath your feet – though it rarely gets the credit it deserves. This year resolve to treat your soil like the superstar it is. Start a compost heap, sprinkle in organic matter or try a no-dig approach that’s kinder to both back and biome. A little attention now will reward you with stronger plants, fewer headaches and a garden that practically thanks you by growing better all year long.

Grow Something New
Make 2026 the year you branch out (pun absolutely intended). Plant a vegetable you’ve never tasted, a flower you’ve always admired or a shrub that offers something unexpected. Experimenting keeps gardening wonderfully unpredictable – and if your new venture fails spectacularly, well, that’s half the charm of trying.

Design With Purpose
Use these quieter winter days to look at your garden with a designer’s eye – or at least the eye of someone who’s finally noticed that the shed has been crooked since 2018. Think about structure, flow, colour and how you actually use the space. A few smart tweaks can transform a garden from “fine” to “why didn’t I do this years ago?” with surprising ease.

Invite More Wildlife
A lively garden is one that buzzes, flutters and occasionally digs small, mysterious holes. Resolve to welcome more wildlife this year: plant nectar-rich flowers, add a bird feeder, pop in a small water dish or leave seed heads standing a little longer. These tiny steps create a haven for creatures great and small, and provide endless entertainment for you, too.

Make Time to Simply Enjoy It
In the grand shuffle of sowing, pruning and politely encouraging slugs to relocate, it’s easy to forget the joy of just being in the garden. This year, give yourself permission to slow down. Drink your morning tea among the borders, take a lap in the evening light or simply notice the tiny daily changes that make gardening magical. Productivity is lovely, but presence is better.

So, there you have it, five cheerful resolutions to welcome an uplifting year in the garden. Whether you choose one or all, each can bring more joy, clarity and connection to your gardening journey in 2026. And if you treat yourself to a shiny new tool or a fresh notebook to mark the occasion – entirely understandable.

And just like that, December is here. The lights are twinkling, the days are short, and the garden has all but fallen asleep for winter. While the borders rest and the tools are cleaned away, our thoughts turn indoors to comfort, reflection and, of course, gift giving. If there is a gardener in your life, there is no better present than a book to inspire, teach and brighten the months ahead. Here are my five personal choices for this Christmas. Each is available from good booksellers and Amazon.

What Grows Together by Jamie Butterworth

A beautiful and inspiring guide to planting partnerships that thrive side by side. Jamie Butterworth shows how thoughtful combinations can transform your garden into a space that feels both natural, balanced and harmonious. It is packed with detailed planting plans, creative ideas and practical advice for every setting, whether you are working with a border, a balcony, window boxes or even a few pots on a patio, making it accessible and rewarding for gardeners of all levels.

Compost by Charles Dowding

A masterclass in the magic of composting from the no‑dig pioneer himself. Charles Dowding explains how to turn kitchen scraps, garden waste and other organic matter into nutrient-rich black gold that feeds your soil and your plants. Clear, practical and full of wisdom, it is a must-have for anyone who wants to garden more sustainably, reduce waste, improve soil health and enjoy more productive, thriving plants throughout the year. With step-by-step guidance, tips for avoiding common mistakes and insights drawn from decades of experience, it is both inspiring and entirely achievable for gardeners at every level.

How to Design a Garden by Pollyanna Wilkinson

For those dreaming of a garden makeover, Pollyanna Wilkinson offers expert advice on how to plan and design a space that works beautifully all-year-round. From structure and scale to colour, texture and seasonal interest, her book helps you see your garden through a designer’s eyes, whatever its size, style or location. Filled with practical tips, inspirational examples and clear illustrations, it guides you through creating harmonious layouts, selecting plants that complement one another and making the most of every corner, ensuring your garden is both functional and visually stunning throughout the seasons.

The Flower Thesaurus by Liz Potter

A wonderful resource for anyone who loves flowers, this book explores the meanings, moods and stories behind them. Liz Potter’s writing is poetic and fascinating, making it as enjoyable to browse as it is to study. It is perfect for gardeners, florists or anyone who delights in the language of blooms, offering inspiration for planting schemes, floral arrangements and even creative writing. Filled with practical tips, historical anecdotes and imaginative pairings, it encourages readers to deepen their connection with plants, understand their symbolism, and bring beauty, colour and meaning into every garden or bouquet they create.

Grow Your Groceries by Simon Akeroyd

A practical and inspiring guide to growing your own food, even in the smallest of spaces. Simon Akeroyd covers everything from sowing seeds to harvesting fresh produce for the kitchen table, with clever tips for containers, balconies and small plots. It is full of achievable projects, helpful illustrations and seasonal advice, offering simple ways to save money, reduce waste and reconnect with the rhythms of nature. A wonderful reminder that anyone, anywhere, can grow something delicious and rewarding, making it the perfect book to inspire a more self-sufficient and sustainable start to the new year.

So, there you have it, five thoughtful gifts for the gardener in your life. Whether they dream of designing, composting, planting or simply learning more, these books will bring a little green joy to their Christmas morning. And if you happen to treat yourself too, well, that sounds perfectly reasonable.

The clocks have gone back, the evenings draw in before you know it, and the garden seems to slip into hibernation mode. While growth has slowed almost to a stop, there is still plenty to do outdoors. November is a month of wrapping up, tucking in and getting things in order before winter really arrives. Jobs you do now will set things up for a blooming great spring. Here are some of my top jobs for November… 

Plant tulips at their best

If you only plant one thing this month, make it tulips. Unlike daffodils or crocuses, tulips actually do best when planted later in autumn, once the soil has cooled. This helps to prevent problems such as tulip fire disease and gives them the best start. Choose firm, healthy bulbs, dig a hole about three times the depth of the bulb, and plant them with the pointed tip facing upwards. Tulips look brilliant in pots, borders or even naturalised in grass, and they will reward you with colour and drama come April and May. 

Protect your pots from frost

Terracotta pots in particular are prone to cracking when frost gets into the clay, and tender plants in containers suffer even more. The answer is simple: raise pots off the ground on little feet or bricks so that excess water can drain away, and group them together in a sheltered spot. For precious plants, wrap the pots in fleece, hessian or even bubble wrap for insulation. Hardy perennials will cope, but anything less robust should be brought under cover if possible. 

Mulch your borders

Bare soil loses heat and nutrients over winter, but a good layer of mulch solves both problems at once. Spread compost, well-rotted manure, leaf mould or bark chips over the soil around your plants. Not only will this improve the structure and fertility of your soil, it will also suppress weeds and insulate plant roots against the cold. It is a simple job with a big payoff, and it gives your beds that neat, finished look too. 

Prune fruit trees

Now that apples and pears have dropped their leaves, you can see their shape clearly, which makes November an ideal time for pruning. Focus on removing any dead, damaged or crossing branches, as well as opening up the centre of the tree to let in light and air. This will reduce disease, encourage stronger growth and lead to better crops next year. Use sharp, clean secateurs or a pruning saw, and do not worry too much as fruit trees are tougher than they look. Just avoid plums and cherries for now, as they are best pruned in summer to reduce the risk of silver leaf disease. 

Look after the wildlife

As gardens wind down, birds start to rely more on us. Set up feeders with a mix of seeds, suet and peanuts, and top them up regularly. If you have a pond, float a ball or place a stick across it to stop the surface freezing completely, which ensures that wildlife can still reach the water. A messy corner of the garden with leaves, sticks and a few logs will provide shelter for hedgehogs and insects, so resist the urge to tidy everything too perfectly. Sometimes, a little mess is the best kind of care.

So, there you have it, five key jobs for November. Plant your tulips, protect your pots, mulch your borders, prune your fruit trees and spare a thought for wildlife. The days may be shorter and the weather colder, but the work you do now will protect and prepare your garden for the season ahead and make next spring all the brighter for it.

Blimey… it’s October already, where did September go? And did we ever really get those golden autumn days that were promised? The weather has been a mixture of sunshine, showers and sudden chill, but whatever it has thrown our way, the fact remains. Winter is just around the corner, and now is the time to get our gardens in order.

Autumn is a season of preparation as much as it is of colour and beauty, and the jobs you do now will set you up perfectly for the months ahead. I have pulled together some of my top tips for October, a mixture of tidying, planting and protecting, that will reward you handsomely once spring arrives. 

Collect those fallen leaves

One of the unmistakable sights of October is the carpet of fallen leaves across lawns and paths. As lovely as they look at first, they can quickly turn into a soggy, slippery nuisance if they are left where they fall. On the lawn in particular, they block out light and air, encouraging moss and bare patches. A weekly rake or leaf blower makes light work of the job, and while it might seem like a chore, the good news is that the leaves are incredibly useful once collected.

Pile them into black bin bags with a few holes poked in for air, then tie them up and tuck them out of sight in a shady corner. By next year, the leaves will have rotted down into leaf mould, which is one of the very best soil improvers you can make at home. It is slow to form, but the results are worth the patience. Think of it as nature’s free gift to your garden. 

Plant bare-root fruit

October is also the beginning of bare-root season, which is the very best time to plant fruit trees and bushes. Apples, pears, plums, raspberries and gooseberries are all widely available as bare-root plants. They are lifted from the ground once dormant and sent out without pots, which makes them easier to transport, usually cheaper to buy, and healthier in the long term because they establish quickly in their new soil.

The key is to get them planted as soon as you can. Pick a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil, dig a hole wide enough to spread out the roots, and give them a good soak in a bucket of water before planting. Firm the soil back gently but securely, water them in, and then let them rest through the winter. By spring, you will start to see the first signs of growth, and with a little luck you could even be picking your first crop the following year. Planting fruit is an investment that rewards you year after year, and autumn is the perfect moment to start. 

Bring tender plants under cover

While many hardy perennials will happily sit through frost and rain, there are some plants that simply will not cope with a cold British winter. Pelargoniums, fuchsias, salvias and cannas are just a few that benefit from extra protection. If they are left outside, the frost will blacken their foliage and likely kill them off. The good news is that they are easy to save if you act now.

Cut back any straggly growth, check them carefully for pests, and pot them up if they have outgrown their containers. Then move them somewhere frost-free, such as a conservatory, greenhouse or bright windowsill. They do not need heat, just protection from freezing temperatures and waterlogging. With the right care, they will tick over quietly all winter and be ready to burst back into life when spring returns. 

Show your lawn some care

Lawns can look a little tired by the time October rolls around, but this is the perfect month to give them some attention. A light scarify with a rake will remove thatch, which is the build-up of old grass and moss. Spiking compacted areas with a garden fork will improve drainage, which is especially important before the heavy winter rains arrive. If you have any bare patches, sowing grass seed now can still work as the soil is warm enough for germination, though growth will be slower.

An autumn lawn feed is a wise investment too. Unlike summer feeds that are high in nitrogen, autumn feeds contain more potassium and phosphorus, which strengthen the roots and help the grass withstand cold weather. A little effort in October can mean a thicker, healthier lawn when spring arrives, without the patchy start we often see after winter. 

Plant spring bulbs for a brighter future

October is prime time for planting spring bulbs, and it is hard to resist the thought of daffodils, tulips, crocuses and hyacinths bursting into bloom after the long dark winter. Bulbs are simple to plant and even simpler to care for. Choose a sunny spot, dig a hole two to three times as deep as the bulb itself, and drop it in with the pointed end facing upwards. Cover with soil, water lightly, and then let nature take over.

Bulbs work beautifully in borders, pots or even tucked into the lawn for a natural look. You can layer them in pots too, planting tulips deeper, then daffodils, then crocuses or muscari nearer the surface, so that you get a succession of flowers from March through to May. It is a project that takes just an afternoon, but the reward is months of colour when you need it most.

So, there you have it, five key jobs for October. Gather up the leaves and make your own compost, plant fruit to harvest in years to come, bring tender favourites indoors, give your lawn a boost and fill your garden with bulbs for spring. For more ideas and tips, keep an eye on my Instagram where I share plenty of inspiration as the year rolls on.

After a strong beginning to the year, the garden is finally bursting with life. The early sunshine hasn’t held our plants back; in fact, it’s helped them build resilience. That early-season cocktail seems to have toughened things up, and the result is a garden that’s now putting on a show worth celebrating!
If your space is anything like mine, it’s now flourishing. The flush of flowers and produce is a welcome reward. While I do hope you’ll take some time to relax and take it all in, if you’re itching to do a bit more, I’ve got a few easy tasks to keep your hands busy this September.

Keep on deadheading

September is a key time to continue deadheading – it not only encourages more flowers but keeps your plants healthy too. Dahlias, for one, will thank you for it. To deadhead them, find the spent blooms and snip them just above the nearest healthy leaves with clean, sharp secateurs or scissors. This steers the plant away from seed-making and back into producing more flowers and shoots.

Roses also benefit from regular attention this month. For most types, cut the stem back to the first group of five leaves, making a clean diagonal cut to help the wound heal swiftly.

Bedding plants like geraniums and petunias also thrive with consistent deadheading. Gently pinch or snip away the entire faded flower head – including the base – to avoid unwanted seed pods. And don’t overlook perennials like echinacea and rudbeckia; a quick trim just above a bud or leaf can coax them into another flush of colour. Keeping on top of deadheading not only enhances appearance but also encourages robust growth and extends the blooming season well into late summer.

Plan ahead – save your seeds

The garden is full of chances to save seeds this month. Sweet peas are a great starting point. While it’s still a touch early to let them go to seed fully, if a pod sneaks past you, don’t bin it – collect it. When the pods turn brown and crisp, you can gently split them to release the seeds inside. Dry them thoroughly before tucking them away in a cool, dry spot.
Aquilegia is another reliable seed-saver’s friend. Once the flowers finish, the pods begin to dry and crack. Harvest them just before they burst and shake the seeds into a paper bag. Let them air dry for a few days before storing them in clearly marked envelopes or jars. Alternatively, if left on the plant, they’ll often self-seed, providing a pleasant surprise next spring in your borders or containers.

Fruits of your labour

If you’ve got fruit coming on, September is a busy but rewarding time. Apples and pears should now be checked regularly – give them a gentle lift, and if they part easily from the tree, they’re ready. Blackberries and raspberries are still going strong – perfect for eating fresh, preserving, or freezing.

Plums are in abundance too; pick them when they feel slightly soft. Strawberry growers should continue harvesting as fruits ripen – the more you pick, the more the plants will offer. But keep an eye out – birds love soft fruits just as much as we do.

Remember to water fruiting plants well, particularly in dry spells, to keep them thriving. And don’t forget a feed every couple of weeks – tomatoes especially will reward you with bigger, tastier yields if you keep them well nourished.

Now is the time when the garden is in its prime. Colour is everywhere, fruit and veg are ripening fast, and borders are buzzing with pollinators. But before you sit back, admire and hang up your trowel, there’s still plenty to do – like deadheading, feeding and watering. All make a real difference to how your garden performs. And if you’re away on holiday, planning ahead will help keep everything looking good while you’re gone.

Keep Deadheading for Continuous Flowers

Deadheading is the simplest way to prolong flowering. Snip off spent blooms on dahlias, roses, cosmos and sweet peas to keep energy focused on new growth. Not only does this tidy things up, it can give you weeks more colour.

If you’re growing hanging baskets or containers, they’ll need a little extra love. Feed them every week with a high-potash liquid fertiliser and water daily in warm weather. Even a missed day can see them wilting, so consider setting up an automatic watering system if you’re planning to be away.

Watering and Feeding Wisely

With longer, warmer days, water becomes your most important tool. Focus on watering thoroughly and less frequently to encourage deeper roots. Early morning or evening is best to reduce evaporation. Veg plants, especially tomatoes, cucumbers and beans, need consistent moisture now.

Feeding is just as vital. Tomatoes benefit from a weekly tomato feed once the first fruits appear, while cucumbers and courgettes appreciate a balanced fertiliser every fortnight. If you mulched in spring, top it up now to keep the soil cool and moist.

Harvesting and Sowing for Late Crops

Now’s the time to start harvesting regularly. Pick courgettes while still small, lift first potatoes, and enjoy salads and herbs fresh from the garden. Keep picking beans to encourage more to form, and don’t let anything go to seed unless you’re saving it on purpose.

You can still sow plenty in July too. Try beetroot, lettuce, chard and spring onions for an autumn harvest. Direct sow into well-watered ground and keep young seedlings shaded during the hottest part of the day to help them get established.

Support Tall Growers and Check for Pests

Climbers like sweet peas, runner beans and cucumbers need regular tying in to keep them tidy and productive. Tall dahlias, delphiniums and sunflowers may need a bit more support as they get top-heavy.

Watch out for common summer pests like aphids and cabbage white caterpillars. A regular inspection helps keep things under control. Encourage natural predators like ladybirds and birds by keeping a wildlife-friendly corner in the garden.

Final Thoughts

This is the time that’s all about enjoyment as much as action – flowers, food and sunshine all wrapped into one. Whether you’re picking ripe tomatoes or sipping tea among the blooms, take time to appreciate the rewards of all your earlier efforts.

Gardens thrive on consistency, and a little regular care will keep yours looking its best. So, water well, deadhead often, and take a moment to admire how far your patch has come. Summer doesn’t last forever – make the most of every golden day. Happy gardening!

June has arrived, and with it the garden shifts into overdrive. The days are long, the warmth is more reliable, and growth is almost unstoppable. Flowers are blooming, veg is thriving, and it finally feels like summer is truly here. After the hustle and preparation of spring now is the time to nurture, tend and, most importantly, enjoy.

While some jobs slow down, there’s still plenty to do. Tender plants are settling in, borders need attention to keep looking their best, and the veg garden is demanding regular care. With a little time and attention, your garden will reward you handsomely. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and make the most of June. 

Pinching Out and Supporting Dahlias

If your dahlias are in the ground and growing strongly, now is the moment to help them become bushier and bloom more generously. Pinch out the growing tips when they reach around 30cm tall – this encourages branching and a much fuller plant. It might feel counterproductive, but you’ll get more flowers in the long run.

Support is just as crucial. By now, dahlias are shooting up quickly, and a good staking system will prevent damage from wind or heavy rain. Bamboo canes and soft twine work well, or invest in purpose-made supports for a neater look. Keep up with fortnightly feeding and regular watering, especially in dry spells – they’re thirsty plants once they get going! 

Deadheading and Summer Colour

With borders bursting into bloom, June is all about maintenance. Deadheading – removing spent flowers – is key to keeping plants flowering for longer. Roses, cosmos, marigolds and sweet peas all benefit from this simple job. It also stops plants wasting energy on seed production.

This is also a great time to plug any gaps in your borders. Garden centres are full of flowering perennials and bedding plants ready to go. Geraniums, salvias and rudbeckias will slot in beautifully and provide instant impact. Don’t forget to water them in well and mulch around them to conserve moisture and keep weeds at bay. 

Caring for Courgettes and Tomatoes

June sees a boom in vegetable growth, and two stars of the show – courgettes and tomatoes – need regular attention. For courgettes, keep picking young fruits to encourage more to form. They’re prolific producers and regular harvesting stops them turning into marrows overnight! A weekly liquid feed will help boost their output.

Tomatoes, especially cordon varieties, should be side-shooted – that is, pinching out the leafy shoots that appear in the leaf joints. This keeps the plant focused on producing fruit rather than getting too leafy. Tie them in to their supports as they grow and make sure they’re getting a consistent water supply to avoid problems like blossom end rot.

A mulch around your veg plants will help lock in moisture and reduce watering needs. If you’re growing under cover, ventilate greenhouses well in hot weather to avoid heat stress and fungal issues. 

Final Thoughts

June is a month of abundance, colour and progress in the garden. With longer evenings and warmer weather, it’s the perfect time to lose yourself in the joy of gardening. Whether it’s pinching out dahlias, topping up borders or tending to your crops, a little effort now goes a long way.

Most of all, remember to enjoy it. Sit with a cuppa and watch the bees go about their business, breathe in the scent of the roses, and take pride in what you’ve created. Summer has truly arrived, so let’s savour every minute of it. Happy gardening!

For lots more top tips, advice and ideas – make sure to follow Adam on Instagram and TikTok where you’ll find him as @viewfromthepottingbench on both.

May is here at last, and the garden is finally hitting its stride. The days are longer, the sun has a bit more warmth to it, and everything seems to be growing at double speed. The first real signs of summer are creeping in, and after months of careful planning and early sowing now is the time to get stuck in and enjoy it.

With the last frosts behind us, there is plenty to be getting on with. Dahlias can go into the ground, borders can be topped up with new plants, and seeds can be sown directly where they are to flower. The vegetable garden is also in full swing, with potatoes needing attention and other crops getting well established. It is a busy time, but an exciting one too. So, let’s grab our tools, head outside and make the most of May. 

Planting Out Dahlias

If you have been looking after dahlia tubers indoors or in the greenhouse, now is the moment to plant them out. These bold, beautiful flowers love a warm, sunny spot with free-draining soil, and getting them in the ground in May gives them plenty of time to settle in before they start flowering later in the summer.

Dig a hole deep enough to comfortably fit the tuber, making sure the growing tip sits just below the surface. Give them a good watering after planting and, if slugs are a problem in your garden consider adding some organic slug deterrents. Dahlias can be a bit floppy when they get going, so it is worth staking them early to avoid damage later on. A fortnightly feed with a high-potassium fertiliser, such as tomato feed, will help keep them strong and full of blooms right through to autumn. 

Sowing Poppies and Filling Gaps

May is a brilliant time to scatter annual flower seeds straight into the soil. Poppies, cornflowers and nigella are all easy to grow and fantastic for filling in gaps in borders. They will bloom in just a few weeks, adding bursts of colour and attracting pollinators to the garden. Simply rake the soil lightly, scatter the seeds and water them in. No fuss, no complicated techniques – just let nature do the rest.

If your borders are looking a little sparse, now is also the perfect time to add in summer bedding plants or perennials. Salvias, cosmos and marigolds are all great choices that will flower reliably for months. When planting, make sure to water them in well and keep an eye on any late cold snaps, as May can still throw in the odd chilly night. A layer of mulch around new plants will help retain moisture and suppress weeds, giving them the best possible start. 

Earth Up Your Potatoes

If you are growing potatoes, May is the month to keep on top of earthing them up. As the plants grow, gradually mound soil around the base, covering the lower leaves but leaving the top growth exposed. This encourages strong tuber development and stops the potatoes from turning green and becoming inedible.

It is also important to keep your potatoes well watered, especially if the weather is dry. They need a steady supply of moisture, particularly as they start forming tubers. A deep soak once or twice a week is far better than little and often, as it encourages strong root growth. If you are growing potatoes in containers, make sure they have good drainage and do not let them dry out completely.

A useful tip for keeping your crop healthy is to mulch around the plants with straw or grass clippings. This helps the soil retain moisture and reduces the risk of blight by keeping the leaves drier. With a bit of care now, you will have a tasty harvest to look forward to in the months ahead. 

Final Thoughts

May is a month of real momentum in the garden. Everything is growing at pace, and the jobs you do now will shape how your garden looks for the rest of the year. Whether it is planting out dahlias, sowing annuals or tending to your vegetable patch, there is plenty to keep you busy.

But amongst all the hard work, do not forget to take a step back and enjoy it. Watch as new shoots emerge, listen to the bees buzzing around the flowers and soak up the sights and scents of the season. The groundwork of spring is behind us, and now we get to enjoy the rewards of all that effort. Happy gardening!

At long last April has arrived – and with it comes the realisation that spring is well and truly here! The days are noticeably longer, the sun has a little more warmth to it, and the garden is responding in kind. Everywhere you look, there’s fresh growth, from the first unfurling leaves to the vibrant splashes of colour provided by tulips, primroses and bluebells. It’s a month of transformation, as the slow emergence from winter suddenly gives way to a burst of activity.
April is a busy time in the garden, but it’s also one of the most rewarding. There’s plenty to be getting on with, from planting and sowing to pruning and feeding. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, now is the time to roll up your sleeves and make the most of the season ahead. So, let’s dig in and get started!

Prune, Feed and Shape

Now is the perfect time to give shrubs, perennials and climbers a little TLC. Roses will benefit from a final prune to shape them before they burst into full growth. Cut back any dead or damaged stems and shape your plants to encourage strong, healthy new shoots. If you haven’t already done so, feed your roses with a good-quality fertiliser to give them a boost for the season ahead. A sprinkle of slow-release fertiliser around their base will set them up nicely for strong, healthy blooms in the months to come.
April is also a great time to tidy up any early-flowering shrubs that have finished their display. Forsythia, for example, can be pruned immediately after flowering to maintain its shape and encourage new growth for next year. Hardy fuchsias and penstemons, which may have held onto their woody stems over winter, can now be cut back to encourage fresh, bushy growth. A little effort now will keep your garden looking its best well into summer.

Get Sowing!

April is prime time for sowing hardy annuals, vegetables and salad crops. If you’re growing flowers, now is the moment to sow the likes of cosmos, cornflowers and marigolds directly into the soil. These easy-to-grow beauties will bring vibrant colour to your garden in just a few months. Make sure to prepare the ground by raking it to a fine tilth before scattering seeds and lightly covering them with soil. Keep the area moist, and in no time, you’ll see seedlings popping up.
For the kitchen garden, there’s still time to sow broad beans, beetroot, carrots and lettuce outdoors. If your soil is on the heavy side, consider starting seeds in trays or modules and planting them out once they’ve developed strong roots. Courgettes, pumpkins and runner beans can also be started indoors now, ready to plant out once the risk of frost has passed. Keep an eye on the weather – April can be unpredictable, and young seedlings may still need some protection from chilly nights.

Lift, Divide and Conquer!

If you have perennials that are getting a little overcrowded, now is the time to lift and divide them. Plants like hostas, asters and daylilies will thrive when split and replanted, giving you even more to enjoy across your borders. Gently dig up the clump, taking care not to damage the roots, then use a sharp knife or spade to divide it into smaller sections. Replant immediately, ensuring each section has a good root system, and water them in well to help them settle.

This is also a great moment to check in on your bulbs. If daffodils and tulips have finished flowering, deadhead them to prevent energy going into seed production rather than strengthening the bulbs for next year. Resist the urge to cut back the foliage too soon – letting it die back naturally will ensure the bulbs store plenty of energy for next spring’s display. With a little care and attention now, your garden will continue to flourish well into the months ahead.

So, with April in full swing, it’s time to embrace the season and enjoy every moment in the garden. There’s plenty to do, but the rewards are more than worth it!

Spring is officially here this month, and I couldn’t be more thrilled! There’s a real shift in the air now – the days are stretching out, the birds are in fine voice, and everywhere you look the garden is slowly but surely waking up. After what has felt like an endless winter (and let’s be honest, it really has dragged on!), March finally brings the promise of brighter, warmer days ahead.

With the spring equinox landing on 20 March, we can say with confidence that the new season has arrived. The first daffodils are nodding in the breeze, buds are bursting into life, and if you were organised in autumn, your tulips won’t be far behind. The excitement is building and I, for one, can’t wait to dive into everything this month has to offer.
So, let’s dust off those gardening gloves and step outside – the garden is calling!

Tidy up and cut back

Now’s the time to give your borders a good tidy-up. After months of cold, wet weather they’ll be crying out for a bit of attention, and trust me, a little effort now will make all the difference in the months ahead. Start by clearing away any dead leaves and cutting back the last of the winter dieback – your perennials will thank you for it! Then onto the weeds. Those pesky little things are quick off the mark as the temperatures rise, and if left to their own devices, they’ll soon take hold.
Established weeds should be dug out, roots and all, to stop them making an unwelcome return. As for newly germinating ones, a quick hoe on a dry day will do the trick. Just leave them on the surface to wither in the sun. With your borders weed-free and looking sharp, your plants will have the space, light and nutrients they need to thrive. It’s all about setting the stage for a glorious growing season ahead.

Tuck up your plants

Mulching is one of the best things you can do for your garden at this time of year. A generous layer of garden compost will not only tidy up your borders but also work wonders for the health of your soil. It helps to lock in moisture, suppress weeds and feed your plants as it breaks down over time. If you get into the habit of mulching every spring, your borders will thank you for it.
Start by making sure your borders are weed-free and the soil is damp. There’s no point mulching dry ground, as the moisture needs to be sealed in rather than kept out. Spread a good, thick layer of compost over the surface, around five centimetres deep, taking care not to smother emerging shoots. If you have particularly hungry plants, such as roses or dahlias, now is a great time to add a little feed before mulching over the top.

A well-mulched border looks fantastic and makes a real difference to plant growth throughout the season. It keeps everything looking neat while giving your plants the best possible start. So, grab a wheelbarrow, get spreading and let nature do the rest. Your garden will soon reap the rewards.

Sow… get to work!

If you haven’t already, now is the time to sow tomatoes, chillies and peppers indoors. These warm-weather favourites need a head start before they can be moved outdoors, so get them going now to be prepared. By starting them indoors, you’ll give them the best chance to establish strong, healthy roots before the warmer weather arrives.

Start with good-quality seed compost and small pots or trays. Make a very shallow hole in the compost, drop in your seed, and cover very lightly with more compost. Then, pop the pots somewhere warm, like a windowsill or heated propagator, to encourage germination. Tomatoes, chillies and peppers all love warmth, so the warmer you can keep them, the better.

Keep the compost moist but not soaking, and once the seeds have sprouted move the pots to a brighter spot with plenty of light. If you’re growing tomatoes, remember to pinch out the growing tips of the plants when they get a few inches tall to encourage bushier growth.

By sowing these delicious crops now, you’ll be well on your way to a bumper harvest later in the summer. It’s a small job now, but a big reward come harvest time!

There’s a sense that spring is just around the corner, with wildlife waking up and the garden slowly coming back to life. It might still be chilly but there’s plenty to get stuck into, both indoors and outside. From sowing seeds to tidying up beds, this is the perfect time to shake off the winter and get everything ready for a blooming, busy season ahead.

Get Prepared

Getting organised with your seeds now will save you heaps of stress later. Start by sorting your seed packets by sowing date – it’s a simple but brilliant way to kick off your gardening year. All you need is a box with dividers (an old shoebox or biscuit tin works perfectly). Label each section by month, then file your seeds according to when they need to be sown. It’s an easy, satisfying job for a rainy afternoon and it makes such a difference when things get hectic in spring.

When March, April, or May rolls around, you’ll be so glad you don’t have to rummage through piles of packets, frantically searching for what needs planting next. Everything will be ready and waiting, making it much easier to stay on top of your gardening schedule. It’s practical, it’s satisfying and it gives you a head start for a successful growing season!

Split and Share

Dividing snowdrops after they’ve finished flowering is a brilliant way to spread the magic around your garden. If you’ve got big clumps of these lovely little flowers, it’s time to give them a bit of attention. Once the blooms have faded, gently lift the clump with a garden fork, being careful not to damage the bulbs. Separate the bulbs into smaller groups—try to keep a few together to help them settle quickly—and then replant them wherever you’d like to see a new patch of snowdrops pop up next year.
Choose spots with dappled shade or under trees where they’ll feel right at home. Water them in well, and before you know it, they’ll establish themselves and start creating new colonies, giving you even more of those delicate white blooms to enjoy. It’s a little effort now for a big payoff next spring – your future self will thank you!

Pots of Winter Joy

Give your garden or patio a splash of colour by potting up containers with hardy spring bedding plants. Primroses, wallflowers and forget-me-nots are perfect choices ­– they’re tough enough to handle unpredictable spring weather while still looking gorgeous. Start with a decent-sized pot and some good-quality compost, then get planting.
You can mix and match colours for a cheerful, vibrant display or stick to a simple colour scheme for something more refined. These plants love a bit of sunlight but don’t mind partial shade, so they’ll work in most spots. Once they’re in, give them a good water to help them settle and keep the compost moist – but not soggy – over the coming weeks. The great thing about spring bedding is how instantly it transforms a space. Whether it’s a dull doorstep or an empty balcony, these hardy plants bring life and brightness just when we all need it most!

Start your Spuds

Get a head start on your spuds by chitting first-early potato tubers – it’s an easy job that pays off with earlier, healthier crops. A great variety to try is Rocket, known for its reliable harvests and delicious flavour. To chit your potatoes, stand the tubers in trays or empty egg cartons with the ‘rose’ end (the one with the most eyes) facing up.
Pop them somewhere bright, cool, and frost-free, like a windowsill in a shed or porch, and let nature do its thing. Over the next few weeks, you’ll see sturdy little shoots forming, which gives your potatoes a proper head start once they’re planted out. I aim to chit them for about six weeks so they’re ready to go in the ground as soon as the risk of frost has passed. It’s a simple step that makes all the difference, especially when you’re after those early, buttery new potatoes!

A new year really does bring us an open-ended list of options in the garden. To try things you’ve not done in the past, to bring forwards those ideas that did work last year, to improve, to grow (pun intended!) and to really plan for how you’d like your garden to be this time around.

For me, I’ll be starting the year with some planting, pruning and plotting! Time to get the tools out the shed, dust them off after a Christmas break and get back into action again. So, let’s get to it!

Drop some Snow!

Starting new snowdrop colonies in your garden is a cracking idea for January. While you can plant snowdrop bulbs in autumn, now’s the time to focus on establishing them in the green. This means transplanting established clumps or buying them freshly dug up while they’re still leafy. It’s much more reliable than dried bulbs.

To get going, dig a nice hole in well-drained soil, in a shady or semi-shady spot – snowdrops love dappled woodland spaces. Loosen the soil a bit and pop the clump in, ensuring it sits at the same depth as before. Gently backfill, firm down and water well. Keep them moist but not waterlogged while they settle in. If you’re pinching some from your garden’s existing clumps remember to divide them after flowering, not now. Snowdrops are slow starters but give it a couple of years, and you’ll have a lovely drift of white nodding flowers!

Sort those Seeds!

January is the perfect time to sort through your seed stash and get prepped for the growing season. First, drag out that tin box, or whatever chaotic corner you’ve been stuffing packets into. Check the dates – most seeds have a shelf life, and while some, like tomatoes, can surprise you after a few years others lose their mojo fast. Bin anything ancient or that you know deep down you’ll never sow. Be ruthless! If they’re still ok, but you don’t want them then consider sharing with friends.

Next, take stock of what you’ve got. Got loads of courgettes but no carrots? Write it down. Dreaming of a new wildflower patch or some jazzy dahlias? Now’s your chance to get creative. Make a wish list and start browsing seed catalogues or websites for fresh inspiration.

Finally, organise what’s staying – maybe sort by sowing month. You’ll thank yourself later when spring madness hits. Get the kettle on; this is garden admin at its finest!

Winter Salads

January’s not just for garden planning – you can still grow winter salad! If you’ve got a greenhouse, cold frame, or even a sunny windowsill, you’re sorted. Lamb’s lettuce is a cracking choice. It’s hardy, tasty and keeps going in chilly weather. Scatter the seeds thinly in trays or direct into well-drained soil under cover. Keep them moist and in a few weeks you’ll have tender, nutty leaves perfect for perking up winter meals.

If lamb’s lettuce isn’t your vibe, try winter varieties of spinach. Regular picking keeps them producing, so you’ll have fresh salad when everyone else is dreaming of spring.

Happy Houseplants 

January is tough on houseplants, so give them a bit of TLC. With shorter days most plants grow slower, so ease up on watering – damp roots are a big no-no in winter. Stick a finger in the soil to check. If it’s dry, water sparingly.

Keep an eye out for dust on leaves which blocks light and give them a gentle wipe with a damp cloth. Watch for sneaky pests like spider mites which thrive in central heating. If your plants are sulking in the gloom move them closer to windows, but avoid cold draughts. Happy plants now mean lush growth later!

You’d be excused for thinking that now the temperatures have dropped the garden is going to sleep? Well, ok – you might be right in some respects, things are dying down a little but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing at all to do in the garden. Far from it!

I’ve always thought that this is the time of year to be planning, scheming and plotting what you hope to do in the garden next year, while also ticking off a few jobs that you might not have done yet before the end of the year. I’m busy flicking through seed catalogues, eyeing up all the spring bulbs on offer and thinking about just what to do in 2025 and how the garden can be bolder, better and more beautiful than ever before. I’ve got some jobs for you, that might just help you move along in the same way too. Enjoy!

Terrific Tulips

Planting tulips in November is a fantastic way to inject a splash of colour into your spring garden. Even if you think you’re a little late to the bulb-planting party, you’re not! In the UK, November is actually a great time for tulips ¬– planting them later helps prevent them from being exposed to diseases like tulip fire.

Start by choosing a sunny spot with well-drained soil (no one likes soggy bulbs!). Dig a hole around three times the depth of the bulb, about 15cm or so, and space each bulb 10cm apart for a nice, full display. Don’t worry if your soil isn’t perfect, tulips are fairly hardy and adaptable. If you’re feeling adventurous, try layering different varieties in a pot for a stunning, multi-layered effect come spring. Pop the bulbs in, cover them up, and then sit back and relax until those bright blooms pop through in March or April. Easy and satisfying – what more could you want?

Cut back or not?

Deciding whether to cut back perennials this month can be a bit of a personal choice, depending on how tidy you like your garden and what you’re aiming for. In the UK, some gardeners like to trim back their perennials in autumn, giving their beds a neat, clean look before winter.

However, on the flip side, leaving perennials standing through winter can be beneficial for wildlife. Birds will appreciate seed heads for food, and insects might shelter in the old stems. Plus, the frost-covered plants can add a lovely structural element to your winter garden.

If you do decide to cut back, just snip the dead growth down to the base, leaving any lower green foliage in place. And remember, not all perennials need cutting – so do make sure to do a bit of research into the plants you’ve got before you go wild with your secateurs. Ultimately, it’s about striking the balance that works best for your garden style and your local wildlife.

Change for winter

As the temperatures drop and summer bedding plants are well and truly over, November is the perfect time to refresh with autumn and winter bedding plants. These hardy varieties will keep your garden looking cheerful during the colder months and can often last right through to early spring if you look after them.

For a splash of colour, try pansies and violas – they’re both tough little plants that thrive in cooler weather and come in a variety of vibrant shades. They’re ideal for containers, borders, or hanging baskets, giving your garden an instant lift. Cyclamen is another great choice, with its delicate flowers and attractive foliage, perfect for adding a touch of elegance to pots or sheltered spots.

If you want something a little more structural, heathers and heucheras are fantastic. Heathers add evergreen interest and are great for ground cover, while heucheras provide stunning foliage in a range of colours, from deep purples to lime greens.

Finally, don’t forget winter-flowering heather and primroses – both offer early blooms and help bridge the gap between winter and spring. So, swap out those tired summer plants, and keep your garden looking bright and welcoming all through the chilly months!

When we reach this time of year, things start to take a turn – and not always for the worst! Autumn is a fantastic season and truth be told, it’s one of my favourites, not least of all because it’s right about now that I’m deep in planning mode for the garden for next year and just how we’re going to have a bigger, better and bolder spring display of daffodils (and more) to begin the year.

The nip in the air signals the changing seasons and the curtains closing on another summer gone by, but what a summer it’s been – a mixed bag of weather, that’s for sure! But we move forward, and our resilience as gardeners carries us on into what delights the garden holds for us in a brand-new calendar year. But let’s not jump that far ahead just yet, hey? Here are some jobs to keep you and your hands busy in the garden in October.

Plant up daffodils

Planting daffodil bulbs in the garden this time of year is a simple and rewarding task that can bring vibrant colour right at the beginning of spring. Start by selecting a sunny or partially shaded spot with well-drained soil, which is essential for healthy growth. Dig a hole roughly three times the height of the bulb, typically around 10-15cm deep. Place the bulb in the hole with the pointed end facing upwards, as this is where the stem will emerge, some bulbs are less obvious than others so in this case, plant on their side and they’ll figure it out!

Space the bulbs about 10-15cm apart to ensure they have enough room to grow and develop. After positioning, cover them with soil, gently firming it down to remove any air pockets that could hinder growth. Water the area thoroughly after planting to help the bulbs settle and establish roots, but they won’t need any more water from you until they start to appear next year. Over the coming months, the bulbs will remain dormant, but by early spring, you’ll be greeted with cheerful daffodil blooms, brightening your garden and marking the start of a new gardening season.

Reuse old compost

As you start to think about using some of your summer pots for even more of those bulbs, consider reusing the compost from these as mulch on your garden… Start by emptying the old pots and breaking up any large clumps of compost. Check for and remove any plant roots or debris that may be remaining before you move onto the next step.

Once you’ve done this, spread the compost evenly across the soil in your garden border. Aim for a layer about 2-3cm thick, but anything is better than nothing. This will help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and gradually improve the soil as it breaks down. The compost will not only protect the soil during winter but also add any nutrients that may be remaining in the compost, directly into your soil, giving your plants a healthy start when the growing season begins again.

Make your choice

Deciding when to cut back perennials depends on your garden and your own personal preference, but cutting them back now tidies up the garden and give you an idea of spaces and gaps you might want to fill. However, leaving perennials standing provides food and shelter for wildlife during winter and can add visual interest with seed heads and frost-covered stems.

Waiting until spring to cut them back also helps protect the plants from harsh weather. If you prefer a neat garden, cut back now; if you value wildlife and winter interest, wait until spring (which is what I do!). There are some fantastic perennials that look incredible over winter, Rudbeckia and Echinacea come to mind and you’ll still see birds pecking at their dry seed heads through the darker months ahead.

After a somewhat drab start to the year, the garden is now in full swing and the sunshine and rain combination we endured way back then doesn’t seem to have dampened the spirits of our plants. If anything, that mixture has given them some tenacity to fight through those rougher times, which really has given us a summer garden to be proud of.

If your garden is anything like mine then it has really come into its stride now, later than usual but it’s here and all that growth has brought an abundance of blooms (and hopefully fruit and veg too!). This month I’d really like you to put your feet up and try to enjoy it all, but if you’re itching to get gardening then I’ve got some simple jobs to keep your occupied throughout September.

Deadhead daily!

September is a month to keep on deadheading to ensure continued blooms and maintain the health of your plants. Dahlias, for instance, thrive with regular deadheading. To deadhead Dahlias, look for spent flowers and snip them off just above the nearest set of healthy leaves, using clean, sharp scissors or pruners. This encourages the plant to produce new side shoots and flowers rather than putting energy into seed production. Roses also benefit from deadheading this month, and it’s a similar procedure for these too. With most types of roses, cut the stem back to the first set five leaves, ensuring you make a clean cut at an angle to promote quick healing.

Similarly, bedding plants like petunias and geraniums can be deadheaded to prolong their flowering season. Pinch off the faded flowers with your fingers or snip them, taking care to remove the entire flower head including the base to prevent seed pod formation. Perennials like rudbeckia and echinacea also respond well to deadheading. Cut back the flower stems to just above a leaf or bud to encourage more blooms. Deadheading not only keeps your garden looking tidy but also promotes vigorous growth and a longer blooming period, ensuring your garden stays vibrant through to the end of summer.

Think ahead, save your seeds!

This month the garden is brimming with opportunities to save seeds for future planting. Sweet peas, for example, are excellent candidates for seed saving. While it is a little early to let the plants form their seed pods, occasionally you’ll miss one and in that case, it is worth saving these seeds instead of spending money on new ones. Once the flowers have faded, allow the seed pods to develop and then when the pods turn brown and dry out, collect them and carefully split them open to release the seeds. Dry the seeds thoroughly before storing them in a cool, dry place.

Aquilegia is another plant whose seeds can be saved in September, too. After flowering, aquilegia develops seed pods that will dry and start to crack open. Harvest the pods just before they split completely and shake out the seeds into a paper bag. Let the seeds air dry for a few days before storing them in labelled envelopes or jars. Alternatively, if you leave these pods on your Aquilegia plants, they will self-seed in your borders or pots and grow more plants next year.

Fruitful fruit!

If you’ve got fruit growing in your garden or green space then there are a few things you can be doing in September. Apples and pears are ripe now, so start checking for readiness. Gently lift the fruit—if it comes away easily, it’s ready to pick. Blackberries and raspberries are in full swing, perfect for fresh eating, jams or freezing.

Plums are also abundant; pick them when they are slightly soft to the touch. For those of you growing strawberries, make sure to regularly harvest the ripe ones to encourage more fruiting – the more you pick, the more will grow! Additionally, keep an eye on these softer fruits as they can be somewhat appealing for birds.

Don’t forget to water your fruit plants regularly, especially during dry spells, to ensure they remain healthy and productive. A good feed every few weeks, especially of tomatoes is always advised to maximise your harvests.

We’re at the time of the year that’s a gardener’s paradise. Long, sunny days and warm weather make everything burst into life. Your flowers are in likely in bloom, and the veggie patch is thriving – that’s if the rain has stopped?

While lots of you might be thinking about packing your bags and jetting off somewhere exotic, many of us will be here tending to our plots, gardens and window boxes. Personally, I love this time as we enjoy the garden for how it looks and how it makes us feel while we’re out there. But which jobs can you be doing during this month?

Chelsea Chop? Hampton Hack!

While we’ve had a real mixture of warm weather and pouring rain, our gardens have really burst fully into life, but with this perfect storm of weather can come one negative! It’s fantastic to have lush, green gardens but this early growth from our perennials can sometimes mean that they peak too soon, or they can put on one almighty show and then disappear. This first wave of growth does come with big blooms, but not always that many.

One method that gardeners adopt is something called the Chelsea Chop where you cut back most perennials (such as Phlox, Achillea, Asters, Campanulas, Rudbeckia, Sedums, Heleniums and more…) in May, around the time of the Chelsea Flower Show. However – if you missed doing this then, you could also do it in early July at the same time as the Hampton Court Flower Show and this is known as the Hampton Hack. It’s as simple as cutting these plants back by about half, and your reward will be many more flowers! The flowers you’ll get will be smaller but there will be more of them to cut and bring indoors.

Sow biennials

Now is the ideal time to get ahead in your garden by sowing biennial seeds. These clever plants grow their roots and leaves in the first year (this year), then flower and seed in the second. It’s like setting up a little surprise for your garden next year and it’s the perfect way to think about how you’d like your garden to be this time next year.

Start by picking your favourite biennial seeds – foxgloves, sweet williams and wallflowers are all fantastic choices. Find a sunny spot in your garden and give the soil a good rake to make it nice and crumbly. Sprinkle the seeds thinly on the surface, then cover them lightly with a bit of soil or compost. It’s easy – no need to be too precise. You can also do this in pots and seed trays if you’re not sure where you want them to go yet.

Keep the soil moist, but not soggy and in a few weeks you’ll see little green shoots popping up, which is always exciting. When the seedlings are big enough to handle, usually by late summer, you can transplant them to their final spots. Choose places where you want a splash of colour next year. By next spring and summer, your biennials will reward you with stunning blooms.

Wet, wet, wet!

With the wet weather we’ve had you’d be excuses for thinking your pots and containers are watered thoroughly enough, but that sometimes isn’t the case. Often, the rainwater will run down the inside of our pots and not reach the middle, where the roots usually are, thoroughly enough.

First things first, remember that container plants need more water than those in the ground because they dry out faster. So, keep an eye on them, especially during hot, sunny days. The best time to water is early in the morning or late in the evening. This way, the water has a chance to soak in before the sun gets too fierce. When you water, make sure to soak the soil thoroughly. A light sprinkle won’t do – you want the water to reach the roots. Keep pouring until you see water coming out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot and then stop.

Speaking of drainage, make sure your pots have good drainage. If the water can’t escape, your plants could end up with root rot, which is a big no-no. If you’re using saucers under your pots, empty them regularly so the roots don’t sit in water.

After a somewhat wet spring, is summer finally here? Let’s hope so! Summer is that time of year when I like to think that we can sit back and start to enjoy the fruits of our labour, the flowers are blooming and your crops are getting bigger as the days go on. But if you’re itching to keep going (just like me) then here are a few things to be getting on with this month.

Fill gaps with luscious lilies

Elevate your garden borders effortlessly with bursts of instant colour by strategically placing pots of tall bulbs. Incorporate the simplicity of this technique as you fill those empty spaces with the vibrant blooms of fragrant lilies, gaps will be appearing and adding the odd pot or two here and there can improve a border effortlessly.

Imagine the delight of watching as these tall, graceful stems emerge from their pots, reaching towards the sky, decked with delicate yet show-stopping flowers. Scented lilies, with their captivating fragrance and elegant petals, are sure to charm the senses and become the focal point of your garden borders. What’s more, this approach is perfect for beginners, requiring minimal effort and expertise.

Simply select a variety of lily, plant them in pots, and position them cleverly in your borders to fill any gaps you find. With just a few pots of tall bulbs, you can easily breathe new life into spaces that would otherwise be empty. Lilies are a relatively new addition to our garden and I used to think they were old-fashioned but once you accept that they give you not only colour, but scent too then they’re a real winner.

Feed for maximum growth

Revitalise your garden with a seaweed-based garden feed. It’s a simple yet effective way to nourish your plants and promote lush growth. Just follow the instructions on the bottle to dilute the seaweed concentrate, then water it around the base of your plants. This natural solution is teeming with nutrients straight from the ocean, providing your garden with everything it needs to thrive.

Seaweed feed is suitable for all types of plants throughout the entire growing season. Not only does it enrich the soil, but it also boosts plant resilience against pests and diseases, ensuring a healthy garden year-round. What’s more, seaweed feed is environmentally friendly, making it a sustainable choice for gardeners who care about the planet. By incorporating this natural feed into your gardening routine, you can nurture your plants while minimising your environmental impact.

Its especially important to feed pots as over time, the benefits and nutrients added to the compost will wear thin and this additional feed with keep containers looking fresh, hopefully for the rest of the season.

A lawn to die for!

Keep your lawn looking its best with regular mowing sessions that are as easy as a walk in the park. As the summer sun shines bright, your lawn will practically grow before your eyes and some summers it’ll need a trim every week. But don’t feel like you need to turn it into a marathon! Break it down into manageable chunks, perhaps tackling a section at a time, making sure to maintain and even length across the whole space.

Remember, variety is the spice of life – or in this case, the key to a healthy lawn! While mowing regularly helps keep things tidy, leaving some parts wild adds a touch of natural beauty to your garden. Allow wildflowers to flourish in certain areas, providing a haven for pollinators and adding a splash of colour to your garden. Wildflower patches are actually notoriously tough to get going, but if you stick with it then you could create something really rather special.

How about it, will you keep ‘No Mow May’ going on into June too?

It’s a £2.8 trillion global industry focused on living life fully and taking care of ourselves both mentally and physically. Setl, a new collection of design-led homes in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter has embraced this holistic approach to wellness, creating a new way of living in the heart of the city.

Why wellness matters…

While many people are satisfied with their health and lives, more are also feeling anxious or lonely. A healthy home is key to overall wellbeing – according to the British Institute of Interior Design, the quality of living spaces can significantly impact mental health. Setl was designed by award-winning developer HBD to be a haven of wellness, with the resident’s living experience at the forefront:

1. Natural light galore
The 102 apartments in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter are designed with huge floor-to-ceiling windows that flood homes with natural light, creating a bright and uplifting atmosphere.

2. Modern, calming spaces
Setl’s modern kitchens and bathrooms exude calm, providing serene spaces for unwinding. The open-plan interiors are perfect for relaxing alone with a book or hanging out with friends.

3. Balanced work-life
The tranquil co-working lounge helps maintain a healthy work-life balance by separating home and office. It’s an ideal spot to get work done without the distractions of home.

4. Wellness studio
Move your body and find your zen in the serene wellness studio. Whether doing yoga, meditation, or a workout, this space supports both physical and mental health.

5. Rooftop retreat
Enjoy sweeping city views from the stunning sixth-floor roof terrace. It’s the perfect spot to get some fresh air, improve mood, and reduce stress.

6. Prime location in a bustling community
Located on Ludgate Hill, Setl is perfectly situated for a strolls around the vibrant neighbourhood. Being part of the JQ community offers residents a sense of belonging amongst likeminded people.

I’ve talked before in the past about those pesky awkward months of the year that we’re in right now – it’s the end of spring, the bulbs are fading and disappearing for another year, but summer isn’t quite here just yet. But it’s not all that far away at all and with a little time, some muddy fingers, and a trip to the garden centre, you too could have the best summer garden you’ve ever had. Thankfully, I’ve got three top jobs to keep you busy in your garden, which will take you headfirst into the season ahead of us.

Don’t dilly-dally on dahlias

If you follow me over on Instagram (@viewfromthepottingbench) then you’ll appreciate my adoration for dahlias and the abundance of colour they give to every garden. Regardless of the size or the space you have and whether you have lengthy borders or just a couple of pots, there is a dahlia for every situation.
You have heard stories that dahlias are difficult, but nothing could be further from the truth with a little bit of know-how and insider knowledge! Your dahlia journey for this year may have already begun and you might have potted up your tubers months ago and they could even be in the ground by now, but fear not – you haven’t missed out just yet.
If you pop to your local garden centre (and thankfully we have plenty around the wider city) right now you’re likely to still find some ‘potted dahlias’ that you can buy and safely plant straight out into your gardens with very little chance of any further frosts nipping at them. Your options might be slightly more limited than they would have been a few weeks ago, but you should still have plenty to choose from in a wide range of colours and styles.

Fill up your gardens

If you do happen to have a large garden, or even just a slim border – those established perennial plants that you’ve had for years or you planted out last year, will be well into their new growth by now and you’ll be able to see where they’re growing and any space you might have left to fill.
I often find that I still have gaps between plants, even though we’ve been in this garden for a number of years now and that’s alright by me, as it gives me a chance to try some new things that I’ve not tried before. If you’re canny about it then you can try a wide range of annual plants that will grow, flower and then die all within this growing season, so if you like them you can grow them again next year or if you don’t, then there’s no worry of them coming back again for 2025.
By buying seeds and sowing them directly in the ground now, you’ll still have plants with bountiful flowers through summer without any of the faff of having to sow them indoors earlier in the year – so a win-win! My go-to annuals will always be Cosmos and you’ll be surprised by just how many there are on offer either online or in garden centres.

Swap spring or summer

And finally, if you’ve got pots and containers then by now those spring flowering bedding plants that you planted up in winter will be looking raggedy and a bit tired. But you guessed it… another trip to the garden centre is in order!
While you’re there looking for your potted dahlias, you’ll be met with swathes upon swathes of trays and pots of a kaleidoscope range of colours, all ready to plant up at home! Bedding plants, if this is your first time with them, are generally fairly short-lived plants that are perfect for containers that will add immediate colour to your garden.
Some summer favourites of mine are Bacopa, Calibrachoa and Bidens, and they’ll flower all summer long, before you’ll want to take them out to replace with winter bedding (but more on that in winter!) Do yourself a favour this year and plant even just two of three pots full of bedding and you’ll be oh-so-glad you did.

As past readers will know – I’m a regular speaker at gardening and flower shows right across the UK and a constant favourite of mine is always the RHS Malvern Spring Festival at the start of May. This show provides plant fans with inspiration for their green spaces, no matter whether they’re outdoor… or indoor.

Houseplants have been growing rapidly in popularity in recent years, partly brought about by the extended periods of time we all had at home during lockdown. And now the RHS Malvern Spring Festival is bringing houseplants to the masses!

New to the festival this year is the Green Rooms Market ‘Festival of Houseplants’, complete with its own purpose-built building. You don’t need to have a garden to be a gardener when you can dive into the world of houseplants at this year’s festival. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, looking to expand your collection, or simply wanting to immerse yourself in the beauty of indoor gardening, the Festival of Houseplants is a highlight for all plant enthusiasts. Housed in the new Kildare Hall, it includes workshops and talks hosted by industry experts, botanical displays, exhibits and lots of shopping opportunities.

The new festival is a collaboration with Green Rooms Market which is headed up by houseplant enthusiast, social media star, author and houseplant rescuer, Sarah Gerrard-Jones. Along with a host of other names, Sarah will be at the show sharing her houseplant stories but she’s also kindly shared her five top houseplant tips with me – to share with you this month. You can find more from Sarah on Instagram at @theplantrescuer and also in her book The Plant Rescuer.

SARAH’S 5 TOP HOUSEPLANT TIPS

1. The most important thing you can do is give your plant enough light. The right light intensity is essential for plants to photosynthesise; this is how they create energy to grow. Houseplants are more than decoration – they, like us, have basic needs and require energy to grow, and if they can’t make food, they will starve. All plants need to be close to a window. If they are too far from a window, they will look unwell and eventually die.

2. Don’t water without checking the soil for moisture. Watering every plant in your house once a week isn’t a good idea because some might not need it. Plants use water at different rates depending on many variables, such as how much light they receive, temperature, soil and pot type (plastic or terracotta). A plant positioned far away from a window will likely need less water than one closest to the window. Always check that the plant needs water before pouring it in. You can do this by lifting the pot and weighing it in your hands if it’s small. If the pot feels light, it probably needs water. Or use your finger, push it into the soil and feel if it’s damp or dry.

3. Ensure your pot has drainage holes so excess water can escape. If you have the pot inside a decorative cover pot, take it out when you water it, let the water drain out and then put it back into the cover pot so the water doesn’t collect at the bottom and cause the roots to rot.

4. Check your plants for pests once a week. A few bugs are far easier to tackle than an infestation. There are many ways to tackle different pests, from biological control to sticky tape. I never use pesticides that harm other insects, like bees, or animals.

5. Buy plants suitable for your home, expertise, and lifestyle. If your house doesn’t get much light, don’t buy a plant that requires bright light (or be willing to invest in grow lights). If you have busy work, social life, or often travel, buy one that requires less water than a tropical plant, like a cactus. Lastly, don’t run before you can walk. If you’re new to houseplants, go for something easy to care for, like Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata) or ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia).

Tickets are available now for the RHS Malvern Spring Festival (9 to 12 May), featuring the new ‘Festival of Houseplants’ from www.rhsmalvern.co.uk

The festival also includes inspirational show gardens, sensational flowers, giant veg and plenty of ideas to try at home. Adam will be at this year’s show – speaking on Sunday 12 May and he’ll also be there on Saturday 11 May in the Festival of Houseplants doing live podcasts.

March is finally here, and as gardeners, this is such a delightful month – the daylight begins to get that bit longer each day and by the time the end of the month comes around, it is technically and officially spring. After a long winter (and gosh, hasn’t this one felt long?!) its time for some serious seed sowing to begin and for our twitchy green fingers to really get gardening.
In this month’s column, I’ve got some jobs that we can all have a go with in our own green spaces, no matter whether you’re in a lush grand garden or just sowing seeds on your kitchen table! And we’re focussing on veg that you can grow yourself.

That’s Shallot!

I’ve told you about the wonders of growing your own onions before but how about some shallots too this time? These versatile members of the allium family, closely related to onions, offer a bounty of flavour to any dish and are a joy to grow. Begin by selecting a well-drained, sunny spot in your garden or allotment for planting. Prepare the soil by enriching it with compost or well-rotted manure to ensure optimal growth – give your compost a good mix in to ensure ideal conditions.

In early March, when the soil starts to warm up, it’s time to plant shallot sets. These are small bulbs that will develop into mature shallots. Plant them about 15cm apart in rows, with each set buried at a depth of roughly twice its own height. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged and weed regularly to give your shallots the best chance to thrive. With proper care and attention, you can look forward to a plentiful harvest come summertime, ready to add their distinctive flavour to your culinary creations.

Potatoes in Pots!

March also brings about the perfect window to get some first early potatoes in the ground. Potatoes also like a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil. You’ll want to prepare the space in a similar way to shallots with lots of good quality compost and this can be done in raised beds, in the ground or even in large tubs or pots. If you’ve got ahead of the game then you’ll have ‘chitted’ your potatoes at the end of winter (sit them in a warm sunny spot and allow them to sprout) but if not, that’s fine – you can still plant them out now.

When planting, space the seed potatoes around 30cm apart in rows, ensuring they are buried around 10cm deep. Keep an eye on frosts, as young shoots can be susceptible, but otherwise, early potatoes are relatively low maintenance.

As you see more and more leaves and shoots, continue to ‘earth up‘ (essentially covering over the plant) again and again until the plants have flowered and are ready to harvest in around July. When you think they are ready, do a little bit of treasure hunting to see if they look big enough to eat. If not, then you can cover them back over and look again in a few weeks.

Handy Herbs!

Now is a fantastic time to head to the garden centre or try local company Urban Herbs (urban-herbs.co.uk) to fill your garden with deliciously scented – and tasty – herbs. You can grow herbs in the smallest of spaces – even just on your windowsill at home.
Choose a large pot (30cm or bigger) and you can fill that with around five or six different herb plants that you can grow and pick from all season long. Personal favourites will always be rosemary, mint and thyme – all delicious and all will accompany your home grown spuds, too!

February is a rather strange month in the garden, not quite here and not quite there – somewhere in the middle! We’re all familiar with ‘the bit between Christmas and new year’ aren’t we? Well, February is the month equivalent of that! We’re still in winter but it feels as though we’ve got a careful eye on spring approaching us at a breakneck speed just around the corner.

But what can we be doing in the garden? Thankfully, there is plenty to keep out twitchy green fingers happy!

Sow? Go!

Depending on who you ask, will depend on what response you get to the question: “Is it too early to start sowing seeds?” My answer is: “It depends!” It largely depends on the amount of time you’ve got, how much patience you may (or may not!) have and if you’ve got the space to be nurturing baby seedlings indoors (or in a heated greenhouse if you’ve got one).

Sowing seeds now requires some extra warmth from grow lamps and usually some bottom heat too from heat mats or heated propagators, so if you are thinking about it then you’ll need some of those to get you going. Once you’re set with those then you’ve got quite a few options with regards to the seeds you can choose. You could opt to start your annuals, such as Cosmos, nice and early to give you a head start. Or in the veg garden, your tomatoes could get going now, too.

Savvy Snowdrops

February is the optimal time to purchase snowdrops ‘in the green’. This means you’re buying and planting these delicate bulbs while they are still actively growing. ‘In the green’ refers to the state of the plant when it has leaves and is typically in flower, ensuring its success rather than buying them as just bulbs.

Buying snowdrops at this stage allows for immediate establishment, as the bulbs are already acclimated to the soil. This enhances their chances of successful growth and promotes quicker, more robust flowering in the current season. February marks the ideal window for this, aligning with the end of their natural flowering period. If you happen to already have snowdrops then now is also a great time to lift them, divide large clumps and spread them around your garden.

Chit Chat!

Late winter is the prime time to chit your potatoes. Chitting is a pre-planting process where you encourage potato tubers to sprout before putting them in the soil, promoting quicker and more vigorous growth. To chit potatoes, select healthy tubers with eyes or buds. Place them in a cool, bright spot, such as an egg carton or trays, ensuring the eyes face upward.

Allow them to sit for four-to-six weeks, allowing sturdy sprouts to emerge. This simple step kickstarts the growing process and leads to healthier plants when finally planted in the garden. By chitting now, you’re setting the stage for a successful potato crop, taking advantage of the natural growing season and ensuring a bountiful harvest in the months to come… hopefully!

Summer Bulbs

As the days lengthen and the promise of warmer weather beckons, now is an opportune moment to get yourself some summer bulbs like gladioli and or tubers, such as dahlias. These bulbs are best planted in spring, taking advantage of the increasing sunlight and milder temperatures. Purchasing them now allows for timely preparation as plants like dahlias are often better planted into small pots, to begin growing – before then planting out after the risk of frost has passed.

When buying gladioli bulbs, look for well-formed, firm corms, while dahlia tubers should be plump and free from any signs of rot or mould. Both do well in a place in your garden that gets plenty of sunlight during the day and not so much rain. Over the coming months, I’ll bring you some more ideas for dahlias planting and what to do with them as they grow on.

In January last year, I aimed to see if I could try and forecast what the biggest trends would be for gardening and growing in 2023 and… was not far off! Vastly different from being the Nostradamus of the flower world and I certainly can’t guarantee that the future of gardening is all in my brain, but I do hear from lots of you every month and other gardeners about what they’re loving. Using all those secrets, I’m again trying to anticipate what’s going be in for 2024 and what you might want to do with your gardens. So, let’s dive in! 

Again, and again and again!

Far from being a new thing, I believe that perennials will be a huge consideration again for most gardeners this year. For those that are not familiar with the term perennial, essentially these are plants that will give you years of pleasure, growing, blooming, and dying back each year, before coming back often bigger and better year after year. We have all been growing perennials for years, whether you knew the word before now or not – but what is so special about them right now?
There are two reasons for this: long term gain and naturalistic style. Although they can potentially be more expensive initially, in the long run perennials will provide years of enjoyment and pay for themselves over time.

Groovy for gravel

Sustainable gardening is a constantly emerging trend in gardening, but rather than this now being just a ‘trend’, gardeners need to seriously consider how they garden and how the changing environment continues to impact on what they do. Right now, we’re all rather chilly in the middle of winter and before long it’ll be the height of summer and the temperatures will likely be higher than ever before.
Gravel gardens are the way forward for a lot of gardeners, as they use much less water than conventional or traditional gardens and they can be just as beautiful too. Think about wafty grasses, beautiful Mediterranean style planting and so much else to offer – these are far more than a flat expanse of tiny pebbles!

Dark or bold… or both?

In the horticultural world, the upcoming year is poised to witness a shift towards the mysterious allure of dark colours. A trend is emerging that embraces the rich and velvety hues of deep purples, blacks and midnight blues in plant selections, and I find myself increasingly drawn to the drama and sophistication that these darker tones bring to outdoor spaces. Not only do these shades create a striking visual impact, but they also serve as a great backdrop, helping to accentuate the vibrant greens and brighter colours that we have come to expect from plants and flowers.
My own choices with spring bulbs have been darker than previous years and the subtle beauty of tulips such as Queen Of The Night and Black Hero are a remarkable sight, and when paired with lighter colours they both help to accentuate each other.

Do you see these happening in 2024?

Well what a year our gardens could have in 2024! Let’s create superb gravel gardens full of beautiful dark perennials which are a haven for not just us and our family but for wildlife and insects too. When we look forward to what might happen across a new gardening year, it is always exciting to think that so many new trends, ways of doing things and beautiful plants will be grown all the way across Birmingham and beyond. Here’s to 2024 and some spectacular gardens!

Next Month:
February is a big month in the garden and it’s when we can really get some serious seed sowing going on. I’ll be sharing my top seeds for the year and some secret favourites that you won’t want to miss…

Christmas is finally here and it’s about time you got thinking about gift buying! Fortunately, I’m here to bring you three glorious ideas for the green thumbed friends in your life and I can only imagine that you’ve got no idea what to get them? In fact, I might just slip this magazine under the nose of a few of my friends to see if they’ll get me some of these, too.
This is the second year running that I’m bringing you my Birmingham Living gift guide and this time I’ve got some very exciting (and unique) products to share – across a wide range of price tags, too. So, without hesitation – lets jump in!

Advent with a difference

The Rose Press Garden 2023 Flower Seed Advent Calendar is a delightful gift for garden enthusiasts, novices, or a self-indulgence for yourself! This calendar features 24 premium flower seed packets, each revealing a unique flower variety daily. Additionally, you’ll find 24 informative notecards on flower growth, a charming pop-up cardboard greenhouse adorned with festive illustrations, and a secret golden envelope for Christmas Day, what could be better!?
The Rose Press Garden’s commitment to sustainability shines through with recyclable and compostable packaging designed to fit your letterbox. Beyond the calendar, the Rose Press Garden app offers a year-round gardeners’ haven. They share blog posts, how-to guides, and videos guiding you through the growth of these flowers together. Whether you’re nurturing a budding green thumb or simply want to brighten your space, this Flower Seed Advent Calendar is a truly unique gift, and one to be remembered. They are available for a limited time from therosepressgarden.com

Suited and booted

The most recent addition to the ULTRALIGHT collection from Leon Boots, unveiled in the UK in 2021, has gained popularity at more than 650 garden centres. These versatile boots are an ideal companion for gardening, dog walks, tending to horses in the stables, or even a casual visit to the local pub. Weighing a mere 219g per pair, they offer unmatched lightweight comfort.
There’s six attractive colours to pick from, allowing you to match your style or that of your friend or loved one for Christmas. What sets these boots apart is their removable and machine-washable warm liner, ensuring your feet stay cosy in all weathers. Keep in mind that a sizing up is recommended due to the thicker sock, ensuring a perfect fit. What’s more, If you use the code POT20 on lbcboots.com you’ll get 20 per cent off your order.

Handy with houseplants

I can’t claim to be just as good with indoor growing as I am outside, but luckily houseplant expert Jane Perrone is here to help with her new collection of houseplant cards. This delightful set comprises 60 illustrated cards by the talented artist Cody Bond, along with a 32-page book, all neatly packaged in a charming box making it a perfect holiday gift. The cards answer countless questions about plant care, making them a valuable resource for even the most skilled of houseplant fanatics. They cover topics like the best plants for bathrooms, watering schedules and ideal placements for your leafy companions – so you can watch your indoor gardens flourish. Available now from JanePerrone.com

A parting tip…

I’m not one to leave you without something to get you thinking for your garden in 2024. If I had to recommend just one plant to get into your green space right now, then I’d choose a fantastic rose. Now is the optimal time to buy yourself a bare root rose, which is essentially a dormant plant with no compost on it ready to plant out right now. Buying them like this is much cheaper than going for an established plant and it’ll give you literally years of joy ahead!

All that’s left to say is have a very merry festive period and I’ll see you again for more gardening fun in 2024!

November in the gardening world is maybe one of those months where it seems like you can’t really get up to much, when in fact there is a lot to be getting in with! You might not be out there planting and filling the garden with colour but there are a few things to keep in mind for the month ahead that will keep you on your toes…

Leaf mould

Alright, picture this: making leaf mould at home is like giving your garden a secret superpower. So, what’s leaf mould? It’s basically the magic stuff that happens when leaves fall and turn into a fantastic, natural fertiliser. Here’s the lowdown for all you gardening enthusiasts. In the autumn (and now), grab a mix of different leaves – no need for fancy equipment, just grab hold of as many as you can. Now, find a cozy spot in your garden, preferably shady and with a bit of air. This is where the leaf mould party is going happen.

Start layering those leaves in your chosen spot. Sprinkle a bit of water as you go – think of it as giving your leaves a little drink. Then, let time do its thing. Over a few months those leaves will transform into a dark, crumbly goodness that your plants will absolutely love. If you’d rather them not be on show, then you can pop them in a black plastic bag, poke a few holes in and leave them be.

Making your own leaf mould is like being a gardening wizard. It’s you and nature teaming up to create something awesome for your plants. Imagine your garden soaking up this homemade goodness, growing happy and healthy. That’s the magic of leaf mould, right in your back garden.

The bitter chill of winter

In the brisk embrace of November, gardeners must be vigilant against the impending threat of frost, marking the onset of winter’s chill. As we usher in the season’s first frosts, protecting your garden becomes paramount. Novice and seasoned gardeners alike should take proactive measures to shield their cherished plants from the frost’s potentially damaging touch.

Covering delicate plants with frost cloths or blankets the night before a predicted frost is a simple yet effective strategy. This protective layer acts as a cozy shield, preventing the icy fingers of frost from settling on vulnerable leaves and blooms. For potted plants, consider relocating them to more sheltered areas or grouping them together to harness collective warmth.

Mulching, particularly around the base of susceptible plants, proves instrumental in retaining soil warmth and shielding roots from the cold. Additionally, staying attuned to weather forecasts and watering the garden adequately in advance can mitigate the impact of frost, as moist soil tends to retain heat more effectively. Essentially, if it’s due to be very cold, protect your most vulnerable plants!

Tuppence a bag

Feeding birds in your garden during winter is a simple yet rewarding way to support local wildlife. As temperatures drop, birds find it challenging to locate natural food sources, making your assistance crucial. A bird feeder stocked with seeds, suet or nuts can make a significant difference.

Choose a variety of bird-friendly foods to attract different species. Sunflower seeds, peanuts, and fat balls are popular choices. Ensure the feeder is kept clean and dry to prevent the spread of disease. Place it in a visible spot, ideally near shelter like trees or bushes, so birds feel secure while dining.

Winter can be harsh, and providing fresh water is as important as food. Invest in a birdbath or simply place a shallow dish with water, making sure to break any ice that forms. This helps birds stay hydrated, especially when natural water sources freeze. Regularly check and refill the feeder to establish your garden as a reliable food stop.

Observing the flurry of feathered visitors in your garden not only adds a touch of nature to your winter days but also contributes to the well-being of your local bird population. It’s a small act that brings joy to both you and your feathered friends.

Gosh, where did summer go? And did summer even get started properly? Joking aside, we’ve had such an odd mixture of weather over the last season but ultimately it is time to start thinking about the dreaded W-word – Winter, and how our gardens and greenspaces change over the seasons of autumn and winter. Focusing on autumn here, I’ve compiled my top tips for planning ahead NOW for a fantastic show-stopping garden in the new year and some things you might have not thought about doing… so let’s get to it!

Save your summer blooms!

Now that we’re out of the summer season (sorry to say it!), you’ll want to cast your eye over the garden and think about what you’ve got and if you’ve grown anything like Dahlias that need lifting. Dahlias, as you may know, are gorgeous plants with an abundance of flowers right through summer (you might even have some still flowering) but they aren’t the best for surviving a long cold winter, which is something we had last winter! You’ve got two options when it comes to protecting them and ensuring you’ve got them for next year and I’ll guide you through those here.
The first option is to leave them in the ground and hope for the best! This is my least favourite option as there is a high likelihood that you’ll lose them to the harsh cold, even if you give them a thick layer of mulch (compost is good for this) then this is still a possibility. I prefer to cut them back, dig up the tubers and hose all the soil from about them and tuck them away in a crate of sawdust or dry compost and put them somewhere frost free and away from sunlight. Then you can bring them back out in spring and plant them up again.

If you know me, you’ll know I love bulbs!

Although I’ve got a huge love for Dahlias, my real passion in the garden is the spring time – mainly because of spring bulbs! Thankfully, October is a wonderful time to buy your bulbs and plan and almighty display come spring.
I love the choice you have with bulbs, namely daffodils and tulips and if you’re careful, it needn’t be an expensive project either. Another good reason to go with bulbs is that they all generally work exceptionally well in pots and containers, which means that you can grow them in any type of space, big or small.
If this is your first time growing bulbs then you’re in for a real treat because they’re very easy to plant and you largely just get to sit back and wait for them to grow. You’ll be able to find tons on offer in almost every garden centre and a particular favourite of mine is Hillier Garden Centre Hampton-in-Arden! Grab a few pots, a bag or two of compost and a few bags of bulbs and that’s enough to create a small cluster of pots on your patio for spring. Make sure you follow my Instagram (@viewfromthepottingbench) for lots of spring-time inspiration!

Fancy keeping the vampires away?

Unknowingly, I’ve gone down a bulb route in this month’s column but it’s only because they’re all so simple! However, in this section I’ve got something edible for you that I bet the majority of you haven’t grown, despite the fact that we all use it regularly and perhaps don’t realise just how easy it is to grow – garlic!
Much like the bulbs of spring, it can be as easy as popping them in a pot with some compost and biding your time until they’re ready to harvest next year. But nothing really does beat the taste of homegrown, and garlic is no different. Again, you’ll likely find these in the garden centre too and now is about the perfect time to get planting. As a rule of thumb, individual cloves should be planted around 5cm below the surface of the compost and in a decent sunny position. If you plant now, then depending on your variety – you’ll have a harvest between July and August next year.

Many people see September as the spiritual end to summer, with autumn just around the corner. But summer – even a largely wet one like we’ve experienced – still has bundles to offer, in both your own garden and elsewhere. This month I’m bringing you my usual round-up of ‘jobs for the month’, plus I’ve got a garden that I think you’ll quite like to visit – but more on that later..

The end of the season and the beginning of another…
Summer is closing its doors for another year, but if your garden is anything like mine, it feels as though it’s really at its peak right now as we head through September. Right now, you can be doing a few things to keep it looking fresh while casting a careful eye here and there to prepare for your summer garden for next year. There are some plants that will be really at their peak, such as dahlias and if you continue to cut them, they’ll keep rewarding you with blooms until the first frosts later in the year.
You’ll likely be seeing a second flush about now with other favourites; roses in particular will have another hurrah before bowing out until next year. While there is still much to enjoy, other parts will undoubtedly be fading – this is the ideal time to get the notebook out and take stock of the garden you’ve produced this year and what, if anything, you’d like to change for next year. First, start with the things you’ve loved and want to keep and note those down – it’s also worth labelling these up too so you know where they are. But at the same time, be strict and take out anything you don’t want to come back – you can either dig up and put into pots to go somewhere else or pass on to a friend; plants are always a welcome gift (but I would say that!)

Fill the gaps – but how?
Now, if you’ve followed my advice above, it’s likely that you’ve got a few gaps to contend with, or quite possibly, you’ve got some gaps in your garden already (I know I have!) If either are the case, then all hope is not lost as this is the perfect time for a trip to the garden centre to grab yourself some perennials.
While the rest of your plants are at their best and essentially at their full height and growing size, you’ll be able to see exactly what space you have between them and buy new plants accordingly. We are approaching the end of the season so you’re unlikely to see much more growth, or many more blooms, on anything you buy now, but if you buy perennials then they’ll come back next year with more growth.
When you go to the garden centre, you’ll still see some plants with flowers on them, but they’re likely to lose these quite soon. You might even be lucky enough to see some that are ‘past their best’ that have been reduced. All this is likely to mean is that they’ve had their flowering period for the year and aren’t looking at good as the garden centre want them to – but they’re still fantastic plants, worthy of a home. If you’re still in need of some inspiration after all of this, then I’ve got the perfect place for you to visit.

The Garden of Dreams…
Slightly out of our area, but worth the short drive anyway are the beautiful gardens of Wollerton Old Hall in Market Drayton. Set around a 16th century hall (which isn’t open to the public) are four acres of stunning modern formal gardens that will leave you speechless, trust me.
Even right now in September they’re looking at their best, with some of the richest colours and deepest borders you’ll ever see. You’re bound to want to take photos and ideas home to fill your borders and even if you’ve got a smaller space with just pots, you’ll be left with ideas for those too! Luckily, there is also a plant shop which sells varieties you’ll have seen from all around the garden itself. I’ll say no more, as I don’t want to spoil the surprise!

Try your best to enjoy what the coming months have to offer, but if you’ve got twitchy fingers like me and want a few projects to keep you busy then I’ve got you covered!

Why not try your hand at some garden DIY?

For anyone that already follows me on Instagram (@viewfromthepottingbench), you’ll know I’ve got a huge passion for garden DIY and coming up with creative and new projects. Lots of these projects involve very little cost and are sometimes completely free – and they’re often ideal for any sized space, even balconies. If you’ve been reading for a while you’ll remember me mentioning in the past that I’m somewhat of a frugal gardener so it really is music to my ears when something can be done for cheap!
One of these projects that is always very popular and can be done by anyone, no prior skill required, is making your own herb planter with a wooden pallet. All you need to do is add some old compost bags into each ‘section’ and add your compost of choice (I use peat free). Once you’ve added your compost then you can plant them up with anything you like, but now is a great time to buy bedding plants in most garden centres.
You’ll see from the picture that I’ve used simple marigolds in this one but you can also add some fantastic trailing plants, such as lobelia, on the upper levels for interest across the whole piece. Wooden pallets give you a great framework to start with and the options are endless.

Keep those pots watered (mindfully…)

Cast your minds back briefly to last summer and just how hot and dry we had it here in Birmingham. Water was on the mind of most gardeners at any given time, wanting to keep plants watered whilw also being aware of shortages and hosepipe bans. Thankfully there are some really creative ways to save household water to use out in the garden when those droughts hit again.
If your hot taps indoors are anything like mine then they can take an age to for the water to heat up. So, while letting them run, make sure to catch all that water in glasses or jugs to then use on the garden rather than letting it go down the drain. Another nifty trick is to save some of the water while you’re having a shower! Last year I made a video on Instagram about standing in a large bucket while showering and it ended up being seen more than three million times. And I know what you’re thinking – what about the soap?! Try not to worry, if you do this infrequently then the soap won’t be harmful, but even better if you use organic and natural soaps.
Keeping pots watered can be a real task in itself so why not use an upturned old wine bottle, filled with water and stuck into the compost to slowly water pots? I did this last year with our blueberries and it worked a treat!

Remove old flowers to promote new ones!

By now your garden will be settled into summer and your pots and borders will already be full of life and plenty of vigour. But as we go on through the season, plants (particularly bedding plants and annuals) will start to look tired after time so deadheading is one way to keep them going for much longer.
If you don’t deadhead then there’s a chance the plant will do something called ‘going to seed’, which essentially is the process of them trying to produce seed that will scatter on its own to grow more plants next year. This can be great, but what it does mean is that the plant puts all of its energy and efforts into produce this seed, rather than producing more flowers.
By deadheading, you’re telling the plant to stop doing that and you’ll get more flowers and sometimes a strong second flush later in the season. The flowers pictures (purple are Senetti and pink are Dianthus) will both benefit from this and you’ll have blooms all summer long.

June is when perhaps some of the real growth comes about in your gardens and it’s also the time to try and sit back and enjoy some of it…but how do we keep it looking at its best? I’ve compiled my top tips for keeping your greenspaces at their peak for this month.

Put together a summer container or basket

You may already have some pots with shrubs or other perennial plants in them that are looking good right now but how about creating something brand new for this summer? You could either put together a pot or container or how about a sizzling summer hanging basket?

Pots and baskets were once thought of as old-fashioned in the gardening world but no more! Pots are perfect for those of us with tighter greenspaces and hanging baskets are ideal for creating some interest at heights where plants wouldn’t normally be.
Putting together yours couldn’t be easier – garden centres and nurseries are awash with summer bedding plants at this time of year and there is always something for everyone. Grab yourself a container or basket and then select the plants that take your eye. Good staples are fuchsias, pansies, geraniums and petunias– but how about trying something different with herb hanging baskets?
A herb basket hanging by your backdoor is a smashing way to grow a few plants that you can use in your everyday cooking. Why not try mint (for those mojitos), creeping thyme to trickle down the edge of the basket, and lavender always adds a pop of purple in the middle. Experiment with a few things and let me know how you get on with yours…

To mow or not to mow… that is the question?

Mowing the lawn is one of those jobs that no gardener really enjoys but if you do mow yours then you’ll want to keep on top of it fairly regularly (once a week or so) to keep it looking trim and in ship-shape. But… why not go WILD this year and leave some, or all, of your lawn to do its own thing?
‘No Mow May’ has become quite well known now but how about extending that into June and leaving your lawn alone for the whole month? You’ll be surprised what might happen to your lawn if you turn off the mower for a while. Over these summer months your lawn will grow at its fastest rate and eventually it’ll put out attractive seed heads and you may even see the odd daisy or dandelion.

All of this might sound like the stuff of nightmares if you’re after a highly manicured lawn, but it helps native wildlife and insects to thrive, and those dandelions and daisies are a wonderful source for pollinators such as bees and butterflies. So, do you have the courage to take the plunge and go wild this month??

Fancy trying your hand at some veg growing?

Most seed sowing tends to happen during spring, but it might surprise you to know that it’s not too late to sow some superb salad and vegetables to keep you going through the season. And it might also surprise you that you don’t need huge, raised beds like you see on Gardener’s World to grow your own. Try these:
Spring Onions – These can be sown right up until August and if you sow some now and then again in a few weeks you’ll have a longer supply. These can be done in pots and containers easily in any space.
Fancy a pumpkin? – You’re cutting it fine, but pumpkins can still be grown from seed as long as you get them going now at the start of the month. Just imagine having your own home-grown pumpkin to carve later in the year
And easiest of all… Salad! – Mixed salad leaves can be sown now and most lettuce can also be sown over this month and next to give you plants for longer, just like the spring onions above. It won’t be long before you’re out there picking a whole bowl of salad from your very own mini-veg plot.

May, that awkward month of the year – right in the middle of spring, but not quite summer just yet. It’s a touch like that space between Christmas and New Year, neither here nor there. The chances are that your spring bulbs have faded in the pots and borders and the rest of your garden is bounding into the full swing of things, so I’ve compiled a few of my favourite things to try in May to take us through into the start of summer.

Jack Frost has gone!

May is (usually) the first full month without any frosts, with our last frost dates being at the end of April. Because of this, our options for sowing, planting and growing become essentially endless! Those seed babies that we’ve been coddling through winter and spring can now be planted out in abundance and the warmer soil temperatures will mean that they have the space to grow on and into their full potential. Now is a great time to plant anything out really, empty your greenhouses, cold frames, windowsills and get those plants out.
This month I’ve emptied my own greenhouse and its now practically empty – except for a few bits that I’ve not managed to find the time to do! If you haven’t got a greenhouse or you haven’t sown any seeds or started anything off then that’s fine too, now is a great time to visit a garden centre to remedy that.

But what to buy?

Really, that’s up to you and at this time of year the garden centres are practically bursting with options, but don’t be fooled by the plants as you walk in. My top tip when buying from a garden centre is go to the back – ok, maybe not the very back – but delve a little further in. More often than not, garden centres will put the plants that are in flower or that are further into their growing life, right at the front – so you buy those first.
Take a stroll and head inwards, there you’ll find slightly younger plants, perhaps not in flower yet but that’s a good thing. Those plants might not be the size of some at the front, but they’ll grow on all the same and in the same time, you’ll be surprised that some of the younger ones are cheaper too.

…and the plants!

Luckily your options here are huge and the vast majority of perennials are available to buy as young plants right now. If you plant them out in May then you’ll have a garden full of colour in summer so have a look around and see what catches your eye.

Alliums are a must-buy right now – you’d usually buy these as bulbs and plant in autumn but you can get them as plants and pop them straight in the ground. These will give you tall green spikes with purple flowers atop of each. Nothing beats an Allium at the back of a border (good in sturdy pots too).

Another solid choice are dahlias and by now the garden centres will have their potted up versions ready to buy with some growth already started. Some of these will happily live in large containers and will get bigger and bigger until they flower, all the way through summer and until the very first frosts later in the year. Dahlias are available in all manner of colours and flower types and there truly is something for everyone. Treat yourself to a couple now and you’ll hopefully enjoy them for years to come. I’ll tell you in autumn/winter how to care for them through the cold months, but until then – let’s enjoy May!
Finally… don’t forget, you can join me at this year’s RHS Malvern Spring Festival where I’ll be showing you how to upcycle a wooden pallet into any number of things. And the great thing is, you don’t need any special skills or complicated tools. I’ll be there on Thursday and Friday, 11 and 12May at the Three Counties Showground at the foot of the Malvern Hills.

We cherished our gardens during lockdown. We prioritised and craved outdoor space like never before recognising the holistic benefits for mind, body and soul. We treated the garden like another room bringing the outside in and that’s exactly how to squeeze the most out of your outdoor space whatever the size.

The bleakness of winter is hopefully behind us, so now’s the time to plan. If you’re after horticultural advice, Adam of View From the Potting Bench fame has got you covered on page 48. As well as considering planting decide what you want from your garden. Obviously, you’ll be guided by the shape and size – don’t fight with it, rather create different zones for different activities like entertaining, dining, relaxing, cooking, playing, etc. That might just mean re-evaluating the space and moving your existing furniture and pots around to create zones or you might need to invest in some new additions.

EATING OUT

Put dining areas nearest the house for ease and if you’ve the space, think about an outdoor kitchen for the ultimate in entertaining prowess. Apart from practical food prep and cooking areas, add extra storage for housing outdoor tableware and if you’ve space for a drinks fridge, happy days.

LOUNGE LOVER

Create an area for lounging in a sunny spot. Add squishy low furniture or loungers for maximum comfort. Garden furniture is probably the most important and expensive purchase largely driven by your space. Choose quality furniture that can live untarnished outside all year round. Prolong the length of time you spend in your garden by adding in a source of heat such as a chiminea or fire pit and add in a few cosy blankets and you‘ll easily enjoy the garden well into the autumn.

LIGHT UP

Festoon lighting and hurricane lamps give a gorgeous glow after dark creating a magical ambience. Solar powered lights are increasingly efficient – Lights4Fun have some great, reasonably priced examples that stay illuminated for eight hours or more.

GROW UP

If you’ve a balcony or small space, the same principles apply with the exception of zoning. Add comfortable furniture, attractive planting – work with the space so grow up, not out and add magical lighting for after dark.

Gunsmith House, which is located on Price Street in the heart of the Gun Quarter, has been transformed into three luxury apartments by Elevate Property Group that echo the distinctive industrial character and unique heritage of the area.

Working with Digbeth-based K4 architects, the unique development will also see a further 82 brand new one and two-bed apartments built to the side of the original building.

Construction work should be completed by early 2024, with selling agents Savills already reporting that 70% of Phase 1 has already been sold.

“The remaking of Gunsmith House is reflecting its raw heritage that dates back to 1901,” explained David Hofton, Sales & Marketing Director at Elevate Property Group.

“The look of it, the feel of it, the execution of it. It will be a place its previous custodians would be proud of, and it is a development that is already proving popular from buyers keen to own or invest in a unique property in the centre of Birmingham.”

He continued: “There are three luxury apartments housed in the original building; a one-bed on the ground floor (with terrace), a two-bed on floor two and a unique two-bed duplex property with mezzanine and vaulted ceilings, both boasting balconies.

“Then we have 82 new build apartments to the side, which are being built around a communal landscaped courtyard.”

Gunsmith House is Elevate Property Group’s twelfth scheme in the heart of Birmingham and taps into the city’s vibrant leisure, cultural and enterprise scenes.

The Price Street location is less than ten minutes’ walk to Snow Hill Station, Colmore Row’s financial district, Birmingham City University and the Birmingham Children’s Hospital making it ideal for professionals and young couples, whilst downsizers will also be attracted to the high-quality spec, balconies and car parking available on selected plots, and proximity to local attractions.

It’s officially the spring equinox on 20 March and it’s the time when we can say, with full certainty that we are in spring. After a long old winter (and gosh hasn’t it been long!) this is the time we get to enjoy some of the fruits of our labour from autumn when all of our tulips are in full bloom. But hold your horses, it doesn’t end there – now the light levels are high and the weather is getting warmer (the last frost happens in April, hurray!) the possibilities of getting outside are far greater. This month I’m sharing my favourite seeds for the year ahead and what you can do with them now! In April you can sow seeds and still get beautiful flowers this year, so let’s get to it…

Hardy or Tender?

But before we get into the plants and seeds, let’s talk about a couple of gardening terms. I’ve already mentioned frost and its worth going into exactly what that means for our plants and why it’s worth waiting until now to do lots of things we’ve all been itching to do for months.

Technically a frost, is a period where the night time (or day time) temperatures go below 0⁰C. In and around Birmingham, the last frost date is usually at the end of April but aim for the start of May to be on the safe side. Once the temperatures are above 0⁰C then we could start moving some plants back outside, if you brought them indoors over winter and we can sow some seeds directly in the ground or in containers outdoors.

The terms ‘hardy’ and ‘tender’ refer to how plants react to this frost. Hardy plants are likely to cope with a frost in the UK, tender is the exact opposite and the frost will kill them off. Now, there are degrees of hardiness and tenderness with plants and it’s worth noting that where you are in the UK will also affect this.

But how?

Sowing seeds can seem like a daunting task if you haven’t done it before, but it couldn’t be simpler. You don’t need any fancy equipment, all you need is a space to get started. If you’ve got a large outdoor space then you’ll likely have some space in the ground but otherwise you can use any manner of garden pot or container, whatever takes your fancy at the garden centre.

The most important things here are the seeds themselves. The seeds you buy, will determine how they like to be sown, so you’ll want to check the back of the packet – but as a general very rough rule seeds like to be sown in one of two ways. One method is as simple as popping them on top of the surface of the soil or compost and dusting them with a light sprinkle more of compost, before watering gently. The other way is much the same but instead, these seeds like to be a little deeper in the compost. The back of the seed packet will tell everything you need to know here. So, which seeds can I sow now?

My favourites

It just so happens that you can sow two of my favourite plants right now, Sunflowers and Cosmos. The good thing about sowing both now is that they’re tough as old boots and you can pop them straight in the ground or into containers.

Think carefully about where you want them to flower though. Sunflowers, as the name suggests, are sun lovers, so you’ll want to make sure to plant these on the side of the garden where the sun shines the most, otherwise they’ll end up facing your neighbour’s garden! They need a few feet between each plant so that they’ve got enough room for the large blooms at the top to open fully.

Simply push a seed into the compost down to about your first knuckle, cover with compost and water. Soon, the seedling will push its way up through the surface and you’ll have the beginnings of your own sunflower. As they grow, pop in a bamboo cane or large stick to support them as they grow taller and taller – the easiest plant to grow!

My other favourite is Cosmos! If you haven’t grown or seen Cosmos before then you’re in for a real treat because they’re another easy one to get going and they’ll give you flowers for months and months, right up until the first frost of the year in November. These can be sown in much the same way but with these, I tend to sow them on the surface of the compost and then add a thin layer, maybe about 3mm, of compost on top – water and let them germinate. If you’re planning on having a patch of cosmos then you’ll want to plant them about 30cm apart because they can get quite bushy, but with an absolute abundance of flowers.

It’s really as simple as that, two wonderful plants that suit any garden, terrace, courtyard or even a balcony! Let me know how you get on with yours and share your photos with me over on Instagram!

Heaton House is an exciting development of 14 freehold townhouses and 42 apartments, all focused around the meticulous restoration of the historic Georgian Old Heaton House villa itself.

Developer Elevate Property Group said the grand unveiling of Old Heaton House at the start of February was a huge success, and swiftly followed by a well-attended Knight Frank Open Day to view the newly-launched Town House showhome.

Elevate’s sales and marketing director, David Hofton, said more than 20 prospective buyers had attended the launch of the Town House on February 11 with the wider scheme now 75% sold.

“We are absolutely delighted to see this prestigious development attracting such interest and the open day saw several people reserve properties on the same day.

“Elevate has created a development of stunning new homes, architecturally in keeping with the industrial buildings they replace but combining 21st century standards of quality and luxury with the convenience of city centre living in one of the most desirable parts of the Midlands

“We’re expecting the first buyers of our luxury apartments to move in this month and the Town House show home is now open by appointment for prospective buyers looking to purchase these impressive two and three bedroom homes in Camden Street.

“All our townhouses are Freehold, all have terraced gardens and all have allocated on-site gated car parking.”

David said the development, including six loft apartments, was already more than 75 per cent sold.

“We are urging anyone interested to view early given the feedback at the launch event. Buyers are telling us they are keen on a location which is just a short walk from the popular bars and restaurants St Paul’s Square yet in the heart of the sought-after Jewellery Quarter, which was named one of the best places to live in the Midlands by the Sunday Times.

“All of the properties at Heaton House offer the very best of city centre living and demand has already been very high.”

Old Heaton House, which stands in the heart of the development, was built in about 1823 for William Cotterill, a wealthy Birmingham merchant of high status, but a century of industry on the site had left the house in poor condition and swamped by industrial buildings.

Elevate cleared the area and have restored the Georgian house to its prime, with the apartments and townhouses sympathetically developed around it to reflect the local history and architecture while bringing 21st century standards of quality and luxury.

Three bedroom town houses start at £500,000, with one bedroom apartments at Heaton House starting from £252,500, and two bedrooms from £310,000. For more information, visit elevatepropertygroup.co.uk/residential/heaton-house

Every year there are plants and all manner of gardening bits and pieces that pop up out of nowhere as hot trends for the year (and they sometimes go on longer than that!). Last year saw us rekindling our love of pots and containers and balcony gardens were on the rise, elsewhere we continued to enjoy ‘growing our own’ and houseplants popularity grew and grew ­– but what can we expect for the coming year. This month I’m taking you through my top predictions for 2023.

Making the most of mother nature…

It’s no secret that the weather this year has been tough on our green spaces. The dry heat of summer has given mine a complete battering and although it did quickly recover it still shocked me just how quickly things became brown and scorched. With climate change, we do have to start thinking about how this affects our growing and how we have to adapt to fit in with what mother nature throws at us.

Now, before you go and dig up your whole garden let’s think sensibly. Think about your garden and what worked well this year, to start with – grow more of that! It’s simple but always go with what your garden is telling you it wants, if something isn’t working – because of the weather or not – then it’s not worth pushing on with. But when thinking particularly about the heat we had, we must consider which plants love this weather and how we can introduce more.

I’ve talked about dahlias in my column before, but these are the future of our hot gardens. Native to Mexico and central America, these sun lovers are born to sunbathe, and your garden will do well with them. Don’t let them fool you though, they do need water – so, any hosepipe ban withstanding, do give them some water when you can. A garden full of dahlias, will be a happy space in 2023. 

Turn your lawn into a meadow?

How about replacing your existing traditional lawn (if you have one) with a wildflower meadow? Say goodbye to the same old grass you’ve had for years and say hello to a patch of native wildflowers that will not only be pleasing for you, but it’ll also be a wonder for wildlife too.

Wildflower meadows can be created in two ways, by scattering your own seeds or by buying in ready prepared wildflower turf, that is already infused with seeds that’ll grow for you – the easier option, but slightly more expensive! This all sounds amazing I’m sure, but what about those of you without a conventional growing space or without a lawn? Worry not – you can grow your own mini wildflower patch in a pot! Seeds should be sown in around March or April, so you’ve still got plenty of time to plan your meadow of dreams! You’ll find packets of wildflower seeds in all good garden centres and even in some supermarkets in spring.

Cost saving gardening?

With the cost-of-living crisis being very firmly a thing of reality – we’ll all be looking at ways to reduce what we spend in the home and garden. Although gardening needn’t be expensive, you can sometimes get carried away (I know I can!) and the cost can spiral. In 2023, we’ll all be looking at ways to cut that back and garden on a slightly tighter budget than we have previously.
Luckily, there are some fantastic ways to do things for cheaper and even for free, if you know where to look. Thankfully, I’m quite a frugal gardener so I’ve got some top tips for garden bargains.

My garden is all about creating a rustic vibe with vintage metal containers, pots, and watering cans – and this can usually come with a price tag. However, there are definitely ways you can do this cheaper – such as using Facebook Marketplace and upcycling websites. Marketplace, in particular is a fantastic resource for finding old garden items very cheaply and sometimes for no cost at all, as people are often happy for you to take things off their hands. The aforementioned metal containers can sometimes be anywhere up to £40 or £50 with some garden retailers but I’ve managed to find them for free, just by using these tips!

Back to basics

My top predictions for gardening in the coming year is all about getting back to basics by growing what you love, but also adapting your space to the way the world is changing. Keeping it simple, straightforward and beautiful, in whatever space you’re lucky enough to have! All of my tips can work in a huge garden, as well as a small terrace, balcony or container garden.

Next Month: I’ll be bringing back my ‘What To Do This Month’ feature and letting you know how you can get a head start for spring to get your garden singing! Although we’re incredibly early in the year, there is still lots to get on with indoors, to give you a bit of a head start on everyone else…

We all know people who absolutely love certain things…. dogs, reading, music – you name it! But what about gardening? Do you have a garden-obsessed partner or friend and you’ve got no clue what to get them for Christmas? Here’s my gift ideas from three of my favourite garden/plant companies – including one of Birmingham’s own!

You’ll need to start with some seeds or bulbs…

For years, the only place to buy seeds and bulbs to start your own garden was either in garden centres or through out-dated mail order catalogues. The internet thankfully has seen a rise in new and exciting companies that aim to make gardening appealing to all ages and types of gardeners.

One of these is The Rose Press Garden. If you’re on Instagram (you can find them @therosepressgarden) then you may well have heard of this small business run by Lizzie Fox, but if not then you’re really missing out.

The Rose Press Garden aims to make  gardening modern, simple and fun and shows new, beginner gardeners how to create a beautiful garden easily. The monthly subscriptions are a brilliant way to learn new varieties and types of flower seeds, bulbs and plants and make a lovely gift. Available ongoing and as gift subscriptions for three, six and 12 months, this is a fantastic gift for Christmas for a new gardener or even someone with a bit of experience.

Each subscription box comes with handy instructions for each seed, bulb or plant. I’ve bought many times from Lizzie with complete satisfaction and confidence. You can find out more by visiting www.therosepressgarden.com

Or, if that’s not your thing…. a plant?

If you’re not into growing from scratch or if houseplants are more your thing (every house should have one, or 10!) look no further than the gents over at Jungle Club in Moseley, which opened earlier this year.

Now, I get it, houseplants can be tough to look after, but these guys have got you covered no matter what your living situation. Whether you’ve got tons of space or just a tiny spot on a windowsill or work desk, they’ll find something that’s perfect for you.

There’s a wide range of plants on offer in their relatively small shop in Alcester Road, plus they’re there to provide you with sound advice backed up by years of growing experience. You can find out more at www.thejungleclub.online and on Instagram at @thejungleclubbirmingham

And not forgetting something for them to go in!

Anyone can pop into a DIY shop, or even a supermarket, and grab a pot, but how about something a little different? If you’re looking for plant pots with real appeal check out the colourful range from Green Tones. All of Green Tones products are predominantly moulded in recycled bamboo fibres, which is an innovative composite mostly comprising of powder ground out from end of life bamboo products – such as chopsticks, placemats, decking and scaffolding – or the offcuts from their production. No plastic, no harming the environment, what could be better?

Among the most popular is their Rainbow set of small classic eco pots – perfect for seed starting and growing a wide range of plants, indoors and out. The most eco-conscious of us will want to do our bit for the planet and there is no better way than with these bamboo pots. Visit www.greentones.co.uk and use the special discount code VIEW10 for 10 per cent off your order.

What will you be buying this year?

The businesses I’ve featured here are small, independents that are doing something truly fantastic in their own fields within gardening and horticulture. Their prices are very reasonable, too.

I’d love to know of your own recommendations for Christmas gifts for gardeners so head over to my Instagram (@viewfromthepottingbench) to share your suggestions.

Finally…

From me and my family, to you and yours – I hope this festive season brings you peace and all the fun this time of year can provide.

Although the temperate has dropped significantly and summer is a long-forgotten memory, we’re technically still in autumn and that means one thing. Planning! Planning for a spectacular garden in 2023 and in particular, planting bulbs for spring!

You’ll need some ingredients!

Anyone who knows me will know that I absolutely adore bulbs – they’re the best thing, in my mind – pop them in, cover them in compost and wait. What could be simpler than that? My absolute favourites are tulips and even if you only plant up one pot of them this year then you’ll be forever grateful that you did come spring.
A fantastic way to get a display that lasts weeks and weeks is to put together a bulb lasagne – a pot or container built up with layers of bulbs that flowers one after the other. A really traditional lasagne would comprise of tulips at the bottom, followed by daffodils and topped off with crocus. The crocus will flower as early as February, the daffodils around March and then the tulips after that, until April (or thereabouts).
Put simply, you’ll need the largest pot you have and start to build up the layers. First of all, make sure there are drainage holes at the bottom – bulbs that sit in soggy compost won’t be happy and are likely to rot. Use some broken crocks to help with drainage.

Add your first layer of compost – about 10 to 15cm will do – then your tulips which can go quite close together as long as they aren’t touching. Add enough compost to cover this layer, repeat with your daffodils, then more compost and finally your crocus bulbs. Top this off with a final layer of compost that comes just below the rim of the pot. To stop any critters such as squirrels getting to your bulbs add woodchip, gravel or grit to the top – don’t worry, the bulbs will grow through with no problems.
Give the pot a good water and then leave it! Don’t be tempted to mess around with it at all, and it won’t need watering again until the first signs of growth in spring. Then, all that’s left to do is sit back and wait for your lasagne to do its thing. 

Come out of the kitchen!

While some bulbs such as daffodils do well in pots, when they’re in the ground they’ll have a chance to multiply. If left alone in the borders or in beds then each and every year, they’ll get bigger and spread which means more daffodils every new spring.
We’ve all seen daffodils in massive drifts on the sides of country lanes and in woodland, and there’s no reason you can’t do the same in your garden. Daffodils aren’t expensive, and you can buy large bags of them from many DIY shops or bargain stores to get you going. There are small ones with lots of scent, such as Tête-à-Tête, and some particularly beautiful ones, like Narcissus poeticus var. recurves, more commonly known as ‘pheasants eye’ – which have the most striking white petals with a red tipped centre. Two fantastic things about pheasants eye are the sweet citrus scent and the fact that they flower late, appearing in around mid-April, helping to extend spring just that little bit further.

Something to try!

We’ve all heard of tulips and daffodils, but how about something a little different? Perhaps the imposing Fritillaria imperialis, Crown imperial? It’s a little late in the season to be planting these now but if you do it right at the start of November you might just be ok with them. These large flowering bulbs will come out between April and May with the most intriguing flower heads, quite exotic and like nothing you’ve seen before. Or, maybe try Allium Red Mohican – bearing bizarre, bulbous flowers (so called as they resemble a Mohican haircut) above lofty stems, they are sure to turn heads in any garden.

So, what will you try?

I’d be absolutely thrilled if I knew that the gardens of Birmingham were soon to be filled to the brim with tulips, daffodils and who knows else what! So, have a try, let me know what you go with and share them with me over on my Instagram page.
Spring bulbs are a real highlight in the garden after a long winter, so see how you can brighten up your greenspace. No matter how big or small! 

Next month…
I’ll be bringing you all my must-have gifts for gardeners for Christmas! No matter the size of the garden or even just a pot….I’ll have something for every one of your green fingered friends!

We’ve all heard of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 15 acres of wonderful landscaped gardens with more than 7,000 plants, shrubs and trees that is a visitors’ favourite and a real jewel in the city’s crown. But have you heard of Winterbourne House and Gardens? No, I didn’t think so! I like to think of it as one of Birmingham’s hidden gems as it sits firmly within the grounds of Birmingham University and if you’re driving down the Hagley Road, blink and you’ll miss it.

The house itself was built in 1903 for the Nettlefold family as a small country estate and the gardens came alongside that. Inside you’ll find examples of the Arts and Crafts movement with the most exquisite William Morris wallpaper and designs throughout. The displays within the house give you wonderful detail about the building itself and the history of the owners and how it came to be what it is today. When the last private owner passed away he left the house and gardens to the university where it now acts as a teaching garden for the university itself and also for private courses, including the RHS horticulture levels.

Inspiration in buckets!
While the house is beautiful, the gardens are also amazing. Firstly, I’d encourage you to visit them yourself if you can, but I’ll try to paint a clear picture for you as much as possible. Although the grounds are fairly sprawling, they’re excellently divided into sections that cover various planting styles – from the vast wafty borders to the mesmerising Japanese garden.
You start off with an option of left or right. Left will take you down through the perennial borders planted in the Gertrude Jekyll style with a kaleidoscopic range of colours. Then on to the covered walkway and archway before coming out into the most abundant walled garden you’ve ever seen, complete with dahlias and a wide variety of ornamentals and edibles. If you choose the left option then you’ll be guided down a brick staircase and through a rose walkway with a heavenly scent!

A slice of the orient

Once you’ve ambled down the winding paths and through the formal gardens, you’ll arrive at something that is quite a surprise on your first visit, a Japanese water garden. Huge Gunnera, dragonflies in abundance and the finest example of a Japanese bridge that takes you over the water to return round to the route back up to the house.

This part of the garden really is a hidden gem and something you just totally don’t expect to see when you enter the garden. Before you leave the Japanese garden you’ll want to have a wander down the stepping stones along the stream. But be careful not to slip in as you stop to take a photo of one of the many gorgeous plants that sit alongside the water’s edge. This slice of Japan in the middle of Birmingham is such a surprise, yet it somehow seamlessly fits in with the rest of the garden – a very special addition indeed.

And last but not least…

A good afternoon tea! No trip to a wonderful garden is complete without it. The café serves a fantastic range of hot and cold food, cakes and sweet treats as well as excellent afternoon teas. There is truly something for everyone here and it’s the perfect end to a wonderful stroll around this beautiful Birmingham space.
Let me know, had you heard of Winterbourne – or have you been before? If there are any other gardens you’d like a review of then head over to my Instagram (@viewfromthepottingbench) to tell me.

For the last few months, I’ve helped you keep your outdoor growing space looking lush and healthy but what about those of us that love to create an indoor jungle? This month I’m bringing you my top houseplant tips and tricks to make your indoor rainforest thrive!

Know when to water
Learning how and when to water your houseplants has to be the single biggest issue when it comes to keeping them alive! Over time you’ll get used to how often they’ll need a drink, and each one of them is unique in that respect, but until then, how do you know when they need a top up?
The rule that I’ve got used to is ‘if in doubt, don’t’ and that’s stood me in good stead when it comes to overwatering, but there is a danger there of underwatering. If you think that it’s too soon since the last bit of H20 then leave it another week and then give them some of the good stuff. One really good tip is to touch the surface of the soil, or even to stick your finger in – just to the first knuckle – and then if its dry, give some water. But again, you’ll start to gauge how much they need over time.

There’s a hole in my bucket
Another fantastic tip for most of your house bound plant buddies is to keep them in a plastic pot with holes in the bottom, which you can then put inside a nicer looking, more decorative and slightly bigger pot. Think of the plastic pot as its home that you then just slip it into a better-looking pot for aesthetic reasons more than anything. Now, this won’t always be the best option – especially if you’ve got some huge houseplants, but for small and medium ones this is a great idea and I’ll tell you why.
As we’ve found out above, watering is a challenge at times and knowing how much to water is an even bigger guessing game. However, if they’re in pots with holes in the bottom this allows you to do something called ‘bottom watering’ – which on first glance, might sound a little odd! Bottom watering is essentially where you’ll fill up a large bowl or saucer (or even your bath if you’ve got a lot of plants) and rest the plants in the water until they’ve absorbed enough of it through the holes in the bottom of the pot.  The idea here is that they take on as much water as they need without getting waterlogged or staying too dry. This way you’ll also ensure that the full pot is watered rather than just the top layer.
It’s a good idea to leave them in the water for 10 minutes to start with and if you think they need more then you can go for another 10 minutes, and they should be good to go.

Grab that duster
When you’re cleaning your house you might not think that your houseplants need a little TLC too… but they really do! If you’ve got plants with large leaves such as Monstera, Colocasia or Philodendron then they’ll really benefit from a light dusting the next time you’ve got your duster to hand.
But before you go too mad, back away with that polish! The chemicals in polish won’t do your plants any good at all so just a quick skim over the surface of the foliage with the duster is enough to do the job. You might be asking yourself ‘why?’, but the answer is perfectly logical. Imagine for a second that you were a plant and all you needed to survive was water, food and sunlight (much the same as us actually!) and you were covered in a thick layer of dust. That sunlight would struggle to get through. By giving your plants a dust, you’re clearing the way for those rays to get in to help your plants grow.

You spin me right round
This one might seem a little odd at first but please, bear with me! I’m going to ask you to imagine to be a plant again, sitting on the windowsill looking out at all the outdoor plants and you’re reaching your stems and leaves towards the sunshine (now you’ve been dusted!). After a while your plants might start to look a little, let’s say, lop-sided as they stretch and crane to reach that sunlight but luckily there is a very easy solution to this. Give your plants a little turn.
Give them a quarter turn every week or so (more often if you want to) and it’ll help them to grow straight and give even light across the whole plant. Simple but really effective!
And there you have it – my top four tips for keeping your houseplants healthy and happy! Is there anything else you’d like to know about houseplants? Send me a question!

Next month…
I’ll be giving you something to do with the family as I bring you my favourite gardens and greenspaces that Birmingham has to offer. Real must-visit places!

According to MET office records, July is historically one of the hottest months of the year which, for gardeners, sounds like an absolute dream. But that heat can bring its challenges for the green-fingered among us, too! This month I’m bringing you my top tips for getting the best out of your garden during what could be a hot one. (Please don’t write in to me if it ends up being the wettest July on record!)

Keep on top of watering

It goes without saying that during these warmer months, keeping on top of watering is right at the top of the to-do list. And it’s far more than giving everything a little sprinkle every now and again! If you’ve got big deep flower beds and borders, you’ll want to make sure the water is getting down deep into the soil and not just on top of the foliage. I do this with a long handled ‘hose gun’ that reaches right down to the ground and through the leaves – this eliminates the need to bend down all the time.

If your space is small (like ours is) and you’re growing mainly in containers and pots, then you’ll want to make sure the water is getting down to the roots too. My best advice here is to give every single pot a good soak…no, I mean it, a really good soak. Water your pots until the excess runs out the bottom and then you’ll know it’s got to the heart of the pot and your plants will absolutely love you for it.

How about setting up an irrigation system?

If watering isn’t your thing (and let’s face it – it’s not everyone’s favourite gardening job is it?) then a cracking idea is to set up an irrigation system to do the work for you. This works for traditional beds and equally as well for pots too and it cuts out most of the hard work and time that watering can take.
In essence, an irrigation system is a series of hoses laid around the base of plants with either small holes or tiny sprinkler-type fixtures attached to them that you hook up to your garden tap, then you just turn it on and the water seeps out while you sit down with a cuppa. Couldn’t be easier than that! We’ve got a small system here for the main pots and it saves so much time in these summer months.

Feed your plants

After watering this has to be the next most important thing for keeping your growing space looking lush and vibrant all summer long. Now, its not absolutely essential to feed your plants (and they’ll look fine if you don’t) but once they’ve been given that extra boost then you’ll be incredibly glad you did. Picture your breakfast, perhaps toast and cereal to start the day? So, imagine that toast and cereal are a plant’s sunlight and water. It’s enough to get your day started for sure, but then how about that cup of coffee too? Plant food is the cup of coffee that your plants are looking for to really do something special. With those extra nutrients, your plants will be stronger, your flowers will be brighter AND there will potentially be more of those flowers too! Its dead easy to feed your plants and most good plant food is simply added to your watering can before you water them.
Plants that will benefit most from a good feed include sweet peas, dahlias and all those bedding plants that you’ve no doubt got that are already putting on a good show.

Cut, cut and cut again!

There are a few jobs for this month that involve cutting and they’re all quite different from each other. First of all, if you’re growing lavender then by now yours should be in full bloom and this is prime time to cut off some of those flowers to dry off and add amazing fragrance to your home. Cut off the flowers and pop them somewhere relatively dark and dry, and soon enough your flowers will be dry and ready to use.
I’ve already mentioned sweet peas and the importance of feeding them, but as you get more flowers, you’ll want to keep cutting them off. This will mean you’ve got gorgeous flowers with wonderful scent to bring indoors to enjoy and cutting them off will promote more flower growth too, so it’s a real win-win.
And finally, this is a good time to take cuttings from some plants with new growth, otherwise known as softwood cuttings. Plants such as Hydrangea, Buddleia, Fuchsia and Salvia are full of new growth at this time of year and taking cuttings couldn’t be easier. Cut the top of a stem away from the plant (about 10-15cm long), just above a leaf node (where the leaves join the stem), take off all the leaves except the top pair and dip the bottom end in rooting hormone powder if you have it….or you can even try cinnamon! Pop the cutting into a pot of compost and you’ll have roots before you know it!

And there you have it! July is a month of really beautiful flowers (and you’ll have even more than normal if you’ve been following my tips!) and, if the MET office is to be believed – it’s a great time to be dusting off that barbecue too!

You may already have some pots with shrubs or other perennial plants in them that are looking fab right now but how about creating something brand new for this summer? You could either put together a pot or container or how about a sizzling summer hanging basket?

Pots and baskets were once thought of as old-fashioned in the gardening world but no more! Pots are perfect for those of us with tighter green spaces and hanging baskets are ideal for creating some interest at heights where plants wouldn’t normally be.

Putting together a summer container or basket

It really couldn’t be easier! Garden centres and nurseries are awash with summer bedding plants at this time of year and there is always something for everyone. Grab yourself a container or basket and then select the plants that take your eye. Good staples are fuchsia, pansies, geraniums and petunias (which I absolutely love!) – but how about trying something different with herb hanging baskets?
A herb basket hanging by your backdoor is a smashing way to grow a few plants that you can use in your everyday cooking. Why not try mint (for those mojitos), creeping thyme to trickle down the edge of the basket and lavender always adds a pop of purple in the middle. Experiment with a few things and let me know how you get on with yours!

To mow or not to mow….that is the question!

Mowing the lawn is one of those jobs that no one really enjoys but if you do mow yours then you’ll want to keep on top of it fairly regularly (once a week or so) to keep it looking trim and ship-shape. But…. why not go WILD this year and leave some, or all, of your lawn to do its own thing?
‘No Mow May’ has become quite well known now but how about extending that into June and leaving your lawn alone for the whole month? You’ll be surprised what might happen to your lawn if you turn off the mower for a while. Over these summer months your lawn will grow at its fastest rate and eventually it’ll put out attractive seed heads and you may even see the odd daisy or dandelion. All of this might sound like the stuff of nightmares if you’re after a highly manicured lawn, but it helps native wildlife and insects to thrive, and those dandelions and daisies are a wonderful source for pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Fancy trying your hand at some veg growing?

Most seed sowing tends to happen during spring, but it might surprise you to know that it’s not too late to sow some superb salad and vegetables to keep you going through the season! And it might also surprise you to know that you don’t need huge, raised beds like you see on Gardeners’ World to grow your own.
So which veg can you grow from seed now?
Spring onions – these can be sown right up until August and if you sow some now and again in a few weeks you’ll have a longer supply. These can be done in pots and containers easily in any space.
Fancy a pumpkin? – you’re cutting it fine, but pumpkins can still be grown from seed as long as you get them going now at the start of the month! Just imagine having your own home-grown pumpkin to carve later in the year
And easiest of all? Salad! – mixed Salad leaves can be sown now and most lettuce can also be sown over this month and next to give you plants for longer. It won’t be long before you’re out there picking a whole bowl of salad from your very own mini veg plot.

Have a wander around your garden and…

This might sound simple but don’t ever forget to try and actually look at your garden, give yourself time to have a proper wander around and see what might be going on. Quite often I’ll get down on my hands and knees and have a rifle through the plants in the pots and borders to see what’s happening at ground level. While you’re on your stroll about have a think about these little things:

• This is a good time to dead head any plants with dead or dying flowers (it’s as easy as pinching them off with your fingers, or you can use snips/secateurs) as it’ll often encourage even more flowers to bloom. Our Senetti will bloom and bloom all summer if we do this.
• If you’re growing sweet peas, then keep on picking! Picking more and more flowers will force the plant to grow more and so on. The more you pick, the more will grow! Don’t forget to bring those picked flowers inside for scent that’ll waft right through the house
• Inspect your pots! If they’re feeling dry, then give them a good drink until water runs out the bottom of the pot. For those pots with summer flowers, it’s a good time to consider giving them a ‘feed’ too. Plant feed is readily available in all garden centres and it’ll ensure you’ve got the brightest and best blooms all summer long! 

But please put your feet up at some point!

With all of your hard work putting this into practice you’ll certainly have earned a rest to enjoy the fruits of your labour. There is nothing better than sitting back on a summer’s evening and looking out across what you’ve been doing – and what better time than to enjoy that Mojito with your home-grown mint. Bliss!

By now our gardens and outdoor spaces have a splash more light and the added touch of heat that we’ve come to enjoy from early summer in the UK. Most of our plants will be putting on good growth and your space may well be bustling with colour and wildlife. But if it isn’t how do you go about making it the best it can be? No matter whether its acres or feet, let me take you through my top tips for converting your green space from grey to a kaleidoscopic beauty. 

Balcony or small gardens

Whether, your space is limited or you’re keen to experiment on your balcony – container gardening is the way forward here. Think of variety and what you’d really like to achieve with what you have – do you want to grow what you can eat or are you looking for purely an aesthetic garden? Either way, even the smallest of areas can pack a real punch!

If you’re wanting to ‘Grow Your Own’ then there are tonnes of crops suitable for containers, in fact almost any fruit or veg can be grown in a big enough pot. Potatoes, carrots, garlic, chillies… some of the real staples of home-grown edibles can all produce a wealth of ‘fruits’ for you to enjoy straight from the pot. For Potatoes and carrots, think about a deep pot where they can grow longer roots to produce more. Garlic can be grown in a relatively shallow container, while chillies can even be grown indoors.

If you’re more about trying to grow plants that’ll give you colour and zing then you’ll want to think about growing some annual plants (meaning that they complete their lifecycle within one year). There is an almost endless list of annuals you can grow in a container and the joy of growing something that lasts just one season is that you change it up and go for something else next year. Cosmos is a firm favourite with abundant blooms that are perfect for cutting.

Medium gardens

When you’ve got a little more room to play with then this is where the fun really begins! You’ll likely have some border space to grow directly in the ground – suddenly you can grow taller plants that will trail over any garden buildings you may have. Thinking about vertical growing is a way to create structure and height to take the eye up as well as around your outdoor space. If you’re thinking of climbing plants, then your options are almost endless! I’ve included some varieties here that are widely available at most garden centres, and luckily, we have an abundance of those across Birmingham and the Midlands.

A classic evergreen climber such as Clematis Armandii will see you through the whole year with its everlasting green foliage and white/pink clusters of flowers to enjoy in spring. For something slightly more exotic to enjoy on those long summer evenings, try Passiflora Caerulea is a timeless climbing plant with the most beautiful blue/purple flowers.

Finally, how about some highly scented sweet peas (Lathyrus Odoratus)? These are annuals so you’ll want to grow them fresh each year, but they’ll give you the most divine scented cut flowers to pop in a vase on the table when you’re having friends round for a BBQ. 

Large gardens

Chances are that if you’ve got a significant amount of space then you’ll probably have an idea of what you’re doing but here are some ideas to try out. The bigger medium gardens and the large spaces give you even more options than you could possibly dream of. Trees?? Large shrubs? You name it and you can try it! Of course, you can also do all of what I’ve mentioned but on a larger scale!

In a larger space you’ll want to give ‘sectioning’ a thought – how about having a separate veg plot, or even a cut flower bed or two (you could use this to grow some of the annuals mentioned before)? Try to define the areas you have and create some real zoning between them all. At this size you’re likely to have some areas that catch the sun all day, where you’ll want those sun loving plants, such as dahlias and peonies for huge, beautiful blooms. But on the other hand, you’re likely to have some shadier areas that don’t see as much daylight… but don’t be fooled, these areas can be some of the most interesting! Try hostas, astilbe and the oh-so-stunning foxgloves! 

Make your space your own!

Hopefully, this has given you the green-thumb and you’re raring to get to work on whatever size space you have. With a little bit of knowledge and a tad of elbow grease, you’ll be out there sipping Pimm’s among your plants in no time.

We spend an average of 16 years of our lives in bed, so when considering where in the home to invest time and money this season, your boudoir is a good bet

MATTRESS MATTERS

Tiredness is at best annoying and at worst debilitating, so ensuring a good night’s sleep is key to productive days. Some say the base of your bed doesn’t matter, focus on the mattress. There’s no denying the mattress is king, but it must be sitting on a flat stable base to feel the benefit. Good foundations are important. Go for a solid divan without drawers then invest in the best mattress you can afford. Expect to pay upwards of £500. Open spring is the cheapest but the least comfortable. Instead go for pocket sprung, memory foam or latex. They all have different qualities and densities so try them out and don’t be rushed. It’s such an important and personal buy.

SEXY STORAGE

With a big tick in the bed box, move on to storage. This may sound a trifle dull and what you’d like to do is go mad with colours, cushions and chandeliers, but get the basics sorted first and then move on to accessories. The overall effect and functionality will be better. It’s a good idea to have a clear out before you decide how much wardrobe/drawer space you actually need. It’s pointless spending money to house clothes you haven’t worn since 1989. Get rid! Built-in or free standing? This depends on the look you’re after and the size of your bedroom. If it’s particularly snug, is an odd shape or you want a sophisticated modern vibe, built-in is best. Check out the sleek handleless finish at Neatsmith or for a more traditional look try Neville Johnson. If you’re going for a classic period look, why not visit some of Birmingham’s vintage haunts and antique stores like John Hubbard Antiques which has a fantastic selection of beautifully restored furniture. There are also some really convincing traditional pieces from the high street. Laura Ashley’s Broughton range is particularly good.

WINDOW DRESSING

Unless you like getting up with the larks in the summer months, invest in some heavily lined curtains or blinds. They might be more pricey than the light ready-made versions available but they are worth it. Apart from fitting perfectly and keeping the room at optimum darkness, bespoke gives you creative freedom. Choose that amazing fabric you’ve been hankering after and stipulate the look and finish. Checkout the stunning Liberty range of fabric at Guthrie and Ghani in Moseley or for ultimate creative freedom learn how to make your own at one of their workshops.

HAPPY SHOPPING!

With the important practical purchases out of the way let your creative juices flow and focus on the rest of the room. Dress your room with beautiful pieces that you love and you might just find a renewed spring in your step in the morning – provided you’ve had a good night’s sleep of course!