From the potting bench

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Adam Kirtland picks out his top five jobs for gardeners in May which will set the tone for a wonderful display of brilliant blooms and cracking crop of vegetables in the months ahead

May is when the garden finds its rhythm and settles confidently into the growing season. Borders begin to look generous and full, vegetable beds show real promise and the whole space seems to hum with life from morning until evening.

The days are longer, the soil is warmer and gardeners everywhere are happily juggling a mixture of planting, tending and quietly admiring the results of earlier efforts. May gardening is wonderfully busy but deeply rewarding, because so much of what you do now sets the tone for the colourful, productive months ahead. Here are five well-timed May jobs to help your garden keep thriving as spring reaches its most cheerful stride.

Plant Out With Confidence
May is the moment many gardeners have been patiently waiting for, when tender plants can finally make the move outdoors. Tomatoes, courgettes, beans and bedding plants can all be planted out once the risk of frost has passed, ideally after a short period of hardening off. Choose a mild day, water generously and give each plant a little space to stretch into its new surroundings. There is a certain satisfaction in seeing trays and windowsills finally clear as the garden welcomes its newest residents.

Keep Sowing for Succession
Just because plenty is already growing does not mean the sowing should stop. Continue sowing quick crops such as lettuce, radishes, beetroot and carrots at regular intervals to ensure a steady supply through summer. These small, repeated sowings are the secret to keeping harvests coming rather than arriving all at once in a slightly overwhelming rush. A few minutes with a seed packet now often leads to weeks of quiet satisfaction later.

Water Wisely
As temperatures climb and plants begin growing more vigorously, watering becomes increasingly important. Aim to water deeply and less frequently so roots are encouraged to grow downwards rather than lingering near the surface. Early morning or evening is usually the best time, allowing moisture to soak in properly before the warmth of the day takes hold. A little consistency goes a long way, and plants respond quickly to thoughtful care.

Support Growing Plants
Climbing vegetables, tall perennials and enthusiastic flowers will be stretching skyward with impressive determination this month. Check supports, add extra ties where needed and guide stems gently in the direction you would like them to grow. Doing this regularly keeps plants upright, tidy and far less likely to collapse in a dramatic tangle later on. It is one of those quiet jobs that pays off handsomely once everything reaches full height.

Enjoy the First Rewards
May often brings the first real harvests of the year, whether it is fresh salad leaves, tender herbs or the earliest strawberries appearing among the foliage. Take a moment to appreciate these small but satisfying rewards, because they are the clearest reminder of why we spend so much time sowing, watering and occasionally negotiating with slugs. Gardening may involve patience, but it also offers plenty of delicious encouragement along the way.
May is generous, lively and wonderfully optimistic, inviting gardeners to stay outside just a little longer each evening. By keeping up with the planting, tending and gentle maintenance that this month encourages, you help your garden move smoothly toward summer. After all, this is the stage where the effort of early spring begins to show its rewards and the garden starts returning your enthusiasm in full colour.

April in the garden

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April is energetic, colourful and occasionally demanding, but rewards effort generously when every hour spent outdoors pays you back in fresh growth and renewed enthusiasm, says Adam Kirtland

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.

Sowing the seed

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March is a month of momentum in the garden, with buds swelling, birds getting louder and gardeners suddenly finding themselves outside much more. Time to roll up our sleeves, says Adam Kirtland

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.

Love your garden this February

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Our expert Adam Kirtland shows his garden some love for Valentine’s month with five simple tasks we can all do in readiness for a new Spring

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!

Autumn in the garden

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It’s autumn, the leaves are falling, and – whisper it quietly – winter is just around the corner! Now’s the time to get stuck in and set up your garden to look its best for next spring, with Adam Kirtland’s top tips

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.

Summer colour

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Colourful flowers, thriving veg… Adam Kirtland gets the blooming party underway as he celebrates a garden in full swing with his June top tips 

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.

Marvellous May

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Our green-fingered expert Adam Kirtland reveals his top tips for making the most of May – a month of growth and colour!

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!

April awakening

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As the garden bursts into life, Adam Kirtland gives his guide on the jobs to do at this busy time of the year

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!

Tuck up your plants

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Is this spring? Is it finally here? Very nearly! And guess what? It’s gardening time, says our resident expert Adam Kirtland!

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!

Spring gardening

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February feels like a real turning point in the garden, says Adam Kirtland. The days are getting longer, temperatures are creeping up and you can spot bulbs starting to poke through the soil

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!

January gardening tips

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A brand new year is here and the possibilities that lie ahead are almost endless. So let’s begin anew, and prepare and plan to make 2025 the best gardening year you’ve ever had, says Adam Kirtland

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!

Summer garden

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Those longer, warmer, brighter days are here… but as many prepare to pack their cases for a well-earned break, our green-fingered expert Adam Kirtland says he’ll be getting away from it all and de-stressing amid the summer riot of colour in his garden

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.

Summer garden

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Flaming June is here and, fingers crossed, it’s the time to sit back, soak up the sunshine and enjoy the fruits of your labour, says our green-fingered expert Adam Kirtland

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?

From the potting bench in May

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Move over spring, summer is on the way! And Adam Kirtland is here to help you make the best summer garden you’ve ever had

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.

Gardening tips with Adam Kirtland

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February is here but what can you do in the garden in this ‘in between month’? More top tips from Adam Kirtland.

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.

January gardening tips

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Fancy having the best garden around this year? Our resident expert Adam Kirtland predict 2024’s hottest garden trends

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…

November gardening tips

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Last month gardening expert Adam Kirtland started with ‘Gosh, its October!!’ – and he’s got the very same feeling this month as we enter what is looking like a very brisk November

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.

October gardening tips

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Yes, it’s October… already! And that means starting to think about the dreaded ‘W-word’, says green-fingered expert Adam Kirtland

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.

Summer gardens

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The next couple of months are when we’ll all be aiming to relax and enjoy our gardens at their summer peak – but that doesn’t mean there isn’t work to be done, says Adam Kirtland

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.

Gardening tips for June

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Our resident green-fingered expert Adam Kirtland gives his tops tips to help you keep your garden looking good in June

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.

Seeding in Spring

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Spring is officially here and our gardening expert Adam Kirtland couldn’t be more thrilled! Join him as he guides you through some top tips for your garden in April

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!

Brums best green spaces

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In the West Midlands we’re extremely lucky to have a plethora of green spaces, ranging from the sensational Sutton Park to the vast Cannock Chase. But what about gardens? Oh, we’ve got those too, says Adam Kirtland! 

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.

Summer gardening tips

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Gardening expert Adam Kirtland gives his top tips for the hottest month of the year 

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!