How good is YOUR gardening knowledge? 10-question quiz will put your understanding of flowers to the test US-based trivia site Playbuzz has put together a flower-themed quiz for Spring Ten tricky questions will test whether you know your stems from your pistils From roses to spices, do you think you can achieve a perfect score? … Read more
Action plan: Nigel Colborn’s essential jobs for your garden this week Nigel Colborn says mid-March is the perfect time to plant Gladiolus bulbs British gardening expert reveals they thrive best in free-draining soil with sun He also shares advice for a reader who wants to split polyanthus primulas By Nigel Colborn for the Daily Mail Published: … Read more
Monty revisits one of his classic books, Gardening at Longmeadow, in an occasional series. Here’s why I like bedding plants – they’re cheerful and lift our spirits after a long winter; and they can be used in containers, hanging baskets, borders or as a display. Quite simply, bedding is beautiful and fun. Wherever you buy … Read more
Seeds of discovery: Grow your own and you will be richly rewarded this summer Nigel Colborn advises people starting seed growing to begin with easy plants The gardening expert suggests plants including calendulas or Shirley poppies They can be sowed in mid-March in pots and be ready for planting out in May By Nigel Colborn … Read more
We can all be eco-warriors: Do your bit to combat climate change with these easy steps Nigel Colborn reveals Britain will host this year’s UN Climate Summit He says it’s timely for all of us to run a carbon health check in our gardens Expert shares the importance of having fertile soil and self-sustaining lawns By Nigel … Read more
Who says veg don’t look as gorgeous as they taste? Sow cabbages in April and you’ll get a wonderful display – and can eat them freshly picked – in late summer. Even if you’re short on space, it’s still worthwhile growing your favourite fruit and veg. They taste so much better when you eat them … Read more
1. THE DRY GARDEN The Dry Garden was made in early 2004 from a yard in front of old stables we had used to store building material over the previous decade. It had a Tarmac covering, which I unpeeled with a shovel to reveal a solid bed of stone. This is the old red sandstone … Read more
Delightful Daphnes: Plant these pretty shrubs and blossom will fill the air Daphnes are a small but valuable genus of flowering shrubs you can grow in UK They come from Europe, North Africa and Asia with 2 species native to Britain The better known, Daphne mezereum, has fragrant, purple-pink spring flowers By Nigel Colborn for … Read more
Genius in a bottle: Grow succulents in terrariums for charming tabletop glass houses Modern terrariums come in all shapes and sizes and contain plants and animals Within them a miniature habitat provides ideal conditions for specialist plants Terrariums can be almost any size and you can make a micro-garden in pickle jar By Nigel Colborn … Read more
Not all trees are green! Reduce carbon footprint and support wildlife by planting wisely Professor Antonelli says old forests soak up more carbon than new ones Nigel Colborn explores what gardeners can do for trees, climate and wildlife British gardening expert says trees and long-term shrubs support nature By Nigel Colborn for the Daily Mail … Read more