Bees are key pollinators and their numbers are in decline. Without a healthy population there are serious implications for many garden plants and food crops. Sharon Jervis, the founder of giftware retailer Beefayre, offers advice on how to attract bees to your garden. Plant lots of flowers of different colours and shapes. Blue, white, violet, … Read more
It’s possible to get a tropical style garden without having to swathe your plants in bubble wrap every winter! These are the top tropical plants for a colder climate. 1. Chusan palm/Trachycarpus fortunei A really lovely palm (above) with fan-shaped leaves. This is a hardy plant and while it is incredibly robust in very cold winters it’s a … Read more
Wooden decking needs regular care to keep it looking good and, before you get your patio furniture out of storage, this is the time to get rid of dirt and mould that’s accumulated over winter. Follow this easy how to clean decking guide to get it bright and fresh for summer. TOP TIP If the winter’s been … Read more
A tree will bring year-round interest and colour into even the smallest garden – but consider how big it will eventually become. WHICH TREE TO CHOOSE If you’d prefer a tree that doesn’t need any pruning, and grows to no more than about 3m tall, look at varieties that cross over between trees and shrubs. … Read more
Planning your garden so that you’re planting in the right places is important for growing healthy plants, but even so, pests and diseases can scupper your good work. Catching problems early is key to keeping your garden bug-and disease-free. While you’re watering the plants, keep an eye out for brown, curled or discoloured leaves, holes in … Read more
Tucked away in Bedford, England is a hobbit hole with a very modern twist. While no real hobbits reside there, the house is exceptionally made. After a tree died in his backyard, Ashley Yeates decided to repurpose the space into this brilliant storage space. Keep in mind Yeates isn’t your ordinary DIYer. He’s a design and construction expert, and … Read more
With spring finally here, it’s time to start a new DIY gardening project at home. Tomatoes are the perfect vegetables (or fruit if you want to be technical) to plant yourself, and there’s a super simple way to do it. All you need is another tomato and you’re ready to go. As demonstrated by YouTube … Read more
The best way to think of succulents is as ‘fat plants’. Parts of them, usually their leaves, swell up with water and this stops them from drying out in arid conditions. Cacti are the most obvious examples but sedums and sempervivums are also common. They all share that fleshy, tender look and often have grey-green … Read more
The best way to think of succulents is as ‘fat plants’. Parts of them, usually their leaves, swell up with water and this stops them from drying out in arid conditions. Cacti are the most obvious examples but sedums and sempervivums are also common. They all share that fleshy, tender look and often have grey-green … Read more
Whether you want a family-friendly space, an easy maintenance scheme, a place to grow-your-own or year-round flowers – these garden designs have got it pegged. CLASSIC COUNTRY A simple way to create a fantastic looking traditional favourite of gorgeous, continually flowering deep borders is to opt for colour theming (above). For example, team dusky pinks with reds, and keep blues, … Read more