Planting

Looking for a low-maintenance way to add colour, texture, movement and structure to a garden?

A mandarin tree may not be a short-term project, but if you can put in the work and nurture it for the years required to grow strong, it'll be so rewarding

Poor soil conditions don’t necessarily mean a poor garden. Turn your wasteland of rubble into a pretty paradise Photo via Getty Images Gardeners are constantly exhorted to improve their soil conditions, to add lime, well-rotted compost and manure, to water in the evening, to do this, do that… all to give their plants their best […]

Say hello to sunshine and make the most of the longer, warmer days by getting busy with November gardening Spring is a most inspiring and pleasant time in the garden. All is bursting with life and the weather is neither too hot nor too cold. Your November gardening guide: Plant Just about everywhere, even cold-sensitive […]

As the days grow longer and the soil warms up, spend some time on a little flower tending and appreciation. What to plant in October October gardening is all about planting and anticipation. And, of course, enjoying all the beauty abounding. The month is the peak rhododendron flowering time. Make a note to visit a […]

Autumn is harvesting and nature’s planting time in the garden. Here’s what to gather, sow and grow this month Chores “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,” wrote Keats in his sumptuous ode to the glories of autumn. For the gardener, it is a time of harvest, when the fruit filled “with ripeness to the core” […]

Growing produce at home instead of buying it from a supermarket is good for both your nutrition and your wallet. Growing organic produce at home rather than buying it from a market or supermarket makes financial as well as nutritional sense. Where time and space are at a premium, concentrate on growing crops that are […]

This month you should be harvesting your carrots, sowing the seeds for your summer veges and planting asparagus. Scroll down for the complete list of August garden tasks Harvest Deciding when to harvest carrots is a matter of how sweet you like them, with young carrots the most tender and sweet. Don’t leave it too […]

Here’s what you need to be planting, harvesting and sowing in your garden this month Plant Now is a good time to plant deciduous fruit trees such as apples, pears, peaches, plums and nectarines if the ground is not too wet in your area. Check if the variety is self-pollinating as some fruit trees need […]

It’s time to harvest your beetroot, sow some bok choy and plant your strawberries. These are your garden tasks for May What to harvest: When harvesting beetroots, don’t throw away the leaves, which are great in salads and stir-fries. I often leave a few beetroots in the ground after harvest for a good supply of […]