Gardening tips

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How to make compost    The Simple life   Wildlife garden    Hay bale gardening     Native hedgerow    Growing your own

Colours you have in your garden say a lot about you... 

 Dark blue commands respect and is the Police  Green is relaxing and is used on the walls of hospitals get the ideal. The colours of leaves, flowers and berries  not only change our mood but show personalities.
  So next time you're in someone else's garden, take a look around If the garden has consciously been planted with lots of red flowers this can imply assertiveness and  play down femininity by either sex.

 Red  shows physical strength,  Liverpool and Manchester United play best in red,in a garden it could be used in a more active area, perhaps forming a barrier around the lawn or swimming pool.
Use  the  tints, tones and shades they are stimulating and exciting and in extremes reds will actually raise the blood pressure. Crocosmia 'Lucifer', Papaver orientale 'Beauty of Livermere' and Potentilla 'Red ace' are all strong masculine red.

 Yellow is for emotion, ego, optimism, self-esteem and spring, with daffodils, primroses, Fritillaria imperialis and skunk cabbage. It is bright and cheerful, the colour of sunshine and lifts the spirits.  To much yellow may say  that self esteem is not at its highest 

Blue is the colour of intellect and boys, soothing and calming and encourages reflection, lowers blood pressure. Its  the sky and the sea and in the garden can have the same effects. Great swathes of forget-me-not, Anchusa and cornflowers to relax. Its peoples favourite colour maybe because we recognise the need for calm and logic in our lives.

Green is the  choice for a relaxing garden. Created by chlorophyll which is vital to life, in nature it shows water in abundance Think twice about ripping up your lawn and laying decking because when we are surrounded by plenty of green we are reassured. Hostas, ferns and rhododendrons all provide an excellent relaxing backdrop to other colours.

 Violet is the colour of someone who prefers to be left to peaceful thought,  someone who gardens just for themselves and isn't worried about shouting out their achievements to others, Lovely people. Wisteria, Syringa vulgaris and various delphiniums are all suitable.

 Pink is an expression of femininity for those men in touch with their feminine sides. A hint of reddish pink like Cistus x purpureus and Filipendula palmata is soothing and brings out the feminine parenting instinct .Its flesh colour also make it sexy .

 Orange is sexy too its the colour off physical enjoyment and fiery passion. It can create a feeling of physical comfort and can look very sensual. Try Euphorbia griffithii 'Fireglow', Lilium 'Enchantment' .

Most of my Gardening tips can now be found by following the links below
Dobies and Suttons seeds are the gardening suppliers I use and have always got new special gardening offers, check out this weeks gardeners offers to make sure you don't miss out.

more info gardeners shop

Bindweed keeping it under control

Clay soil improving clay soil

Chamomile is now grown as a turf and can be supplied ready to lay almost

compost heap  How to make compost and liquid fertiliser
Disabled gardening   Garden layout tips for gardeners with a disability,

Eco friendly gardening    is related to wildlife gardening and organic gardening, but

garden drainage   how to drain a lawn diy tips

Ivy Clearing Ivy from trees, gardens and brickwork

Lawn care     step by step guide to laying a turfed lawn in your garden

Raised garden beds  will have a top forming a seat you can sit on and

Small garden    landscape should be, simple, interesting and

Sloping gardens   Uphill Downhill slopes require a slightly different approach

Shady area lawn  a reasonably nice lawn can be grown in partial shade
The Flowering Garden

Online garden of plants and trees of all kinds
Once upon a time along time ago,
 Cottage gardeners grew herbs (to treat common ailments), fruit and vegetables (fresh organic fruit and veg to eat) and crops to feed the chickens ( fresh eggs for breakfast) in thier kitchen garden. Cottage garden and wild flowers  seeded themselves everywhere (decoration and air fresheners for the cottage) . Pathways were laid between the planting areas widening now and then for wooden and some times local stone seats and benches to be placed  to rest and take in the colour, feel the textures and smell the perfume in the air, relieving the day to day stresses of life ( natures anti depressants).Terra-cotta pots, old metal pails and watering cans  were sometimes left to rust away around the garden.(we buy them ready aged nowadays) 

 Some gardening writers and garden designers will tell you cottage gardens had no formality, no design or planting plan.The gardens I played in and explored did. Paved areas to sit, pathways through the kitchen garden, fruit and vegetable plots and on to the chicken run, duck pond and the pig sty. Even the compost heap and the ash hill were carefully sited between two very productive plum trees. Some formality was essential because cottage folk depended on the garden for almost everything they ate, sold and shared. A Somerset landscaping gardener even older than I am, once said to me ."They weren't second omes in they there days, were e'm me old butt"  

 Today's cottage gardens need some structure too, pathways between the flowerbeds, herbs growing in the kitchen garden close to the kitchen door in pots and tubs or in a bed, close at hand for cooking and medicine. Some herbs will be planted in the vegetable patch for companion planting to combat pests. Paved seating areas to sit, relax and enjoy your garden from.
It will be be a full of colour, textures and scent. Herbaceous plants are planted wherever there is a space and left to self seed to shut out weeds.   Hollyhocks and other tall plants look good growing near walls and fences - but also  plant them anywhere in your borders not just at the back of the border .Fill gaps  by sowing  Snapdragons, Poppies and Cornflowers.   Try not to include modern hybrids and double flowers they are not traditional cottage garden plants and offer wildlife nothing at all.
In late Autumn leave the seed spikes for the birds to eat the seeds and for the plants to self-seed . The taller spikes still add lovely autumn browns and orange colours to your garden, they also sparkle on a frosty morning and will eventually be taken down into the soil by worms, providing food for next seasons.   Filling every little gap and leaving nature to do the rest will mean very little garden maintenance and weeding.

What I suppose I am saying is this.  Don't be afraid to pre-plan your cottage garden. It will look better for it, Have a planting plan that will fill every gap with flowers,have a kitchen garden planting plan full of herbs, fruit and vegetables. Have path ways leading to paved sitting areas . Good planning and structure won't look formal.  It will be a garden you, your guests, your family and our wildlife will feel comfortable in. Just like the real cottagers did,  Once upon a time along time ago.

I design and build a Cottagers garden for you, or provide a Cottage and Kitchen garden Planting plan for growing your own fruit and vegetables

Changing your garden layout ? consider a cottage garden.

 A cottage garden blends happily with most smaller houses and bungalows.Its charm is its random groupings of colour and texture. However behind the apparent random profusion of size and colour, herbaceous plants, bedding plants, fruit and vegetables, is a carefully thought out hard landscaping structure and planting plan.

The front garden should be welcoming, maybe framing the house with small flowering trees on each side, and grow a rambling rose or honeysuckle around the front door.

Plant a hedge, build dry stone walls or fit picket fence around the garden boundaries with a path leading from the gate to the front door.The garden path could be built using reclaimed brick with chamomile growing between the cracks.

At the back separate areas of the cottage garden can be divided with paths and trellis, using  runner beans as climbers. and planted with fruit vegetables and don't forget the herb garden sited near to the kitchen door. Be carefull planting ivy, it quickly gets out of control, If you have a problem with ivy, this may help,. How to clear Ivy 

For narrow borders, climbers and tall plants are planted toward the back, with low-growing plants at the front. In the wide borders a mixture of heights works. Hollyhocks and other tall plants look good growing near walls and fences. Scented flowers should be grown around garden benches and windows for thier fragrance.

Plant for the seasons, snowdrops and crocuses for the spring, anemone and daisy for the autumn. Brighten up dark winter days with the fiery-coloured rosehips of old roses, and Christmas rose. Fill gaps by sowing Snapdragons, Poppies and Cornflowers. Try not to include modern hybrids and double flowers they are not traditional cottage garden plants and offer wildlife nothing at all.

Our  traditional cottage garden plants don't need much care. Old-fashioned roses do not need pruning, just tidying up each year. Self-seeding perennials and herbaceous flowers just need thinning out or dividing in spring time.If clay soil is a problem my article may help Improving clay soil.

The cottagers often planted vegetables and flowers together making more efficient use of there small gardens. Flowering herbs like thyme and rosemary, and unusual salad plants like curly endive and red lettuce, add scent and texture to flower borders.

Plants for late summer  
Rudbeckia 'Goldstrum'  yellow flowers late August to September .In groups will produce an excellent show in the first season.  need to be staked or supported by other plants.  Japanese Anemone -  Easy to grow under trees or larger spring flowering shrubs.  flowers are produced on long stems making it possible to flower above existing plants  in a border. Cosmos - annual, will produce an excellent late summer display, produces quick results and colour in the first year.

 Plants for  Winter Prunus Autumnalis Rosea -  small flowering cherry tree with small highly scented flowers.  Helleborus Niger - The Christmas rose,  as Christmas arrives the display of waxy winter flowers does too. Grows best in semi shade in a sheltered spot near to your house. 

 Winter-flowering shrubs Camellias Rhododendron species Garrya elliptica 'James Roof'Jasminum nudiflorum Ericas Cornus officinalis Daphne laureola Subsp. philippi Parrotia persica Skimmia japonica 'Rubella' Image: Derek St Romaine 
The majority of winter plants can be bought container grown and  planted at any time of the year. But from November try to get  bare rooted and root wrapped plants. These are much cheaper so save money.It is possible to plant at any time during the winter providing the soil is'nt  frozen solid or waterlogged.  Prepare light sandy and heavy clay soils with bulky organic matter - well-rotted manure, compost, leafmould, composted bark.On  clay soils improve the drainage  by digging in plenty of sharp sand or grit.

 Containers Nearly all winter-flowering plants can be grown in large containers. This makes it easy moving them close to windows and doors in fact it's a good idea to plant your winter plants close to the house as.many produce flowers with a lovely scent.  Mix in plants with colourful leaves and evergreen foliage,  berries and seed heads can make lovely natural Christmas decoration. 


Herbs prefer a dry soil and are generally more aromatic as a result, e.g Rosemary Sage Thyme


Now we are into July sunshine (hope it lasts) its important to get watering right being carefull not to let seedlings dry out. As the plants get to about 2" high its time to feed them with the organic liquid feed you have made


Deadhead Hippeastrum  leaving the flower stalks  to die down naturally. Keep feeding and watering for more flowers in August as well as next winter.
Keep Cyclamen in a cool, well lit place, If the leaves turn yellow you are probably over watering.  Only let  it drink for half an hour and pour away the remaining water. If you are not sure tip out the rootball and feel it before watering.
Greenhouse freesias and Lachenalia bulbs that have finished flowering should be fed weekly with a high potassium feed (tomato fertiliser), to build up the bulbs for resting over the summer, as the foliage starts to die back reduce feeding and watering  and then lay the pots on their sides under the greenhouse bench until next year.

Begonia, Gloxinia and Achimenes tubers can all be planted in February. Plant  Lily-of-the-valley back outside.

a minimum of 5°C  is needed to prevent Fuchsia, Pelargonium and other tender plants being killed by the cold. .

Fuchsias can be started into active growth by repotting, increasing watering, feeding and placing in a sunny place. Cuttings can be taken from fuchsias in February.
Don't leave tender greenhouse plants close to the glass  or house plants on windowsills behind the curtains on frosty nights. Prune conservatory climbers towards the end of February.Passion flower and jasmine can be thinned out, so that they have a neat framework of branches. If space is a problem cut back last years growth to two or three buds from the main framework.

Bougainvillea pruning that has been left  because of the risk of frost damage in winter can be carried out toward the end of February if the greenhouse or conservatory is 10°C or above.

Cut back leggy polka dot plants,aluminium plants, Solenostenum, Tradescantia, Pelargonium, Salvia, Argyranthemum and Lantana to encourage new growth. The prunings can be used as softwood cuttings. 

Make sure  seedlings and cuttings in the greenhouse get the maximum light available, or they will become weak and leggy reaching for the sun. .

Prick out seedlings before they get too crowded.  Plug plants are cheap now and can be grown on in your greenhouse, 

Good Housekeeping will help keep your greenhouse free from disease, so check  plants and sweep the surfaces and floor regularly. Clear leaves and twigs from guttering on greenhouses and sheds.On sunny days, ventilate the glasshouse or conservatory, to reduce the risk of fungal infections.

Indoor forced bulbs can be left outside in a sheltered spot in the garden to finish dying down
 
 

Spring has arrived (lets hope it lasts) the soils warming up  leaves are  beginning to open up and the garden is starting to look green again.


Bulbs and Herbaceous Plants Bulbs should be coming up in the rock garden, border or in containers by now.

Support the larger perennials before they get too large.

You can snap off faded daffodil and tulip flowers,deadhead pansies ( they will carry on flowering into the spring and even to early summer) and  primulas and other spring bedding plants. 



The Shrub Border Feed hungry shrubs and roses with home made liquid fertiliser. Details of how to make organic liquid fertiliser further down this page
Keep weeds under control don?t let weeds flower.

Flower border Hardy annuals can be sown in pots and directly into a prepared area of the border to for colour in the garden. Trays are useful for sowing half-hardy summer bedding plants such as marigolds (Tagetes), Lobelia, and Petunia and can be moved into the greenhouse or a sheltered part of the garden if a late frost threatens. 
Lightly trim lavenders to stop them getting too woody.
In April as the weather warns up its important to protect lilies, Delphinium, Hosta and other new shoots from slugs and snails as they start to reappear.

Rose beds
Tie in climbing and rambling roses as near to horizontal as possible, causing more flower producing side shoots to grow along the length of stem than If they grow directly upwards.

Vegetable and Fruit Garden
Protect fruit blossom from late frosts with horticultural fleece. 
April is good month  to sow herb seeds and  to prune plum and cherry trees.
Container grown fruit trees and bushes can be planted providing the ground is not too wet .Incorporate lots of organic compost  into  the planting soil. Details of how to make a compost heap further down this page.
Sow early potatoes in deep drills or in buckets, beetroot and carrots can also be sown in buckets , Swiss chard, summer cauliflower, kohl rabi, lettuce, leeks, radish, turnip, spring and pickling onions, peas and perpetual spinach can all be sown in April in well prepared soil.

The Compost Heap details are further down this page.

Spring is a lovely time for gardening , seeds shooting, plants reappearing, birds building nests,  take  time to stop and stare and enjoy nature all around you.  

Adding height to your Herbaceous borders

Herbaceous borders planted in November will be bursting with colour from Spring through to Autumn, to get that informal cottage garden look try to get some height into your borders There are four fairly  easy to grow and maintain herbaceous perennials that will give you that cottage garden look.  Foxgloves, Lupins, Delphiniums and Hollyhocks. 

You will be able to buy them at your garden centre now. but better still and less damage to your pocket have a look around the local car boot sales and gardening friends gardens.  

Plants them in at least groups of three for more effect as soon as you can to give the roots plenty of time to establish before flowering time.

 Foxgloves are quite happy in shaded areas of the border , are biennial and will self seed, so you could be selling them on your own car boot stand next year !!

Lupins are an old-fashioned perennials happy in both sun or partial shade. slugs love em, so be prepared to defend them . Cutting back the faded flowers encourages more flowers later into the summer.

Delphiniums will give a lovely display but are the most difficult to look after. They like a sheltered sunny spot and can grow  up to 6ft so will need staking, again slugs and snails love em. 

Hollyhocks produce spires of rosette-like flowers through from July until September and like full sun and  good soil, you will need to stake Hollyhocks as they can grow up to 9ft. 

 Foxgloves,  Lupins, Delphiniums and Hollyhocks will add height, colour and an informal cottage garden look  to your borders and are well worth the extra bit of TLC you will need to give them.

GARDENING TIPS AND THINGS TO DO IN THE GARDEN IN MARCH INTO APRIL

Vegetables

To prevent disease  tis a good ideal to rotate your vegetables and not grow the same crops in the same place in your garden year after year.
Get digging and weeding finished, try not to compact the soil if its wet.
Continue to harvest broccoli, Brussels sprouts, leeks, parsnips, swede, celeriac and turnip. Add the stumps and soiled leaves to your compost heap.

Get your seedbeds ready and cover them with clear polythene to warm the soil ready for sowing broad beans, carrots, parsnips, early beetroot, bulb onions, lettuces, radish, peas, spinach and summer cabbage outside under cloches in February. In  heavy clay soil wait until March.  Garlic and shallots can also be planted out in the warmed up soil.Jerusalem artichoke tubers can be planted next to garden structures you want to shield..

Continue to harvest broccoli, Brussels sprouts, leeks, parsnips, swede, celeriac and turnip. Add the stumps and soiled leaves to your compost heap

Continue to force chicory and seakale.Pot up some chicory roots and put  them in a dark (put a pot over them to exclude light) warm place . The tasty chicons will appear in about 4 weeks.  Leave the Seakale outside with an upturned pot over the top to exclude the light.

Plant Jerusalem artichoke tubers. They can act as a screen for the shed or compost bin, as they get quite tall.

Order your asparagus crowns and prepare the beds by weeding and giving it a good dig  and dig in lots of compost from your compost heap.

Also time to prepare your runner bean  trenches by digging garden compost into the trench, ready for  for sowing in May.

Greenhouse

From the begining of March you can sow  tomatoes and cucumbers in your heated greenhouse. Good ideal to follow the instructions on the packet for temperature etc, if its your first attempt. Sow peas in old guttering (drill drainage holes) and then plant out by pushing the whole row of peas into a shallow drill in the vege garden.

Herbs

Cover over wintered herbs with fleece to bring them into early active growth.

Pott, and force a few roots of mint in the kitchen for mint to go with the early new potatos.

Do not feed Shrubby herbs in the garden most of them thrive in poor soil.

Flower garden

Time to devide snowdrops winter aconites and clumps of herbaceous perennials. Cut back the ornamental grasses and other perennials you have kept for winter interest. Prune back the stems of pot-grown over wintered fuchsias and place in a well-lit, warm place. Winter Pansies will carry on into the spring and even to early summer if you continue to dead head them.

Take root cuttings of perennial poppies, mullein, bear?s britches and phlox.

Place last years gladioli corms and dahlia tubers in seed trays in a light, warm spot to encourage them to sprout before planting, you will get earlier flowers. For Lily flowers this summer pot up in a cool greenhouse, they can be moved onto the patio when in flower.

Sweet peas can be sown under cloches. Sweet peas  sown earlier in the autumn can now be potted on.Place them on a sunny windowsill, or on a high shelf in the greenhouse that gets plenty of light.

Bulbs coming up in the rock garden or in containers will benefit from Perspex placed on piles of bricks for protection from the rain and snow.
If you are planning to add new roses to your flower garden its a good idea to prepare the beds now, before you get really busy as Spring arrives.
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