Buying LED Lights for House Plants
Why Use LED Grow Lights? Indoor light isn’t always enough, especially in: LED grow lights give plants the right kind of light they need to make food and grow well — even when sunlight is limited. Why Use LED Grow…
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House Plants need light
Understanding the most important factor in plant growth Light isn’t just something plants enjoy – it’s something they cannot live without. Every healthy leaf, root, flower, and stem depends on light. Light Is How Plants Make Food Plants don’t eat…
How to grow house plants
A simple beginner’s guide Growing house plants isn’t about having “green fingers”. It’s about understanding what plants need and giving them the right conditions. Get the basics right and most house plants will thrive. What House Plants Need to Grow…
Feeding Plants in the Ground
When feeding plants in the ground, fertiliser on its own is not the answer. Any nutrients you add to soil need help to become available to plants, and that help comes from organic matter and soil microbes. Healthy soil is…
Do I Need Fertiliser?
Fertiliser – Good or Bad? What Is Fertiliser? A fertiliser is any natural or synthetic material applied to soil or leaves to supply plant nutrients needed for growth.Fertilisers can be: Do I Need Fertiliser? The Short Answer No… perhaps and…
Buying fertiliser
What to Look for When Buying Fertilisers Buying fertiliser can feel confusing, but once you understand the basics, it becomes much easier. Fertilisers are simply mixtures of elements that plants need to grow. The key is learning to look past…
Watering plants
How Often Should I Water? The simple answer is: when your plants need it.In reality, a few key things affect this. Time of Year Size of the Plant Think of it like bathing children: How Can I Tell If a…
Damping off
Damping off is a common problem for seedlings. It’s caused by soil-borne fungi and can quickly kill young plants, often before they even fully grow. How to Spot Damping Off Why It Happens Damping off thrives when seedlings are: What…
Black Spot
Black spot is a common fungal disease in the UK, especially on roses. It causes black spots on leaves, weakens plants, and can lead to early leaf drop, but it’s manageable with careful care. How to Spot Black Spot Why…
Root rots
Root rot is a common problem in UK gardens and containers, caused by fungi or waterlogged soil. It damages plant roots, preventing them from taking up water and nutrients, and can quickly kill plants if not managed. How to Spot…
Rusts
Rust is a fungal disease that affects many UK garden plants, causing orange, yellow, brown, or black spots on leaves and stems. It’s most common in warm, damp conditions in summer and autumn. How to Spot Rust Why It Happens…
Greenfly
Greenfly (also called aphids) are tiny, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth, buds, and stems. They are very common in UK gardens and can weaken plants by sucking sap. How to Spot Greenfly Why They Appear Greenfly thrive when…
Caterpillars
Caterpillars are a common sight in UK gardens, especially in spring and summer. They are the larvae of moths and butterflies and feed on plant leaves. Some damage is normal, but large numbers can quickly strip plants. How to Spot…
White Fly
Whitefly are tiny white insects commonly found on the undersides of leaves, especially in greenhouses, conservatories, and sheltered patios. They weaken plants by sucking sap and can be persistent if not dealt with early. How to Spot Whitefly Why They…
Red Spider Mites
Red spider mite is a common UK pest, especially in hot, dry conditions and under cover such as greenhouses, conservatories, and sheltered patios. How to Spot It Why It Appears Red spider mite loves: What Helps Biological Control A natural…
Mildews
Mildew is a common plant disease in the UK, especially in damp, mild weather. There are two main types you’ll see in gardens and containers: Powdery Mildew What helps:Water plants regularly, avoid overcrowding, and improve air flow. Remove badly affected…
Peat Free compost
Problems with peat free compost? It might not be your fault. The UK is making significant progress toward a peat-free future, and while this is a vital step for environmental sustainability, the transition hasn’t been without its challenges—particularly for amateur…
A Beginners Guide to Buying and Using Compost
A Beginner’s Guide to Buying and Using Compost What is Compost? When buying compost, many people assume it’s a simple product, but in reality, it varies widely depending on its intended use. In the UK, what we commonly call compost…
How We Can Help You Garden More Naturally
How We Can Help You Garden More Naturally In over 40 years of horticulture, I’ve witnessed many changes in pest control and the promises of new technologies, some of which have led to environmental consequences we’re still grappling with today.…
Fungus gnat Nematode control
Fungus gnat using Nematode control Identifying your flies is essential, you can then choose the best approach Nematodes These easy to apply beneficial nematodes are mixed in water and applied to the soil around the plants you want to protect.…
Fungus gnats or Shore flies Identification
To identify the type of fly infestation in your plants, it’s important to distinguish between fungus gnats (sciarid flies) and shore flies, as they need different treatments. Key Differences Between Fungus Gnats and Shore Flies Main Giveaway: Fungus Gnats: Crawl…
How to buy and look after cyclamen
If you looked in any old gardening book the idea of using cyclamen for autumn colour would be frowned on. However things have moved on and we now have cyclamen that make perfect autumn bedding. They look like house plant…
Spring patio pots and hanging baskets
No need for your summer patio pots to be empty, you can plant them up now and you can still use them for the summer.The most important thing about planting spring planters is that it is too cold for the…
Seed sowing
Seed sowing needs preparation, a bit like bringing up a baby.A baby needs the correct food, clothes and conditions to thrive, but what they need changes as they grow. It is the same with seeds, they need a nursery to…
Autumn patio pots and hanging baskets
The most important thing about planting autumn planters is timing, if you wait until October to make up your planters, then you will find its too cold for the plants to grow. The answer is to buy fully grown plants…
How to buy plants for summer planters
Making a summer planter is very easy, you can buy fully grown plants in flower and make an instant planter. Why not try growing your own, its easier than you think. We can help you, allow some time for growing.…
Growing pea shoots
How to start growing pea shoots You can grow pea shoots, this is a very easy method. Buy some peas to sow Firstly don’t use normal garden pea seed, it may have been treated with chemicals and it won’t have…
2022 new primroses
We grow a wide range of primroses and our primrose supplier often sends us experimental varieties and colours to test. Experimental 2022 Sometimes they perform well and are added to the normal range, sometimes they are tweaked for a few…
Are we there yet?
Is it time to start filling up your greenhouse? We still have a lot of empty benches, but good news, we have saved a lot of money on heating. But we will need to start potting next week and have…
Christmas pot decorations
Ever wondered how to make a Christmas pot wreath, we can help, its easier than you think. A simple arrangement of collected or foraged foliage can give a stunning result. The pot wreaths can be any shape or size but we find…
Good Poinsettia guide
How to choose a good poinsettia plant Poinsettia plants are grown on professional nurseries, great care is taken to look after them, the feed, water, height and shape is carefully monitored, to produce the best plant possible. So why do…
Vine weevil control
Vine weevils do I need to worry? Vine weevils (also known as black vine weevils) are around 1cm in length, with long snouts and elbowed antennae. The vine weevil is native to the UK and Europe and is established throughout…
Vine weevils plant favourites
Vine weevils have favourites, find out whats on the menu So where should you look for vine weevils, often the first sign is a wilted plant, however by this point its going be too late to save them. Prevention is…
Autumn Bulbs
Spring flowering bulbs are harvested in late spring and summer and packed ready to sell in the autumn usually in September and October, but they can be sold right up to Christmas. When you water or plant the bulb, it…
How to pot for health
Potting for health Why would you keep your plant in the same pot for all of its life, surely it won’t like it. Plants can be quite happy even in very small pots, Japanese bonsai trees are an extreme example,…
How to pot for growth
Potting plants for growth This page is about moving plants from a small pot to a large pot or baby plants into their first pot.If your pot is too large to move or you only want to revitalise your plant…
How to pot
Potting plantsThere are two kinds of pottingpotting for growth or potting for health find out more Potting for growth This is like moving a baby from a cot to its first bed, you are just giving it room to grow.…
How to side shoot your tomatoes
Check your varieties, you don’t need to side shoot some types. Tall types often called cordon will grow over 2 metres, 6 foot plus, they are used by commercial growers, by the end of the season they can be over 6…
Summer planter and hanging basket ideas
Perhaps the easiest way is to choose a colour scheme Are you a frustrated designer, do you have an eye for colour and fashion. Create a colour theme we can help Making a planter or hanging basket, allows you to develop…
Choosing a summer basket
Hanging basketsOne of the most popular forms of container gardening, but judging by the amount of half dead hanging baskets you see it also has some problems.Part of the problem is conflicting advice, and a wide choice of baskets some…
Garden frost do I need to worry?
Still plenty of time for a frost I think the weather is the number 1 concern for most gardeners old and new. In the spring often as early as April, summer bedding will be on sale, sold in flower to…
Easy fill hanging baskets
How to get the best from your easy fill baskets. Some people love them and others hate them. people who love them people hate them We can helpThe first video shows how to get the best out of them and…
Tomato plants a quick way to start an argument
Growing tomato plants how difficult can it be? Nothing is quite as divisive as growing tomatoes from seeds, let us help you make some informed choices. Tomatoes what do they want. How warm should they be. What about light When…
Help I have sown my tomatoes to soon!
It is very easy to sow your tomatoes too soon, sometimes it is just excitement, sometimes bad advice, we all learn by experience.Often new gardeners, in a hurry follow the wrong advice, seed packets for instance. There are some simple…
Hardy primroses
Primroses our most popular spring flower, stunning colours and sweet scent. Now you can buy Hardy primroses in a wide range of sizes and qualities. Hardy primroses to enjoy. Breeders have reintroduced stems to give height. New hardy primroses, plant…
Managing your on-line expectations
Managing your on-line expectations During my research of on-line sellers I found a lot of angry reviews posted on line, some of these are very valid complaints, about quality and non delivery, but some are caused by misunderstanding the actual…
Selected Online offers
Special Online offersWe have checked the small print for you Special price Giant Fuchsias from Thompson & Morgan Find out more What you need to know Reasons to buy With large blooms up to 10cm (4in) across, these delightful trailing…
Protect your seedlings use plug trays
Protect your seedlings When I started gardening many years ago, seed was always sown into seed trays and followed by pricking out. Pricking out stations manned by nimble fingered ladies where found on all nurseries, their speed and skill could…
Seed sowing with a damp stick
A simple way to sow seeds singly or in clumps using only a damp stick. Sowing the seeds. Do I need a special compost?If possible buy seed sowing compost this will be finer in texture with no large lumps and…
Can I use my unheated greenhouse now?
Can I use my unheated greenhouse now? I think it depends on where you live, with experience you will find the right time, but what if you are a new gardener how will you know? The best option is to…
