Free Shrubs from Cuttings!
Everyone likes something for free and I am definitely no exception. Free shrubs are a great way of saving money and developing your garden. I love growing things in the garden from seed or from cuttings. If you are interested in growing from seed then take a look at my posts ‘Successful Seed Sowing‘ and ‘Transplanting Seedlings‘. Cuttings are great because you can replicate a shrub around your plot or even better, get free shrubs from a friend’s shrub. Next time you are admiring a shrub ask for a cutting or two and take the following steps. Most gardener’s love sharing their garden in this way. Obviously it is also…
How to grow a Lavender Hedge for £1
Yes, you read that correctly. A whole lavender hedge for £1. In this post I will show you exactly how I did it, not once but twice (we moved house)! I love lavender plants in the garden and I adore harvesting the lavender and making lavender gifts for friends and family. Lavender not only smells nice but it helps you to sleep and keeps moths away from your clothes. You Will Need: Lavender seeds Propagator and Seed Trays Compost This may look like a lot of expense but most gardeners have all these items and will just need to buy some seed (I paid £1). I used Munstead as I wanted…
Garden Tasks for March
There are many garden tasks for March but it all depends on the weather. These are my top 10 tasks that I will be trying to get done. It is that time of year where you could be getting lovely, sunny, warm days or you could be under a blanket of snow. So, many of the tasks I recommend are weather dependent. Make a judgement based on your garden and weather conditions. There is certainly plenty to be doing! This page contains affiliate links meaning I earn a little commission if you use those links at no cost to you. I only recommend brands I use and trust. 1: Mulch Mulching…
Seedlings – how to transplant
I love growing plants from seed. It is so economical and you really feel connected to your plants. Growing your own plants from seed is so satisfying. If you have never done it I really recommend it. You do not need any fancy equipment to try, just some warmth and light ( a windowsill works really well) Once you have sown your seeds, kept them warm and watered them you need to move them on to the next stage in their development. You need to prick your seedlings out into their final planting place or a larger pot. This is not tricky but you can easily damage your seedlings. This…
September Gardening – Top Tasks for the Garden – edited for 2019!
The summer is coming to an end. Everyone has the back to school feeling. The garden, however, can still look stunning. These are a few tasks that I think are really important for September gardening. This page contains affiliate links meaning I earn a commission if you use those links at no cost to you. I only recommend brands I use and trust. Dead-heading Flowers If you want your plants to carry on producing beautiful blooms (and why wouldn’t you?) then you need to keep dead-heading. Make sure that you look around the garden every couple of days and take off all the faded blooms. You need to cut them of…
Seed Paper – How to make
In this tutorial I will show you how to make seed paper really easily and inexpensively from items that you probably have at home already. Feel free to adapt what you do have to make your paper. For example an old picture frame makes an excellent frame especially if you want larger pieces of seed paper. Instead of cheesecloth you could use door screen or any fabric that will allow water to pass easily through and stay taught in the frame. You can use the paper however you like but I think that it makes beautiful, original gift tags or bookmarks. Just make sure the person you give it to…
Successful Seed Sowing
Do you love flowers in your garden? Well, you can enjoy hundreds of flowers for very little cash. Grow your own from seed. Of course, this also extends into vegetables and ‘growing your own’. Best of all sowing seeds is really easy to do. I am going to show you a step by step guide using annual lupin seeds: This page contains affiliate links meaning I earn a commission if you use those links at no cost to you. I only recommend brands I use and trust. You will need: Packet of seed. I recommend Suttons Seeds for reliability. Seed tray Seed compost (or multi-purpose compost) Propagator lid or clear plastic…
May Top 5 Tasks for the Garden – Updated for 2019
May is a really busy time in the garden and it is looking fantastic. The variety of greens is spectacular and there are many flowers to enjoy. So get outside and enjoy it! My top five jobs to do this month are: This page contains affiliate links meaning I earn a commission if you use those links at no cost to you. I only recommend brands I use and trust. 1) Plant hanging baskets and pots in May May is the time to plant up your hanging baskets and pots if you are doing your own. If you are anything like me you have lots of tender summer plants waiting to…
Tasks for April in the garden
Top 8 jobs to do in April in your garden to maximise your enjoyment throughout the summer. April is a busy and exciting time in the garden. So, weather permitting, get out there and enjoy it. 1) Weeding Yes, weeding is number one as it is the most important. The weeds are just getting going really well. As the weather warms up and all our favourite plants start to grow so do the weeds. At the moment they are small and come up easily as the ground is wet. Also, they have not had time to flower and seed (and multiply). It is not a very exciting task but you…
Free Biodegradable Plant Pots from old newspapers
Free biodegradable plant pots sound good but is it too much effort? I don’t think so and I will show you how to make them and I will convince you of their merits. If you have concerns about you local newspapers and their ‘green credentials’ then consider reading this article by permaculture news. If you are still concerned contact your local newspaper to ask about their dyes and bleaching agents. This page contains affiliate links meaning I earn a small commission if you use those links at no cost to you. I only recommend brands I use and trust. It is that time of year when we all need lots of…