Gardening
Taking advantage of the light midsummer evenings
LOUISE MIDGLEY makes the most of the long balmy evenings to keep her borders in order Watering the hanging baskets, newly planted specimens, tomatoes and cucumbers in the greenhouse has to be my main priority during this ‘Flaming June’ heatwave. However, there’s a...
New plants and products for 2017
Jane Slade looks at newly introduced products and plants beautiful enough to grace our gardens. Rosa Dame Judi Dench from David Austin Roses This enchanting Hybrid Musk variety named after one of Britain’s most beloved stars of stage and screen, is one of...
March gardening highlights
LOUISE MIDGLEY enjoys spring colour and the promise of things to come in her garden In March, no two days are the same. Growth is rapid and a shrub that’s in bud one day can be in full flower the next. Yesterday I noticed the Sophora microphylla ‘Sun King’ had finally...
Preparing your garden for spring
Gardening editor LOUISE MIDGLEY soaks up some February sunshine while preparing her garden for spring There’s a sense of urgency in the garden now the days are longer and one rather irksome job has taken up far too much time over the last few weeks. Left unchecked,...
Gardening highlights
Our gardening editor LOUISE MIDGLEY recounts some of her gardening highlights from the first few weeks of 2017 Despite the chilly weather, I’m easily enticed outside, as long as I can find my trusty woollen hat. If there has been a hard frost, I wait until after lunch...
The easy way to turn garden waste into compost.
Louise Midgley unravels the mysterious process of turning waste into nutrient rich compost. The art of producing dark, friable compost from garden waste can be challenging. Many gardeners go about it the wrong way and pile layer upon layer of grass cuttings and...
Reduce your carbon footprint
A tree is for life and will give pleasure to generations says LOUISE MIDGLEY There’s much talk in the media about offsetting our individual carbon footprint but the subject is a complex one and although as a nation we have become quite adept at recycling there is...
Perfect gifts for gardeners from just £4.99
It's the thought that counts when choosing a present for the gardener in your life says LOUISE MIDGLEY, who has sourced some original gifts for as little as £4.99 Plantable Wrapping Paper Gardeners given presents wrapped in Eden’s Paper will be surprised to discover...
Gardening gifts for green-fingered mums
LOUISE MIDGLEY picks out some choice gardening gifts to treat your mother this Mothering Sunday - March 6 Whichford Pottery celebrates its 40th Anniversary Treat your mother to a beautiful handmade frost proof flowerpot, crafted by the company that produced 97,000 of...
New flower school taps into your wild side
LOUISE MIDGLEY meets Jay Archer whose new floral design and flower school offers courses that break free from traditional methods It's not surprising Jay Archer has followed her dreams and blossomed into a creative florist. During her formative years she spent...