TIPS & ADVICE

Reading Time: 3 minutes Traditionally, peat-based seedling planters or linings were used to start seeds growing. However, using industrially produced peat damages the environment. While being a natural, biodegradable product, peat is an unsustainable resource. Using cardboard planters with an eco-friendly substrate, like coco coir, is a more environmentally friendly alternative. Preparing to plant with cardboard tubes Kitchen towel…

Reading Time: 3 minutes Why grow in raised beds? Raised vegetable beds are easier on gardeners’ backs and knees. You don’t have to bend as far or work on the ground for long periods when cultivating your plants. What are the advantages of raised beds? When growing vegetables in raised beds, plants can be grown in separate blocks for…

Reading Time: 4 minutes Creating your own vegetable patch is a fantastic idea. It provides your own source of healthy, fresh food and is a great way of doing your bit to create a more sustainable way of living. In particular growing your own organic vegetables, which are expensive in the supermarket, pays financial dividends as well as giving…

Reading Time: 4 minutes Any plants happy to grow in contained spaces instead of open soil can be grown on a balcony. There’s something for everyone, whatever the space available. Top tips for starting a balcony garden Check balcony weight limits. Containers can be heavy once filled. Securely fasten window boxes, hanging baskets or other loose fixtures. Be prepared…

Reading Time: 3 minutes   According to the Woodland Trust, the UK’s gardens cover an area larger than the Lake District and Peak District combined. That’s an enormous amount of land that can be used to create natural wildlife havens in areas otherwise inhospitable to nature. CLEAN AIR AND EARTH Plants are said to ‘clean’ the air, by absorbing…

Reading Time: 3 minutes With the advent of warmer, drier weather it’s time to get out in the garden and tame winter’s wildness. Follow our May planting guide to see what you can plant as Spring gathers momentum. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANNUALS, PERENNIALS AND BIENNIALS? Just in case you’re new to gardening, here’s a quick rundown of these…

Reading Time: 4 minutes There are two main types of tomato: compact bush varieties, and larger cordon varieties. The latter grow better in large growing bags, 30cm pots, or in the ground, and will need to be staked for support. Bush varieties don’t need support as they grow much shorter and bushier. They can be grown in pots and hanging baskets easily. Tomato plants prefer…

Reading Time: 3 minutes   Many of us have found solace in gardening or cultivating indoor plants as more time has been spent at home this past year. The health benefits of gardening are a great means of escapism and self-improvement from the comfort of your own home. Using coco coir in gardening can be a great boost for…

Reading Time: 3 minutes Peat bogs are slightly acidic, waterlogged areas of land made up of dead plants – mostly mosses. The specific conditions in peat bogs prevent these mosses and plants from decaying as they usually would in other environments. Instead they build up slowly over time and form peat. The build-up is extremely gradual. Peat forms at…