Q: You mentioned a while back that you were creating a flowering hedge. I would love to know what plants you picked? MF, Co Leitrim
14.09.2023 - 12:13 / theenglishgarden.co.uk / The English Garden
Biodiversity and sustainability have become buzzwords in horticulture of late. Encouraging wildlife, using items in a sustainable manner and reducing our waste is crucial for a healthy garden and planet – but for many of us, working out how to do this can feel overwhelming. Here’s my simple steps to starting your journey to a more sustainable and wildlife-friendly growing space…
We’ve recently been involved in building a show garden for Gardeners World Live where
different kinds of weeds were incorporated. The purpose was to show people that weeds
are not the enemy and if you can adopt a balanced approach, you may find they become a
valuable ally. It’s not about letting weeds take over but rather thinking about accepting a
few of the more ‘important’ ones.
The common dandelion is an early food source for pollinators, for example, flowering from
March-May with each floret providing pollen and nectar. They are known to support more
than 50 different species of insects, which are crucial to the organic gardener. Pretty daisies,
found in lawns up and down the country as well as amenity grasslands, flower all-year-round
when other flower sources are unavailable and are a welcome source of pollen and nectar
for flies and beetles as well as small solitary bees. Why not try leaving a small patch of your
lawn to grow a little longer, or allow one or two weeds into your borders? You never know,
you may come to love them.
Growing with peat-free compost is another hot topic and one Garden Organic has been
campaigning about for a long time. Peat is a finite resource and one that we cannot continue
to use, as its extraction decimates our wetlands and bog habitats. When peat is harvested it
releases carbon into the atmosphere, which
Q: You mentioned a while back that you were creating a flowering hedge. I would love to know what plants you picked? MF, Co Leitrim
Q: A honeysuckle and an elder tree in the garden have been ravaged by aphids. I was hoping natural predators might have a feast but there’s no let up so far. Is it a seasonal occurrence due to spring weather conditions or should I get pruning? JMcK, Co Dublin
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Collaborative post
Q: I don’t know the name of these trees but they seem to be dying, with casting of leaves getting worse and worse. Can you help? BMcW, Co Donegal
It’s at this time of year that our little farmhouse begins to be love-bombed by butterflies, which flutter into its rooms through open windows to perch on the centuries-old walls and bask on its sunny windowsills. They are small tortoiseshells, a common species easily identified by the tiger-like stripes and series of tiny, pale blue dots stippled along the edges of its dark-orange, paper-thin wings. In early autumn the adults go in search of somewhere safe to overwinter, during which time our house is strangely irresistible to them. Clearly the building has always had this special charm. When we first bought it, its old, sun-filled rooms were filled with their tiny, dusty remains, poignant reminders of summers long gone.
Today we’re in Raleigh, North Carolina, visiting with John Matthews.
On the hunt for the ultimate garden centre or service in the UK? It's not just about jazzing up your garden – it's all about crafting your very own green paradise!
Tiny objects are everywhere, as you see tiny toys, houses, and gardens, but have you also seen some tiny vegetables and fruits? If not, you need to search them and look at these plants as they have a very Instagrammable appearance which you will absolutely adore. There is something fascinating about looking at small objects, and no matter what you see in a small dimension, you will feel happier, especially if these are represented by cute and tiny fruits and vegetables that you don’t have the opportunity to see every day. Growing something in your garden will always be a satisfying process, as you can watch how your plants transform, and you will also be able to taste them once your plants are harvested. But we think it is funnier to grow plants in miniature and try something new from the usual alternatives you find on the market. And if you thought that they don’t have the same nutritional benefits because of their small look, you are mistaken, as even if they are so little, they still give plenty of vitamins and minerals.
Looking for interesting, unique and unusual plants to grow in your garden? Something that will amaze each visitor who comes to your house and make your garden an oasis of beautiful and different greeneries? While sometimes it is good to grow the normal flowers and vegetables that are considered by the majority of people, you can always spice up your garden with some out-of-the-ordinary plants that you will have more fun growing. And if you want to make a change, you need to know that you are not limited to those old and boring choices you find in supermarket stocks. Although experts recommend growing what you like to eat, how do you know you will not find something amazing if you don't try it in the first place?
Summer is a great time to replenish stocks of herbs in our kitchen shelves and pantries. Thanks to the cheerful warm and sunny weather, in that season many herbs achieves the strongest aroma as well as essential oils. Therefore, it is important to learn how to harvest herbs at an appropriate time and how to dry and store them collectively to keep as much of their flavor.
Homemade pesto is not only delicious, but easy to make. While you can always buy some at your local supermarket, using minimal ingredients to make your own is worth every minute of your time because it's delicious. Basil is a popular herb that can be grown indoors all year round, with sweet basil being one of the most common. If you're looking to take your recipe up a notch, here'show to grow basil at home as well as how to harvest it for cooking.