Growing sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) in autumn offers gardeners lots of good news that can lead to stronger plants, earlier blooms, and a more rewarding gardening experience overall.  While traditionally thought of as a springtime flower, autumn sowing of sweet peas is a time-tested technique, popular among experienced gardeners and in mild winters. One of the most significant benefits of …

These fabulously colourful plants, also known as woodbines provide the most powerful scent and are a magnet for wildlife. With distinctive, bugle-shaped flowers  giving off a powerful scent and lush foliage, it’s no wonder that honeysuckles are so popular amongst gardeners. Also known as woodbine, these woodland and hedgerow plants are vigorous climbers with clusters of scented flowers which attract …

A rose in winter needs attention so it can delight us with perfect blooms in late spring and summer. Rose winter pruning is vital for an abundance of beautiful blooms and there’s an increasing trend to give them more protection. Winter is rough on roses. A rose in winter may go through extremely low temperatures and even an occasional thaw, …

This fast-growing South American plant is known for its unique blooms but they are very demanding in terms of sun and water. Brugmansias are famously also known as angel’s trumpets. These tender tropical shrubs or small trees are grown for their highly fragrant flowers. White, red or pastel shades of pink, orange or yellow, the large, flared trumpets hang from …

Lilies are the most fabulous of flowers, colourful, fragrant, easy to grow and requiring minimal attention. Nicky Davies sings their praises. Fabulous – certainly. Colourful – definitely .Close to our hearts – always. Lilies are often brightly coloured and boldly fragrant and the flowers are a very glamorous addition to any garden where they can be grown in containers or …

Anyone who hasn’t found it easy to keep houseplants alive can breathe easier as there is now a formal list of plants which seem very difficult to kill. Houseplants continue to grow in popularity but there are still a swathe of gardeners lacking confidence in their ability to keep plants alive.  It has all added up to a search for …

Dried flowers are in the middle of a resurgence in popularity, now seen as a more sustainable way to enjoy grown flowers within your home for many years rather than lasting a few days. Forget the dusty, dried flower arrangements of the 1970s which always seemed to look messy and monotone. We’ve entered a new era.  Dried flowers are back …

Container gardening is again going through a boom in popularity, not just for small gardens but for gardeners who want plants and vegetables closer to their back door. They provide an easy way to brighten up small spaces and create focal points in larger areas. We look at how to ensure your containers are a success. Pairing up pots and …

The distinctive feature of hollyhocks is their height, often up to three metres and their ‘jack-and-the-beanstalk’ stems are a delight to bees and butterflies as much as gardeners. When you think of an English cottage garden, you think of hollyhocks. Their tall, towering stems can line a path, stand either side of a gate or bring height and colour to …

Perhaps the most beautiful of all daffodil varieties and one of the last to appear in the garden these specialist bulbs have become hugely popular in recent years. What are poet’s daffodils? Also known as poeticus daffodils, poet’s narcissus, or sometimes pheasant’s eye daffodil, poet’s daffodils produce beautiful blooms with pure white petals.  The blooms appear later in the season …