Blog - Page 5: How To Guides

Growing your own fruit and vegetables can be very rewarding. But sometimes, it can also feel like a battle, with every creature in your garden just waiting for the chance to devour your carefully nurtured plants. Here are our top tips on keeping your crops safe from everything that wants to eat them.

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Alpine troughs are compact, easy to plant and very low-maintenance, so they’re perfect for gardeners short on time or space. As the name suggests, alpine plants come from mountain regions, so they’re used to tough conditions.  Planting an alpine trough is a great way to appreciate these fascinating plants and provide long-lasting interest for a pot on a patio or balcony. Here’s how it’s done.

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We all appreciate getting away for a break now and then, but no one wants to come home to a house and garden filled with sad, drooping plants or beds filled with weeds. Here are a few tips on how to keep your plants happy while you’re away.

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With so many different types of Clematis available, it’s possible to have one in flower almost all year round, covering walls, fences and trellises with their spectacular flowers. Here are a few tips to help you get the best out of your clematis. 

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In many ways, you can enjoy Hampton Court Flower Show, from floral marquees to show gardens, demonstrations to picnics, as it is such an incredible day out. This is one of the Royal Horticultural Societies biggest flower shows, and everyone has been waiting for it after a time without shows over the past year. It takes place from July 5 until July 11.

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Like us, plants need food to grow and stay healthy. They get most of their nutrients from the soil, but houseplants grown in pots will quickly use up all the nutrients in fresh compost. So to keep your houseplants healthy and to look good, it’s important to feed them regularly

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Water is one of our most precious resources, and as summers get hotter and drier, we need to use water wisely in our gardens. These simple tips will help you give your plants the water they need with as little waste as possible.

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With big glossy green leaves, avocado trees make surprisingly good houseplants, and they’re easy to grow from an avocado stone. Why not pick up a fresh avocado from the supermarket and give it a go? 

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When you’ve chopped up that fresh pineapple for dessert, don’t throw away the top – you could use it to grow another pineapple plant! With their spiky rosettes of fleshy leaves, pineapple plants make dramatic-looking indoor plants, fitting in perfectly with the trend for growing succulents. And if you’re lucky (and very patient), you might even be able to harvest your very own pineapple.

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This how to test your soil pH guide will give you all of the information you need to know your soil better. Without good soil and knowing exactly what type and PH it is, your plants may not thrive so well.

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Packed full of vitamin C and antioxidants, blueberries are both healthy and delicious. They’re also surprisingly easy to grow, and very ornamental, with pretty flowers in spring and beautiful autumn foliage. You don’t need lots of space to grow blueberries – a big pot in a sunny place will do.

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Weeds can be a real nuisance in the garden. They compete with our favourite plants for water and nutrients, and they spread the minute our backs are turned. As gardeners, we’re always looking for better ways to deal with the problem, so here’s our quick guide on how to get rid of garden weeds

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