Whether it's for opening the tops of bags of compost, digging out hideous tap-rooted perennial weeds or even marking out seed drills in an allotment, a knife is a must-have gardening tool! A garden fork is a quintessential tool for breaking up the ground, unearthing spuds and working in organic matter to beds.

These naturalistic designs tend to be a bit wilder thanks to the use of native wildflowers and ornamental grasses, so they require less primping and preening throughout the year. Also, meadow gardens attract scores of pollinators and birds because of those specific plant choices and how they are layered in a naturalistic fashion.

The English Garden advent calendar: Day 6 Enter our day 6 prize draw for your chance to win a three month flower subscription from family florist Smith & Munson worth PS75. By The English Garden 6th December 2022 By The English Garden 6th December 2022 By The English Garden By The English Garden By The English Garden By The English Garden By The English Garden

Add an Urban Stone Landscaping Contemporary garden design works excellently with modern architectural styles, particularly the ones that involve concrete or wood homes and dynamic angles. Create a Simple Geometry For a sleek and modern look, use basic geometric lines like rectangles, circles, triangles, and squares as a base for your design.

Transplant Shock And finally, shifting a new croton from its humdrum plastic nursery pot to a fabulous, well-draining, decorative container any floral diva would love is another cause for the letting go of leaves. Remember to keep the foliage clean; provide ample sunlight; water appropriately; dilute the fertilizer; monitor for pests and disease; relocate, repot, and transplant with care; and minimize temperature fluctuations.

You Will Need: - 2 tablespoons black and pink peppercorns, slightly cracked - 3 sprigs of thyme, fresh from your indoor herb garden - 26 oz. This holiday cocktail combines hints of floral flavors with powerful sage to create an irresistible Christmas beverage.

The English Garden advent calendar: Day 5 Day 5 of our '12 days of Christmas' advent prize draw gives entrants the chance to win 'An Introduction to Gardening Course' at The Yorkshire School of Garden Design, worth PS540. By The English Garden 5th December 2022

I immediately thought aliens had landed, choosing my garden to grow some kind of strange body snatcher type pod for cloning us. Upon further investigation, however (researching Google for similar oddities and turning to plant experts for help), I discovered that it was, indeed, just your average radish - possibly white or yellow.

Best of all, growing herbs for your indoor garden means accessibility and speed when you're cooking: just snip a few sprigs of your chosen garnishes directly from the plant, and add more flavor to your recipes in minutes. Dobbies (opens in new tab)' Senior Houseplant Buyer, Claire Bishop, suggests letting the herbs shine and pairing them with minimal accessories in muted tones for a put-together effect.

$29.97 The Original Tabletop Aquaponic Ecosystem Garden An all-time favorite with the kiddos, this self-cleaning fish tank aquarium grows lush organic microgreens on top. With 30+ floral illustrations on premium, high-quality paper with an iridescent foil cover, this coloring book's pages are perforated and removable so that you can frame your finished artwork.

For plants that are borderline hardy in the lower temperatures, I pile up some mulch and leave it there until the cold snap passes. Using Cloches One day, I hope to have a bigger garden, and the time to grow more vegetables and cutting flowers.

Follow the safety guidelines on the label and wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, closed-toe footwear, goggles, or a face shield when mixing or spraying pesticides. Another advantage of buying pest-resistant seeds is that they typically require less maintenance than other varieties since they don't need additional pest control measures or treatments.

It is often said to be an indicator of ancient woodland and I remember it growing near my childhood home in Surrey, under oak and ash, usually in combination with common spotted orchids and wild garlic. Surveys (www.plantlife.org.uk) have found that pure E. non-scripta stands are more likely in wooded areas rather than other habitats, emphasising the preference for shade of this species over the Spanish bluebell that is better adapted to full sun.

By Brandie Bland During my internship with Washington Gardener Magazine this fall, I grew Black Spanish Radish (Raphanus sativus) and Blue Kale (Brassica oleracea). At the beginning of September, I planted my radish and kale seeds, watered and labeled them and crossed my fingers that there would be signs of life.

My contribution to third day of Cathy's (Words and Herbs) Week of Flowers showcases a pair of bees enjoying the nectar of Veronica longifolia 'Marietta' in mid July, supported by persicaria (probably'Orangefield') and an agapanthus grown from a seedling supplied by Chloris of The Blooming Garden Looking back at pictures from my blog earlier in the year is such an uplifting experience, so Cathy's idea of making A Week of Flowers (chosen during the depths of what can be the greyest time of the year for many) an annual meme is a brilliant one, bringing joy to both participants and readers. Why not pop over to her blog and be wowed by her and other participants' contributions, and perhaps join in yourself?

The English Garden advent calendar: Day 2 Our second advent prize is lifetime access to Willow Crossley's floristry course 'The Fundamentals of Floristry', worth PS127 from Create Academy. By The English Garden 2nd December 2022 By The English Garden 2nd December 2022 By The English Garden By The English Garden By Phoebe Jayes By Phoebe Jayes By The English Garden

A tree or shrub that would otherwise go unnoticed when in leaf takes center stage now; bare, cold, and in flower or in color. The Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku' (coral bark maple) living up to its common name-the lighting brings out the color.

From pink oyster mushrooms and red hot chilli peppers to undercover treats that provide quick nourishment and variety, our round-up of vegetables to grow will keep you stocked up in winter warmers for months to come. As Amateur Gardening's organic veg expert Bob Flowerdew says: 'You can grow cress in shallow trays with moist paper towels and sit in a windowsill: the perfect accompaniment for all those turkey sandwiches!'

A fundamental concept of Japanese gardens is to create a gravel area that simulates a quiet body of water and add large rocks that represent islands. In 2020 I added an outer border of dwarf Japanese barberry bushes (Berberis thunbergii 'Admiration', Zones 4-7) around the backside of the garden to better define the space.

'Trees, shrubs and hedges are clipped closely and neatly with organic, curved, sweeping, and billowing shapes, echoing cloud formations,' Jessica - gardener and florist of Flower and Land (opens in new tab) - explains. Try cloud pruning a few different plants in your garden and creating a tapestry of structured, sculptural shapes, alongside fluffier, looser-pruned shrubs for balance.

Sending out books wont be do-able from the housetruck so I'm shutting my shop - Friday 9th Dec is your last chance to buy a signed copy of either Edible Backyard +/or Pruning Fruit Trees. As we go, I'd love to connect up with community gardens + other wonderful organic happenings, so in order for us to easily find each other, I'm wading back in to Instagram.

- Sprinkling slugbait (Tui Quash) or setting up beer traps, as soon as the carrots germinate prevents a mollusc midnight feast that leaves you empty handed. They will dry perfectly well, hanging in small bunches or laying in single layers in baskets or woven trays, somewhere warm, airy and out of direct sunlight.

If you are growing for the purpose of harvesting pea sprouts, aka shoots or microgreens, rather than allowing them to develop pods, a shallow pan about three inches high with holes punched in the bottom is adequate. Quick Reference Growing Guide The Peas Are in the House Imagine coming home from work, kicking off your winter boots, and heading to your indoor garden, where a fresh crop is ready for harvest.

Wreaths made from fresh foraged materials are a wonderful way to make an entrance look welcoming or to jazz up a drab fence or garden shed. As you pick and choose which elements to harvest and add to your wreath, enjoy mindfully walking through nature and looking for the beautiful plant life that catches your eye.

You used my photos in the GPOD two years ago (A Garden Full of Art and Flowers). Beautiful azaleas (Rhododendron hybrid, hardiness varies by cultivar) bloom in the backyard.

For specimens purchased in containers, however, you can also plant in spring if you're able to increase the amount of water you can provide at the beginning. How to harvest and eat medlar What's best is to pick them before birds start pecking at them, and bite in them as you tour around your garden.