Grow House

How can I keep my hedges neat and tidy?

Garden hedges are a precious wild life habitat and therefore great care needs to be taken in their maintenance. The RSPB advise all work to hedges to cease between the critical nesting months of March to August, but when there is an early spring like this... Read >

How can I keep my summer lawn looking green and healthy?

The summer lawn plays the starring role in most gardens and yet it is easy to take it for granted. Don’t stress it by cutting it too hard or too short, especially in hot weather. When the lawn is growing vigorously it needs to be cut as often as you can m... Read >

What’s wrong with my tomatoes?

Many of the problems that occur in tomatoes are not initially caused by pests and diseases, but may simply be the result of the way that you care for and tend your plants. Plants that are deficient in certain trace elements display symptomatic problems su... Read >

How do I prune flowering shrubs?

Most gardens have a number of flowering shrubs, from roses and lavender to buddleia and forsythia. The secret to pruning them is to look at how and when they flower. But before you even embark on pruning it’s essential to question why you are pruning. ... Read >

How do I get rid of bindweed?

Bindweed is one of the most persistent and resilient weeds in the garden. Its roots grow several feet (up to 15ft) deep in the soil and stems and roots and very fragile, easily breaking off into small pieces. Each one of these pieces has the amazing abili... Read >

How can I offset the cost of my greenhouse?

While the initial cost of a greenhouse can stretch the budget, you need to look at the long-term benefits too. A greenhouse is for life, especially if you choose a quality made product. It is also a lifestyle choice and a must-have item for most gardeners... Read >

How can I water my garden in a drought?

The gardener is well placed to harvest the rainwater that falls onto the house roof, but also the greenhouse roof and any sheds or garden buildings. Providing there is a slope for the water to run off, this can be collected into guttering and directed int... Read >

What is the best way to water my garden?

In times of water shortage gardeners are often blamed for wasting water, but most gardeners understand the value of water and how precious it is. There are several different ways to water a garden, but the first thing to consider is whether it is neces... Read >

What can I grow for butterflies and bees?

Butterflies and bees are an essential part of the natural cycle of nature and a beautiful addition to our gardens. By growing plants with rich nectaries and pollen producing flowers, these insects can feed in our gardens and help pollinate the plants in t... Read >

How do I control slugs and snails?

From a gardeners perspective there can be little more annoying that finding your carefully nurtured seedlings, plants and cuttings have either been munched voraciously or have simply disappeared. Getting Proof First you need to be sure that it is sl... Read >

Can I reuse old compost?

We’ve all got half a bag of multipurpose compost kicking around the greenhouse and as long as it’s this season’s compost, hasn’t been left out in the rain and smells fresh it should be fine for planting mature plants into pots and containers. It’s a bit r... Read >

What do I do about greenhouse greenfly and other pests?

The greenhouse environment can create the perfect place for pests to multiply especially in the absence of predators. However it can also protect plants from some problems by keeping them isolated from garden plants and also by blocking the transmission o... Read >

How do I get the best from my hanging baskets?

Hanging baskets are a wonderful way to add colour and interest to your garden. They look particularly spectacular positioned either side of the front door. To get the best from your hanging baskets there are a few things you can do. [] First of all ... Read >

What can I grow in my greenhouse in May?

The May greenhouse is one full of activity, especially if you have already been sowing and growing under glass. But even if you haven’t started yet, or have only just got your greenhouse there are still plenty of things to sow and grow during May, in fact... Read >

How do I feed my greenhouse plants?

For complete control over your plants development choose to use a liquid fertiliser. These are usually diluted and applied to the plants weekly, or fortnightly. Simply follow the instructions on the bottle. Seedlings and cuttings should be fed sparingl... Read >