gardening

Loopy about lupins! These versatile favourites give a riot of colour all summer Colour of lupins run from blue, pink, red and white through creams to yellow Lupins are easy to grow from seed and much cheaper than buying plants Gardening expert Nigel Colborn, says lupins prefer free-draining soils in sun By Nigel Colborn for … Read more

My purple patch! Plants with plum-coloured leaves may need more pampering but they’re worth it for the splash of colour they serve up, says Monty Don Monty Don says purple-leaved plants need more pampering than green-leaved British gardening expert claims purple-leaved plants add more depth to a border He reveals purple-leaved plants in his Jewel … Read more

Between the ages of seven and 16 I was at boarding school, and on my birthday in early July my parents would visit with the special treat of strawberries from the garden at home.  The quantity varied enormously. Some years I was presented with just one small punnet; in other years I could feed practically … Read more

Top of the poppies! These beauties will self-sow, giving you free flowers all summer long Nigel Colborn advised people to begin sowing some of their plants for summer   The gardening expert said he is transplanting his crowded poppy seedlings Nigel also told gardeners to grow native yellow Welsh poppies in shaded areas By Nigel Colborn … Read more

Go wild this spring: Mix delicate wildflowers with showy border plants Nigel Colborn says to abandon your garden and visit your nearest woods Expert says the woodland flowers are at their glorious best from now until May Meadow and roadside flowers have become popular for gardens more recently By Nigel Colborn for the Daily Mail … Read more

Not all trees are green! Reduce carbon footprint and support wildlife by planting wisely Professor Antonelli says old forests soak up more carbon than new ones  Nigel Colborn explores what gardeners can do for trees, climate and wildlife British gardening expert says trees and long-term shrubs support nature    By Nigel Colborn for the Daily Mail … Read more

A dash of Autumn colour: Red, pink and gold — bulbs to brighten up the dullest of spaces Nigel Colborn shared advice for brightening up dull spaces with Autumn colours British gardening expert said small trees and shrubs can brighten a garden up Autumn is short-lived so the smaller the working space, the more selective … Read more

With gardening, as in life, pride usually precedes a whopping great fall, so I’m tempting fate in saying I’ve learned how to grow chillies well. But it has taken a while and was preceded, if not by failure, by very average results. Nowadays I have a great supply and that, in itself, is a cause … Read more

It’s grass roots time! Give your lawn a makeover and prepare for the rewards in spring British gardening expert Nigel Colborn shared advice for making a new lawn He advised using a grass seed including ryegrass for hard-wearing family lawns Whether laying turf or growing seed Nigel offers advice for preparing the soil  By Nigel Colborn for … Read more

Monty Don describes the myriad creatures and plants he sees in his garden throughout the calendar year in his joyous new book My Garden World.  Last week, in our first extract, he shared his diary entries for autumn and winter, but now spring has arrived… with an unwelcome hazard! Monty Don describes the myriad creatures … Read more

Late daisies delight: These colourful blooms will light up your garden this autumn Nigel Colborn shared his advice for transforming gardens with late daises  British gardening expert said they flower when bees are boosting honey stocks  He revealed it’s possible to enjoy floral fireworks right up to mid-November By Nigel Colborn for the Daily Mail Published: … Read more