Companion planting is a gardening technique that involves growing different plants together in a way that benefits both species. This age-old practice aims to create a harmonious and mutually beneficial environment for plants, promoting healthier growth, pest control, and increased yields. Here are some key aspects of companion planting: Pest Control: Certain plant combinations can deter or confuse pests. For example, planting marigolds alongside tomatoes can help deter nematodes, while basil can protect tomatoes from aphids and whiteflies. Improved Soil: Some plant combinations work together ..read more

Why We Should ‘Bee’ Planting Bulbs in Autumn People often leave it far too late to plant their bulbs ready for spring. As the nights draw in and autumn begins to wrap us in its orange, effervescent glow, you likely have the taste of pumpkin spice on the mind, alongside the promise of cosy autumn walks, bundled up in your best coat. Spring certainly feels far away currently. However, there is exceptional benefit to preparing for this season now. Autumn offers the perfect conditions to plant your spring bulbs, to give them the best chance of blooming in spring rather than summer. During Septemb ..read more

With my wife Susan we run a small natural dye business called Nature’s Rainbow. Our activities include selling dye plant seed, running natural dye workshops and giving talks. We have a small half allotment plot dedicated to growing dye plants which we use ourselves for various craft projects and also to provide dyes for our workshops. The Nature’s Rainbow Dye Garden in April Ashley (on garden) and Susan (in light blue top on right) giving a talk on dye plants at the Groundswell regenerative agriculture festival in 2023 I am not a qualified gardener or horticulturalist but I was for a number ..read more

‘Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life’ – Unknown. I am aware of how just how lucky to be able to use that quote to describe my work. My love for gardening spills over into all aspects of my life, when I’m not working in a client’s garden I will be pottering around my garden or holed up in my beloved but messy potting shed. The Night Garden – I loved designing and creating this area. By night a haven to toast marshmallows over the fire pit, drink hot chocolate and look at the stars and by day a quiet spot to have a cuppa.   I spent a vast majority of ..read more

We moved here to our third house and garden, approximately halfway between Gloucester and Cheltenham, almost 26 years ago. The plot is ⅔ acre and the garden wraps around the house. It’s taken time to get to grips with it, mainly because three weeks after moving in we had our fourth child, and my husband, who still works full time at 69, has often had to work overtime and away from home. Our soil is clay, but there has been a garden here for ~120 years, so it’s been well worked, although we have created new borders which initially were quite hard going. We have a gamut of urban, railway and rur ..read more

Photographer: Ant Jones Building a pollinator friendly patch. Elizabeth Lawrence (garden writer) wrote “the hum of bees is the voice of the garden” which is written on a plaque in my own garden, where honey bees, bumblebees and solitary bees all live in harmony enjoying the blossoms produced by the many plants that fill our outdoor space. Where in the garden you’ll find the bees, depends on what time of year it is. In spring the dead nettles are allowed to flower in patches and this is glorious forage for the bumblebees who come in all shapes and sizes to visit the tiny flowers, this is whils ..read more

Hi, I’m Jane, happily retired and a hobby gardener. I’ve always liked my garden to look nice, but I didn’t really have the time before I retired, due to having a busy working life and bringing my two daughters up. Spring 2020 was what I call the start of my ‘gardening journey’, as I had lots of time to do what I wanted and of course it coincided with the arrival of the covid pandemic and ‘lockdowns’. I suffer from anxiety, so my garden turned out to be my sanctuary very quickly during those strange and challenging times. I live in a grade II listed cottage in West Yorkshire with my husband a ..read more

We moved to our cottage in west Wales ten years ago, the garden was left untouched for many years as the cottage needed renovating. I started gardening around four years ago after a bout of ill health. I had no gardening experience, I just wanted to give it a go, little did I know how addictive it would become and what a great sense of contentment it would bring. The garden was a total blank canvas, not one plant or tree. We did however have a lot of concrete and grass. The first thing we did was plant some trees. I knew I wanted to attract wildlife into the garden, and add some height and p ..read more

Dear reader, at the tender age of 61 years, four months and a bit I have taken the next step in my gardening life. An Allotment. Some say foolish (less kind say senile) but I am thrilled. I have gardened as long as I can remember … as a very small child I spent hours with my Grandfather in his allotment style garden and my love for all things growing was born. Yes, I’m the one wearing the dress and yes, life really was in black and white then!! I have had lots of gardens between then and now but never an allotment … until this week!! I have been sharing my garden and vegetable growing progre ..read more