Agapanthus is a plant with a lot of pizazz, but my, they don’t last long! Most agapanthus flower for around six weeks, while some cultivars have been selected to bloom for 10 to 12 weeks. Everpanthus, on the other hand, has an extra long blooming time – 17 weeks from spring right through to late summer!   How to grow Everpanthus Series Flowering time: Spring to late summer (17 weeks) Location: Middle of the border, beds, patio pots, mixed containers, cut flower garden Soil: Any well-draining soil Light: Full sun Water: Water moderately when growing Care: Re-pot overcrowded plants in sp ..read more

Welcome to my WTF Gardening series, where I take common gardening terms and explain them for those who are new to the world of plants. Find the entire WTF Gardening series here. Thinking about growing cuttings or starting some seeds? You’ve probably seen or heard the term ‘hardening off’ somewhere, whether that’s in a video tutorial or on the back of a seed packet. Unfortunately, this kind of instructional content can be a little vague, leaving novice gardeners scratching their heads. However, it’s important to understand what hardening off means, as it’s a pretty important step in the growing ..read more

I’ve written about the original Chick Charms here – but do you know about Chick Charms Giants? They’re practically indestructible, just like their namesake, but they can grow to the size of a gallon pot or bigger! And, like the originals, they’re collectible, too!   How to grow Chick Charms Giants Flowering time: Summer Location: Pots, rock gardens, ground cover Soil: Any well-draining soil Light: Full sun Water: Water moderately when growing Care: Propagate root offsets in spring Size: 8 to 10” in diameter   ‘Copper Canyon’ What’s different about this plant? Chick Charms Gia ..read more

Is your beau not the rose type? Roses may be the most popular flowers for Valentine’s Day (according to the British Florist Association, it’s estimated that 250 million stems of flowers are sold on Valentine’s globally, with one third being roses) but they’re not for everyone. But if your significant other isn’t a fan of roses, there are so many other alternatives – so don’t believe that roses are the only option! I’ve put together a list of nine perfect alternatives to roses, including some really surprising and unconventional plants! Browse your options below and surprise your other half wit ..read more

Welcome to my WTF Gardening series, where I take common gardening terms and explain them for those who are new to the world of plants. Find the entire WTF Gardening series here. If you’re interested in keeping your garden looking fresh, healthy and uniform, you’ll want to get acquainted with deadheading! This is the act of removing faded or dead flowers from plants; it increases the visual appeal of the plant while also encouraging more flowers. Deadheading is a regular part of garden maintenance for those who enjoy a neat, tidy and abundant garden. It encourages new blooms by redirecting ener ..read more