Helping to give nature a home

Whether you have a garden, a balcony or just a few flower pots and containers the RSPB have a range of activities that will help you attract wildlife and provide nature with a home. From birds to bees and butterflies to moths.

You can learn more about how you can help attract wildlife by visiting the RSPB website here.

Today we are mainly thinking of the summer

Hopefully we will have another bumper crop of apples this year

Compost bin offer from Recycle for Cumbria

More information can be found on the Recycle for Cumbria website here.

Freegle give and take event with seed swap

Transferring seedlings in the poly tunnel

Looking forward to the growing season ahead

Free gardening advice from the Royal Horticultural Society

Whether you have a garden, an allotment or containers the Royal Horticultural Society has produced a wealth of free practical advice that could help you grow your own. There is a wide range of topics including: growing your own fruit, vegetables and herbs all year round, wildlife gardening and dealing with pests and diseases.

If you would like more information please visit their website here.

A little TLC for our lawn mower and hedge trimmer

Free ID spotter sheets from Plantlife

If you want to know what may be flowering near you Plantlifes free ID sheets could be just what you need to help you find and identify them.

You can download several free ID spotter sheets from the Plantlife website here.

There is always something to do in the garden - maintaining our wheelbarrows

Time for a few repairs to our large planters

Spring is in the air

Top 10 easy to grow vegetables for beginners

Do you want to grow your own vegetables but just dont know where to begin? unsure of which varieties can be grown easily? how much space do you need?

If these are some of the questions you have Thompson and Morgan might have the answers. They have produced free information on their top ten easy to grow vegetables for beginners. For full details please visit their website here.

What to do in the garden in March

As March approaches and the longer days provide the opportunity for an increasing range of gardening tasks, it's time to start preparing seed beds, sowing seed, cutting back winter shrubs and generally tidying up around the garden.

Free gardening advice and top tips can be found on the following websites:

Royal Horticultural Society

Thompson and Morgan

When to sow and grow vegetables

The success of growing your vegetables can depend on various factors – including which month to plant or when to sow your seeds.

If you are unsure of what you can sow each month, then look no further than Suttons free comprehensive breakdown of when to plant vegetables. For detailed information on sowing and growing vegetables please visit their website here. 

Quote for the week

"Problems can become opportunities when the right people come together" -  Robert South

Preparing seed trays and containers in the poly tunnel

Maintaining, tidying and reallocating raised planters

How to grow tomatoes - free advice from RHS

Tomatoes are one of the easiest vegetables to grow and will reward your efforts with a steady supply of fresh tomatoes throughout the summer. There are a wide range of varieties from small cherry tomatoes to giant beef stake tomatoes and they are ideal for spaces of any size, including patios, planters and even hanging baskets.

For detailed information on growing tomatoes please visit the RHS website here.

February in the garden - a good time to start planning what to grow

Our bird feeding stations continue to prove popular

Looking forward to the new growing season

Growing vegetables in containers

If your space is limited dont be put off from growing your own vegetables. There are a wide range of vegetables that can be grown in pots and containers. Suitable varieties include; beetroot, peas, beans, raddish, potatoes, peppers and onions.

 
For more information on how to grow vegetables in containers please visit the RHS website here.

How to grow potatoes with Thompson and Morgan

Planning for the new growing season

Time for a little tool maintenance

Growing onions and shallots

Onions and shallots are particularly easy to grow and make the perfect low maintenance crop for beginner gardeners. They won't take up much space either, so you can squeeze a row or two in between other crops or even grow them in wide containers.Shallots are normally planted as sets (immature bulbs). They can be sown from seed, but most gardeners prefer to start from sets as they are quicker to mature, are better in colder regions, less likely to be attacked by some pests and diseases and need less skill to grow than seed.

Add organic matter, such as garden compost before planting and rake in a dressing of general purpose fertiliser. Plant shallot sets 25cm (10in) apart in rows 40cm (16in) apart from mid-November to mid-March. Gently push them into soft, well-worked soil so that the tip is just showing and firm the soil around them. Onions and shallots are remarkably undemanding and require only occasional watering during particularly dry periods. However, you will need to hoe between the rows regularly to keep on top of weeds. Any flowers that appear should be removed immediately to prevent onions from bolting.

Preparing for a new growing season - maintaining planters

Now is an ideal time to begin preparing for the new growing season, Whether it is planning what to sow, cleaning tools, tidying or maintaining planters - there is always something to do at our grow your own scheme.

Free gardenening advice and ideas from Love The Garden

Whether you're new to gardening or an expert, have a balcony or a large garden, Lovethegarden are here to help you...

Love the garden provides simple, clear gardening advice, ideas and inspiration with topics that include; growing your own, treating garden pests and weeds, seeds and cuttings and plant finder. 

For more information please visit their website here.

A thrush pays a visit

Easy to grow vegetable seeds and plants for beginners

Would you like to grow and harvest your very own fresh vegetables but just don"t know where to begin? Growing your own doesn"t need to be difficult and complicated and you don"t always need a large space as many varieties can grow quite happily in pots and planters.

If you would like more details Thompson and Morgan have produced a list of their top 10 easy to grow vegetables on their website here.

How to build a bird nest box

You can help the birds in your garden by creating a nest box. These can make a real difference to the success or failure of birds in your local area, especially when complimented by a regular supply of food. They can also be fun to make.

A detailed step by step guide can be viewed and downloaded on the RSPB website here.

Free guide - how to attract wildlife into your garden?

Providing nature a home is something we can all do to help threatened species. The RSPB have produced an excellent free 28 page colour guide with information that will help you attract wildlife all year round.

Request a free copy of the "Giving birds and wildlife a home in your garden" guide on the RSPB website here.

Free, practical gardening advice from Gardeners World

If you are looking for ideas, top tips and expert advice that could help get the most out of your gardening Gardeners World have produced free "what to do" monthly guides, practical videos and problem solving advice.

For more detailed information please visit their website here.

Free gardening advice from the RHS

Do you need a little inspiration or some gardening advice? The Royal Horticultural Society has produced free month by month gardening guides on their website here.

A morning spent making natural bird feeders

Free month by month gardening guides

Throughout the year you can always find something to do in the garden. Thompson and Morgan have produced free month by month guides which could help you stay up to date with all your seasonal gardening jobs and maybe provide you with some additional inspiration.

For more details please visit their website here.

Little blue birds visiting our homemade feeders

Time to hang up the homemade bird feeders

Bird Feeding Tips: food and feeders

Autumn leaves

Robins in the undergrowth

Autumn in our planted borders

Planting bulbs for spring butterflies and bees

During the next couple of months you can plant bulbs that will provide nectar for butterflies and bees beginning to emerge from hibernation in the spring. You can layer bulbs in containers so they flower from say February until July.

If you would like more detailed information on how to plant layered containers of bulbs for early butterflies and bees please visit the Butterfly Conservation website here.