Gardening

• Clear fallen leaves from lawns and paths, and remove them from flower beds if they form a thick layer. A light covering can be left for worms to break down and incorporate into the soil.
• Tidy climbers and wall shrubs by tying in long, whippy shoots to protect them from strong winds.
• Prune roses to reduce wind rock and prevent damage to their roots. November is also a good time to prune most deciduous trees. However, many deciduous ornamental grasses are best left standing until spring.

• Prune grapevines after the leaves have fallen, but before the end of December, to avoid excessive sap loss, known as ‘bleeding’.
• Plant bare-root plants while the soil is still workable. Plant them promptly to prevent the roots from drying out. If conditions aren’t suitable, they can be temporarily heeled into the soil until you’re ready to plant them properly.
• Plant tulip bulbs once your other spring bulbs are in the ground. Planting them later in the season can help reduce the risk of tulip blight, a fungal disease.
• Protect overwintering brassicas with netting to prevent pigeons from damaging your crops.
• Plant garlic and shallots if you haven’t already done so.
• Lift and divide rhubarb crowns to rejuvenate established plants and create new ones.

• Harvest parsnips after the first frosts, when their flavour is often sweeter.
• Sow peas and broad beans during the first week of November, traditionally considered a good time for these early sowings.
• Begin winter pruning of apple and pear trees.
• Lay turf while the ground remains workable and is not frozen. Avoid walking on lawns during wet weather, as this can compact the soil and damage the grass.

October is a lovely month to enjoy the changing colours in the garden, while getting everything ready for winter. Plant spring bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, crocuses and alliums. Plant them in groups for the best effect.

Plant trees, shrubs and perennials while the soil is still warm. Autumn planting gives them time to establish their roots before spring. Collect fallen leaves and make leaf mould – an excellent, peat-free soil improver. Leave some leaves under hedges and shrubs to provide shelter for wildlife.

Look after your lawn. Once the grass has recovered from the summer, October is a good time to scarify, aerate and repair bare patches. Cut back perennials that have finished flowering, but consider leaving some seedheads standing for birds and winter interest. [Read more…] about October Gardening Tips from Wellie

Looking back through the September gardening tips I’ve written over the years, I think this year our gardens are likely to be looking rather different. After such a hot, dry summer, many lawns will have turned brown and borders may be looking tired. The good news is that, with some autumn rain, most lawns should begin to recover and green up surprisingly quickly.

Resist the temptation to apply an autumn lawn feed until the grass has started to grow again. Feeding a dormant, drought-stressed lawn won’t do it any favours, so it may be better to wait until October if the dry weather continues.

Take some time to observe how your garden has coped with this summer’s conditions. Which plants have thrived despite the heat, and which have struggled? This can be invaluable information when planning future planting. If you’re looking to add new plants this autumn, consider choosing varieties that are more tolerant of hotter, drier conditions, helping to make your garden more resilient as our climate continues to change. [Read more…] about September Gardening Tips from Wellie

Deadhead regularly to keep roses, dahlias, cosmos and other summer flowers blooming into autumn.  Water deeply, not little and often. Early morning or evening watering helps reduce evaporation, especially for pots and hanging baskets.

Trim lavender after flowering, cutting back the flower stems but avoiding old woody growth.  Vegetables to sow now for autumn and winter, spring cabbage, spinach, rocket, lettuce and hardy herbs for later harvests.  Plant new strawberry runners now to establish strong plants for next year’s crop.  Feed tomatoes weekly with a high-potash fertiliser and remove side shoots from cordon varieties. Collect seeds from your favourite flowers to grow next year or share with friends.

Keep on top of weeds before they have a chance to set seed.  Leave some flowers standing to provide nectar for bees, butterflies and other pollinators through late summer.  Plan ahead. August is a good time to think about where you could plant spring bulbs and autumn shrubs when the weather cools.

July is the month to really enjoy your garden, and to make a note of what might need splitting or moving in the Autumn. If tall perennials are flopping a bit, put some stakes around them to help them and tie in and train any new growth on climbing plants.  Give your beds, pots and baskets a feed which will help them to stay looking lush and healthy for longer. 

[Read more…] about July Gardening Tips from Wellie

June is a busy and rewarding month in the garden—little and often is the key. Deadhead roses and early perennials to keep flowers coming, and stake taller plants like delphiniums before they flop. Hoe borders regularly to keep weeds down and retain moisture. Water deeply a few times a week rather than little and often.

[Read more…] about June Gardening Tips from Wellie

Mow lawns weekly and keep edges neat, raise the cutting height in dry spells. Keep on top of weeds in borders – little and often makes a big difference.

[Read more…] about May Gardening Tips from Wellie

April arrives with a flourish! One minute we’re admiring frothy cherry blossom against bright blue skies, the next we’re reaching for a fleece to protect tender shoots from a sharp overnight frost. It is a month of promise — and unpredictability — but also one of the most exciting times to be in the garden. Sweet peas can be sown outside now. Prune penstemons and other slightly tender plants, divide herbaceous perennials.

[Read more…] about April Gardening Tips from Wellie

March is the month to get seeds and plants going. Sow lettuce, rocket, carrots, peas and broad beans outside as soon as the soil is workable. Early potatoes that have been chitted can go out and onion and shallot sets can be planted. Undercover/indoors sow your tomatoes, peppers, aubergines. Prune Gooseberries and currants now as the sap is beginning to rise, and cuts will heal faster.

[Read more…] about March Gardening Tips from Wellie

February sits on the edge of winter and spring. Snowdrops, crocuses and early daffodils begin to lift our spirits, even though cold nights and frosts still linger. On mild days, take time to tidy borders, cutting back old stems before new growth emerges. In late February cut back ornamental grasses and other perennials left for winter interest.

Prune back shrubs hard such as Cornus and Salix grown for winter coloured stems. Top dress beds and borders with a balanced fertiliser. Cut back late flowering (group 3) Clematis such as Clematis viticella, C. orientalis and C. “Jackmannii” to a low pair of strong buds.

[Read more…] about February Gardening Tips from Wellie

January may feel quiet in the garden, but it’s a valuable month for setting the tone for the year ahead. Use these short, chilly weeks to review last year’s successes, choose new seeds and plan where everything will go.

A little preparation now pays off in spring. Top up feeders with high-energy food and break any ice on bird baths or ponds.

[Read more…] about January Gardening Tips from Wellie

Tidy up fallen leaves from lawns, paths and beds to prevent rot and slippery surfaces. Compost them if dry. Protect tender plants with fleece, cloches, or straw. Bubble wrap pots (especially terracotta) to stop them cracking in frost. Check ties and supports after windy weather. Cut back
dead perennials if you haven’t already – or leave some seed heads for birds and winter interest.

[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for December 2025

November may seem like a sleepy month, but your garden — and the wildlife that shares it — is quietly getting ready for the year ahead. So pull on your gloves, enjoy the fresh air, and know that every small bit of care now helps your garden thrive in spring.

[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for November 2025

All the overgrown clumps of herbaceous perennials that you have been saying this summer need to be split, now is the time to do it, as the plants are dying down for the winter. Don’t worry if you aren’t able to do them all, some can wait until the spring.

[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for October 2025

Make the most of the warmth in the air and soil, before the temperatures drop at the beginning of Autumn. To help grapes ripen, remove leaves shading fruit. Check if there are any heavy laden branches on fruit trees that need supporting. Pinch out tops of tomatoes, remove any new flowers, and remove any growth below the lowest fruit and growth shading fruit.

[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for September 2025

There is lots of pruning and harvesting to be done in August. Dead head faded blooms, but leave some to turn into seedheads for the birds and ones that you plan to sow for next year. Crysanths will benefit from being pinched or sheared back, encouraging more growth and flowers. Take pelargonium cuttings. Trim lavender plants by removing flower stalks and about 2.5cm of the current year’s growth.

[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for August 2025

Mow lawns regularly now, but think about leaving some areas long for wildlife and to encourage flowers to bloom. Reseed bare patches or lay turf. Tie in climbing and rambling roses, sweet peas and clematis as they climb. Summer bedding can be planted out towards the end of the month.

[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for May 2025

Check roses for blackspot, remove any infected leaves and treat with a fungicide. Sow hardy annuals and wildflowers in gaps in the garden. Feed borders with a general purpose fertiliser such as Growmore and mulch with compost or well rotted manure.

Plant summer bulbs such as alliums, eucomis and lillies. Cut back Penstemons now. Take a close look before pruning, some produce a mass of new shoots at the base of the plant, so old stems should be cut back close to the soil.

When new growth is visible only along the stems, trim them to 15-20cm from the ground, just above a shoot.

To encourage bushy growth on Marguerites, Pelargoniums and Fuchsias in the greenhouse, pinch out the tips. Spray weeds on driveways and paths this month when they are actively growing. Use a spring/summer feed on the lawn (it should be high in nitrogen to encourage strong leafy green swards) Carry on sowing vegetables directly into prepared soil including carrots, turnip, peas, broadbeans, spinach and lettuce. Sow tender courgettes, cucumbers and pumpkins in a heated propagator or sunny window sill.

Plant out autumn sown sweet peas.

Cut back herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses that have been left over winter. Prune Buddleja to a low framework of stems to encourage new flowering growth. Split over crowded herbaceous perennials to keep them flowering well. Feed ericaceous shrubs such as rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and pieris with an ericaceous fertilizer.

[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for March 2025