Right now in the garden

What to Do Before Frosts So Tuberous Plants and Bulbs Make It Through Winter

Tender tuberous plants and bulbous flowers often need help to survive winter. Learn when to lift and store them and when a thick mulch layer in situ is enough.

5 min read

Common Mistakes When Harvesting and Storing Pears and How to Keep Them Fresh Longer

Pears need harvesting slightly under-ripe and then ripened off the tree to develop their best flavour and texture. Learn how to pick, ripen and store them correctly so they last well into winter.

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How to Store Carrots for Winter and Why the First Step After Harvest Matters

Carrots can stay fresh for much of the winter, but only if you handle them properly right after harvest. Careful sorting, gentle handling and the right storage method prevent rot and keep roots crisp for longer.

5 min read

Simply Bringing Balcony Plants Indoors Isn’t Enough

Many popular balcony plants aren’t true annuals—they just can’t cope with frost. Overwinter them properly and they’ll restart stronger, flower earlier, and look fuller than newly bought plants.

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Is It Worth Pruning Willow in Autumn If You Missed Spring

Autumn pruning can make sense for willows grown for rods or pollarded forms, but it may cost you spring catkins and can trigger tender new growth that’s vulnerable to frost. Timing and the type of willow you grow are key.

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Summer raspberries hide next year’s crop where most people cut it off

Before you prune raspberries, you must know whether you grow summer-fruiting canes or autumn-fruiting (primocane) types. The wrong cut in autumn can remove next year’s harvest, while the right approach keeps plants healthier and far more productive.

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Picking fruit in your garden could end with a hefty state fine

Harvesting fruit from branches that overhang your garden can land you in a legal dispute with your neighbour. In some cases, taking a few apples without permission may even be treated as theft.

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September Hydrangea Care After Flowering Is Key to Strong Shrubs and Better Blooms Next Year

Once hydrangeas finish flowering, a few well-timed September jobs help the wood ripen, roots stay protected, and next season’s flowering potential remain intact. Focus on nitrogen-free feeding, light pruning, and sensible winter preparation—especially for plants in pots.

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Harvest Sweetcorn at the Right Time for Best Flavour

Garden sweetcorn tastes best when it’s picked at the milky stage. Use a simple thumbnail test to hit the perfect harvest day, then handle and freeze it properly to keep it sweet and tender.

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Why Early Autumn Is Ideal for Adding Eggshells to Garden Beds

Once the last crops are lifted, early autumn is the perfect time to improve soil for next season. Eggshells add calcium, help soil structure, and can even deter certain pests when used correctly.

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The More Often You Harvest, the Longer Plants Keep Cropping

With fruiting vegetables, frequent picking keeps plants flowering and producing for longer. A few crops, such as aubergines, are tastiest when harvested slightly earlier rather than fully mature.

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How to Harvest and Store Apples Properly So They Keep as Long as Possible

Apple harvest timing depends on the variety and whether you want fruit for immediate eating or long storage. Learn how to pick at the right stage and store apples so they stay firm and fresh for weeks or even months.

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How to Safely Save and Store Tomato Seeds for Next Year

Saving your own tomato seed is simple, cost-effective, and lets you keep growing the varieties that perform best in your garden. Follow the right steps—brief fermentation, thorough rinsing, careful drying, and proper storage—to maintain strong germination.

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Wasps Aren’t Just a Barbecue Menace They Can Ruin Your Garden Woodwork Too

Weathering isn’t always the main culprit behind damaged outdoor timber. Wasps can scrape fibres from boards and beams surprisingly fast, leaving grooves that soak up water and accelerate decay.

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September Isn’t the End, It’s the Start of the Final Garden Sprint

September is one of the busiest months in the garden, when harvesting overlaps with sowing and planting for next year. A little planning now brings earlier flowers, healthier beds, and less work in spring.

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Four August fertilisers for hydrangeas so they flower until the first frosts

In August, hydrangeas are still using huge amounts of energy to flower while already starting to harden growth for autumn. Switching to low-nitrogen feeding with more potassium and phosphorus helps blooms last longer and plants head into cooler weather stronger.

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Why hydrangeas wilt in summer even when watered and how to save them fast

Hydrangeas can look limp in hot weather even if you’ve been watering faithfully. The key is to check what’s happening in the root zone, then adjust watering, shade and mulching so the plant can actually use the moisture available.

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How to Keep Wasps and Hornets Off Your Patio with a Simple Chemical Free Household Repellent

Late-summer wasps and hornets can turn patio meals into a battle. A small dish of smouldering dry ground coffee helps mask food scents and makes the area far less inviting—without chemicals.

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Geraniums in Heat Need Precise Watering to Keep Them From Wilting or Waterlogging

In summer heat, geraniums fail just as easily from drought as from soggy roots. Use a simple soil check, water at the right time of day, and adjust to weather so they keep flowering through hot spells.

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Rose Experts Explain How to Save Your Plants From Heat

Heatwaves can quickly leave roses stressed, drooping and reluctant to bloom. With timely watering, deadheading and smart feeding, you can keep them healthy and flowering well into autumn.

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Proper Post-Harvest Pruning of Currants Is the Key to More Fruit and Healthier Bushes

Post-harvest care makes a real difference to next year’s currant crop. Timely pruning, steady watering, sensible feeding and basic hygiene help bushes set more buds and stay healthier.

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August treasures most people walk past without noticing

Late summer is packed with wild edible finds—berries, nuts and useful herbs—often right by paths, parks and hedgerows. Here’s what to look for in August and how to use it safely and well.

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A Yellow Lawn Isn’t Dead It’s Just Defending Itself and the Wrong Move Can Finish It Off

Yellow patches in summer usually mean the grass has slipped into heat-induced dormancy, not that it has died. The key is to avoid harsh interventions and use watering and mowing practices that help the turf recover.

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How to Keep Your Pool Sparkling Clean Without Unnecessary Effort or Stress

Keeping pool water crystal clear doesn’t have to be hard work. With a simple daily-and-weekly routine, you’ll prevent cloudiness, algae and breakdowns before they start.

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A single infected apple can spread rot through a whole cluster within hours

During ripening, one infected apple or plum can turn into a spore factory and infect neighbouring fruit in a tight cluster within hours. Quick removal of rotten and mummified fruit is the fastest way to slow brown rot in the tree canopy.

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Bean Flowers Dropping in Hot Weather What to Do to Restore a Heavy Pod Set

Beans can bloom heavily yet drop flowers and fail to set pods during heat and drought stress. With steadier watering, mulching and cooler nights, plants often start setting again.

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Early Leaf Drop Isn’t the End of the Season but a Tree’s Defence Response

Prolonged heat and drought can push fruit trees into stress, often showing up as wilting and premature leaf drop. With correct watering, mulching, and gentle summer care, many trees can recover and stay productive.

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When Cucumbers Are Fruiting, They’re Greedy Feeders and Without Extra Feeding You’ll Harvest Fewer

Cucumbers pull a lot of nutrients from the soil, and their demand peaks once they start setting and sizing fruit. Regular feeding during harvest keeps plants vigorous and extends production with better-quality cucumbers.

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Want More Blooms on Your Hibiscus Try These Proven Growing Tips

Hibiscus can outshine much of the garden with its bold, plate-sized flowers, but long-lasting bloom depends on strong, steady growth. Get the basics right—site, water, feeding, pruning and plant health—and you’ll keep buds and flowers coming for longer.

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Apple, pear and peach trees benefit most from summer pruning

Many growers prune fruit trees only in spring or autumn, but a well-timed summer prune can make a dramatic difference. By removing only what weakens the tree, you improve light, airflow, health and fruit quality.

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When to Pull Carrots So They Stay Juicy, Tender and Sweet

Carrots taste best when you harvest at the right moment—not too early and not too late. Learn the key signs of maturity and how to lift roots cleanly for longer, safer storage.

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Two common household ingredients can replace expensive tomato sprays and boost your harvest

If your tomatoes are growing slowly, flowering poorly, or struggling with disease pressure, the issue is often nutrition and weakened resilience. Whey and household ammonia can help feed plants and support healthier growth without pricey products.

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August Pruning Helps the Garden, but Three Woody Plants Only Suffer

August is ideal for light, sensible pruning that keeps borders, climbers and hedges tidy and healthy. But some woody plants are better left alone until dormancy or spring.

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A Copper Wire Trick to Speed Up Tomato Ripening and Help Against Late Blight

Late blight can ruin tomatoes in just a few damp days. A simple copper-wire trick used at the right time may help fruit ripen faster while making conditions less favourable for disease.

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Gardeners Cut Back Peppers in Midsummer and Harvest Them Until Autumn

In the greenhouse, peppers can look healthy yet stop flowering and setting fruit in midsummer. One grower swears by a bold cut-back to trigger fresh growth and a second crop through autumn—if conditions are right.

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How to Prepare Your Garden Before a Holiday So You Don’t Come Home Disappointed

A few smart jobs before you leave can keep your beds, pots, lawn and fruit trees in good shape while you’re away. These steps make any quick check and occasional watering easy, and help you avoid coming home to dry soil and wilted plants.

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A Five-Minute Feed Mix That Extends Cucumber Harvest by Weeks

Cucumbers are heavy feeders, and once they start fruiting their appetite rises fast. A simple whey-and-iodine drench can help keep plants vigorous and productive for longer through summer.

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Tired Mint in Mid-Summer? Now’s the Time to Rejuvenate It for a Fuller, Healthier Plant

Mint can look tired and sparse by mid-summer if it’s left uncut for too long. A simple rejuvenation prune will push fresh new shoots, improve flavour, and even give you cuttings for new plants.

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The most common pond mistakes that make the water lose clarity

Clear water isn’t just about equipment, but about a balanced pond ecosystem. These are the most common mistakes that lead to algae and cloudy water, and what to do instead.

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How to Stop Apples Falling Too Early and Save Your Garden Harvest

Hard, unripe apples under the tree are a warning sign of stress. Find the cause quickly—overcropping, drought, nutrition or pests—and you can still save much of the harvest.

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A Favourite Trick Seasoned Gardeners Use to Keep Tomatoes Healthy Until Harvest

Baking soda can help create a less welcoming surface for certain fungal diseases on tomato leaves when used correctly. It’s not a miracle cure, but it can be a useful addition to good prevention and everyday plant care.

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How to Keep Cucumbers Fresh Longer in Hot Weather Without Waste

Cucumbers spoil quickly in summer mainly because of excess moisture and the wrong storage spot. With a few simple habits, both slicing cucumbers and pickling types can stay crisp for noticeably longer.

5 min read

A Simple Garden Hack A Homemade Wasp Trap Keeps Your Harvest and Guests Comfortable

Wasps can quickly spoil summer barbecues and fruit picking, especially when ripening fruit and sweet drinks are around. A quick DIY bottle trap helps reduce their numbers without spraying chemicals.

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How to Sterilise Preserving Jars Properly So Your Preserves Don’t Spoil

Spoiled jams and compotes are often caused by jars that weren’t truly clean, not by the recipe. Proper washing and reliable heat sterilisation greatly improve shelf life and safety.

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Sweet Carrots from a July Sowing This Method Is Worth Knowing

Once garlic and onions are lifted in summer, July is a perfect moment to resow empty beds. Late-sown carrots are often noticeably sweeter and can be ready surprisingly quickly with a simple pre-sowing trick.

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July Is When Your Tomato Harvest Is Decided

In July, tomatoes shift from leafy growth to flowering and fruiting, and your routine care makes or breaks the crop. Keep watering even, feed consistently, pinch out side shoots, and support plants well—plus add shade during heatwaves.

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How to get pickling cucumbers going again in July so they flower and crop heavily

After the first flush, pickling cucumbers often slow down in late July, with fewer flowers and tired-looking vines. With a quick mid-summer reset, they can bounce back and keep producing right through late summer.

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How to Get Bigger Currants and a Heavier Crop Next Year After Harvest

Once you’ve finished picking currants, a little targeted aftercare helps the bushes set strong buds for next season. Prune, water, feed and prevent disease now for a healthier plant and a heavier crop with larger berries next year.

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Propagate Currants in Just a Few Weeks

If you have a currant bush that crops well and tastes great, you can easily make new plants from cuttings in late summer and early autumn. With a few simple steps, you’ll have strong young plants ready to move on next spring.

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July Feeding for Raspberries for Bigger Sweeter and Juicier Fruit

July is when raspberry canes put the most energy into swelling and ripening fruit. With gentle, well-timed feeding and steady watering, you can harvest noticeably fuller, more aromatic, juicier berries.

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