Tips and guides

Looking for practical advice you can actually use in the garden, greenhouse, allotment, or smallholding? Our Tips and guides category brings together clear, step-by-step help for hobby gardeners and animal keepers, from quick seasonal jobs to longer-term projects. You’ll find straightforward growing guidance on sowing and planting times, watering and feeding, pruning and training, soil improvement, composting, pest and disease prevention, and making the most of small spaces. We also cover problem-solving: why seedlings flop, how to fix nutrient deficiencies, what to do when crops bolt, and how to choose the right tools and materials for the job. For keepers, expect practical husbandry pointers that support healthy, low-stress routines—clean housing, safe fencing, feed basics, enrichment ideas, weather protection, and biosecurity habits to reduce common issues before they start. Whether you’re raising a few hens, caring for rabbits, or simply aiming for a more productive veg patch, these guides are designed to build confidence and save time. Dip in for quick checklists, or follow along with complete how-tos for better harvests and happier animals year-round.

Record Blueberry Crops Start in May with the Right Care and Feeding

May is the make-or-break month for highbush blueberries. Get pH, watering, fast-acting feed, pollination and frost protection right now for bigger, sweeter berries in summer.

5 min read

Why You Shouldn’t Cut Tulips Back After Blooming and When to Lift the Bulbs

What you do with tulips after they finish flowering largely determines next spring’s display. Leave the foliage to ripen the bulbs, then lift, dry and store them at the right time for stronger blooms next season.

5 min read

Frosts Have Passed, It’s Time to Plant Freesias That Will Fragrance the Whole Garden

Freesias are loved for their elegant blooms and unmistakable perfume, and they can be grown successfully outdoors when planted at the right time. Choose firm, healthy corms, give them sun and free-draining soil, and lift them for winter storage.

5 min read

When and how to prune wisteria so it flowers fully and doesn’t wreck its support or your walls

Wisteria is breathtaking in bloom, but without firm training and regular pruning it quickly becomes a heavy, forceful climber. Learn where to plant it, how to support it, and how summer and winter pruning unlock reliable flowering.

5 min read

The secret to a bigger harvest which plants help each other and which don’t

Companion planting pairs crops that support one another with fewer pests, better pollination, and more reliable yields. Learn proven combinations, helpful herbs and flowers, and which neighbors are best kept apart.

5 min read

Plant Tomatoes Smarter for a Bigger Harvest

Tomatoes can be fussy about heat and inconsistent watering, but a simple mulch layer can steady soil conditions and reduce stress. Try cardboard mulch for fewer weeds, better moisture retention, and stronger plants that set more fruit.

5 min read

Help Pelargoniums Bloom Their Best with Proven Tips and Seasonal Care

Pelargoniums are among the best balcony plants for long-lasting colour with minimal fuss. With the right pot, watering routine, feeding and deadheading, they’ll flower from spring right through to the first cool nights.

5 min read