fertilization

Peonies Can Thrive for Decades, but an Autumn Cut to Ground Level Determines Whether You Lose Next Year’s Blooms

Peonies can sit happily in one spot for years, but what you do in autumn has a big impact on their winter survival and spring flowering. Learn when to cut back, how to divide, and what to feed—depending on the type of peony you grow.

5 min read

If you throw away leaves, you throw away nutrients

Fallen leaves aren’t waste but a nutrient-rich resource that improves soil, feeds compost, and protects plants through winter. Used correctly, they boost soil life, help beds hold moisture, and even provide habitat for beneficial wildlife.

5 min read

Winter is crucial for raised beds and most people skip the pest prevention step

Your raised beds don’t go dormant just because winter arrives. A few quick, well-timed tasks now will protect the soil, discourage pests, and set you up for a smoother, more productive spring.

5 min read

What you do with your soil in autumn will decide how well your garden thrives in spring

Autumn soil care isn’t just tidy-up time: it’s your chance to improve structure, moisture balance, and soil life before spring. Add the right organic materials now, and they’ll have months to work themselves into the ground naturally.

5 min read

Gardeners strengthen roses before winter with a simple kitchen mix, no chemicals needed

To help roses overwinter well and bloom more strongly next season, focus on gentle autumn feeding, moisture management and sensible protection. A simple homemade mix from everyday kitchen scraps can support root health without resorting to harsh chemicals.

5 min read

Raspberries Need Gentle Feeding or You Can Damage Roots and Lose Up to a Third of the Crop

Raspberries have very shallow roots and don’t respond well to heavy, nitrogen-rich feeding worked into the soil. Choose a potassium-forward fertiliser and apply it gently on the surface to protect roots and improve flavour and yield.

5 min read

Fresh manure doesn’t belong near plants and can scorch roots and shoots

Manure is a superb soil builder, but used fresh it can burn plants and bring hygiene risks. Learn how different manures vary and when to apply or compost them safely.

5 min read

African Violets in Bloom Without a Break With a Few Simple Tweaks and Chemical Free Feeding

African violets can flower for months on end if you get the light, watering and pot size right. Add a light homemade feed and a couple of proven tricks, and they’ll reward you with healthy leaves and plenty of blooms year-round.

5 min read

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.

5 min read

You Can Still Sow in August and Keep Harvesting Into the Cooler Days

August doesn’t mark the end of the gardening season. With smart sowing, regular harvesting, feeding and efficient watering, you can keep beds productive and attractive well into autumn.

5 min read

Wrong Dilution of Homemade Fertiliser Can Harm Plants More Than You Think

Homemade liquid fertilisers can be brilliant, low-waste plant food, but only when they’re diluted correctly. Mix them too strong and you risk stressing roots, scorching growth and setting plants back at the very moment they should be thriving.

5 min read

Yeast Fertiliser for Tomatoes and Cucumbers Is Surprisingly Easy and Effective

A simple yeast-and-sugar drench can give soil life a quick boost and help plants root faster and grow more vigorously. Used correctly, it’s a short-term biological kick-start rather than a replacement for balanced feeding.

5 min read

A Simple Trick for Geraniums to Grow Fast and Bloom Heavily

Geraniums are easy, reliable balcony plants, but sometimes they leaf up without putting on much of a show. A carefully dosed iodine water feed can support stronger roots and more abundant flowering.

5 min read

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.

5 min read

Two Everyday Kitchen Ingredients That Make Basil Bushier and More Fragrant

Warmth and water alone won’t keep basil thriving for long, especially in pots. Used coffee grounds and crushed eggshells provide gentle, steady nutrition that supports greener, bushier growth and stronger aroma.

5 min read

How to Fertilise Cucumbers for a Steady Summer Crop

Cucumbers are heavy feeders and won’t keep cropping on a single post-plant feed. Match nutrients to each growth stage, keep the soil evenly moist, and you’ll harvest reliably all summer.

5 min read

Want more raspberries Just add one cup at the roots and your canes will reward you with a bigger crop

The weeks before summer largely decide how many raspberries you’ll pick. Focus on a slightly acidic soil, steady moisture and gentle feeding, and your canes will repay you with stronger growth and heavier crops.

5 min read

Simple Homemade Kitchen Fertilisers That Help Plants Grow Without Unnecessary Chemicals

Houseplants and garden plants can benefit from gentle, homemade fertilisers made from everyday kitchen scraps. Used sparingly, they provide a steady trickle of nutrients and can improve soil structure without relying on harsh chemicals.

5 min read

An Unusual Kitchen Fertiliser for Raspberries for a Bigger, Sweeter Crop

Raspberries may be easy to grow, but a little extra care makes a big difference to yield and flavour. Try a gentle rice-water feed and follow a few simple steps to keep canes productive and fruit sweet.

5 min read

How to Feed Roses Properly in May for a Summer Full of Blooms

May is the key month to feed roses so they build strong shoots and set plenty of buds. With the right nutrients and timing, you’ll get repeat flowering and healthier plants all summer.

5 min read

When Cucumbers Struggle, Yeast Fertiliser Helps Strengthen Plants and Boost the Harvest

Cucumbers quickly slow down when conditions turn cool or unsettled, often showing pale leaves and weaker flowering. A simple yeast feed can perk plants up, supporting greener growth and better cropping when used correctly.

5 min read

Simple Spring Feeding for Gooseberries for a Bigger, Sweeter Harvest

Give gooseberries a simple spring boost and they’ll reward you with heavier crops and sweeter, better-sized berries. Pair organic feeding with sensible watering, mulching, and timely pruning for the best results.

5 min read

Homemade Natural Fertiliser for Geraniums That Kick-Starts Blooming for Weeks

Geraniums will flower far more freely when they get the right balance of light, watering and feeding. Try a simple yeast-based homemade feed, used sparingly, to encourage buds and keep plants vigorous all season.

5 min read