Scarifying is not just about having a scarifier; it’s also about reducing the spread of moss before a scarifier even touches the lawn by applying a moss killer with iron sulphate a week or two before, which I’ve discussed here. Not forgetting, aerating the lawn with a lawn aerator improves aeration and lets essential nutrients and water reach the grassroots. If you need more information, I’ve previously discussed lawn aerating here. I’ve also covered how…
I’ve worked in my family nursery for over 20 years and as a professional gardener for as many. Over the last few years, I’ve noticed a big increase in awareness of planting bee-friendly in mind. Sadly, our local bees are declining, so anything we can do in our gardens to provide bee-friendly plants is essential. With this in mind, if you’re looking to attract bees and other beneficial insects into your garden, most people go…
Lavatera shrubs are one of my favourites, and I’ve always had a few on my borders. As a professional gardener, I’ve always recommended them for large borders as they are so versatile and easy to care for. In my family’s nursery, they are also one of the most popular shrubs and a favourite of many gardeners. If pruned correctly, they produce an amazing show of flowers in mid to late summer. However, they do need…
Rhododendrons have to be one of my favourite shrubs, both the evergreen and deciduous varieties, including Rhododendron luteum, a more recent addition to my garden. I’m lucky to have worked as a professional gardener for over 20 years. My family also runs a small nursery where we sell a large selection of rhododendrons. Over the years, I’ve seen and experienced my fair share of problems that affect rhododendrons in my garden, my customers’ gardens, and…
Phormiums are one of my favourite shrubs and are very popular at my family’s nursery. Over the years, I’ve written a few guides, including this guide on phormium care and phormium mealybugs, which can be an issue, and so are worth looking out for. Over the years, as a professional gardener, one question I’ve often been asked is, ‘How (and when) can you prune phormiums?’ The answer depends on whether you need to give your…
