Gardens
Keep your garden alive in the heat of August
Traditionally one of the hottest months of the year, August is the time to relax in the garden enjoying long summer days. Watering is key this month, particularly for container-grown plants or border plantings that are not yet established. Regular feeding and dead heading will help keep the garden looking its best until autumn. Follow…
Read MoreHandy hints to keep your garden going during the heat
The effects of this summer’s blistering heat and dry weather has been showing up on the greens of Carnoustie with The Open. The normally verdant fairways have been a shade of burnt yellow, with green areas hard to find, showing just what a warm summer it’s been so far. The weather has hit many Scots…
Read MoreBotanic gardens are a hive of activity this summer
Folk music, ghost stories and horticulture are just some of the attractions to a Scottish botanic garden. Exotic conservation plants from the southern hemisphere complement activities of a very local nature, including a touch of the supernatural, at Logan Botanic Garden, near Stranraer. A new ‘island’ bed dedicated mainly to plants of South Africa and…
Read MoreBook review – Woodland Gardening
Kenneth Cox’s latest tome Woodland Gardening is a significant Scottish horticultural publication which brings the art of woodland gardening to life. As well as being a third generation nurseryman, Cox is the managing director of Glendoick garden centre in Perth, which specialises in rhododendrons, azaleas and ericaceous plants. A vastly experienced plant-hunter and hybridiser, Cox is…
Read MoreWorking in the garden good for mental health
Britain’s gardeners value time spent outdoors more highly for their mental wellbeing than as a source of exercise. That’s according to research conducted by Quilter Cheviot Investment Management, headline sponsors of BBC Countryfile Live. Nearly nine out of ten (88%) respondents agreed that gardens provide a good space for mental wellbeing. This was more important…
Read MoreKeep your garden looking at its best this July
It’s mid-summer and the garden is now at its most colourful. The frantic rush of exuberant growth has passed and garden plants are showing off their glorious foliage textures and flower displays, filling borders and patio containers with colour and fragrance. Here, Louise Golden, resident plant expert at Dobbies Garden Centre, gives her top tips…
Read MoreKeep your garden growing in the heatwave
As temperatures sizzle across Scotland, Brian Hawthorn, horticulturist at Cardwell Garden Centre, offers hot tips to make sure your plants and flowers continue to thrive. Droplets of water on leaves can magnify the sun’s rays, scorching your plants. Water your garden in the cooler temperatures of the evening using a watering can or hose with…
Read MoreUse your garden to boost your home’s value
Want to add value to your property? Most of us are aware that there are some tired and tested ways. You can convert your loft into an extra bedroom, an office or a playroom. You can convert or extend a basement or you can turn a garage into a functional living space. All three of…
Read MoreGreen fingers earn gold medals for students
Edinburgh-based students have flourished at this year’s Gardening Scotland event. The students, from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), won two pop-up gold awards, six pop-up silver awards, a bronze RAF award and a silver award for its show garden. The aptly named Belinda Love was one of the Edinburgh-based students – alongside Kobus Sander, Ivonne Border…
Read MoreFinding fantastic floral fragrances and colours
Now that summer is finally here and daylight hours are at their longest, the garden will be putting on an exuberant burst of growth and flower. It is important to find time to relax outdoors enjoying your garden’s rich tapestry of colour and fragrance. Here, Louise Golden, resident plant expert at Dobbies Garden Centre, gives…
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