Gardens
A garden that’s a labour of love and a tribute too
Dr Ian Wallace moved to Rivaldsgreen House in Edinburgh with his wife 36 years ago. And although some of the garden was well established there were areas that required work. Ian and his wife, who was a keen gardener, worked together to create a really special garden. When Ian’s wife passed away six years ago he…
Read MoreGrow how know how as gardening gets younger
To many younger people, getting out into the garden is something that the older generation does to while away the hours. Of course, they’re wrong, and to prove it, Dobbies has announced a partnership with the future face of gardening, encouraging next generation of gardeners to get growing. The garden centre is to work with…
Read MoreChef-patron urges us all to grow our own food
Today marks the start of National Allotment Week in the UK. No longer are allotments seen as something that is reserved for retirement but instead they are being utilised by individuals and communities. With people becoming more aware of mass food production and their own diets and health, more and more green spaces are being…
Read MoreKeep 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…
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