For the past 25 years the Daily Mail has held its annual garden competition. For the past 15 of those years I have written about it. If I am honest, my advice and encouragement has altered very little over the years, and at its core will not change for the coming competition this year. But … Read more
Since March, sales of vegetable plants and seeds have been soaring. The demand has been so great that some online nurseries have had to suspend their websites at times to cope with the rush of orders. One person who has been helping novice growers get to grips with their new-found passion for ‘grow your own’ … Read more
Monty revisits one of his classic books, Gardening at Longmeadow, in an occasional series. One of my favourite joys of this midsummer season is the range of scents, and my favourite of all is honeysuckle. Its fragrance saturates these sunken Herefordshire lanes, the warm pools of air soaking up the scent like blotting paper till … Read more
Action plan: Nigel Colborn’s essential jobs for your garden this week Nigel Colborn shared advice for tackling rough grass this season British gardening expert said set mower blades high for the first outing He also answered a reader’s question about removing an infestation of ivy By Nigel Colborn for the Daily Mail Published: 22:05 BST, … Read more
Blue swoon! Delphiniums radiate a glorious shade that so rarely pops up in nature – and they’re at their best now, says MONTY DON Blue is the rarest colour in nature and if you look closely a ‘true’ blue is very rare Most so-called ‘blue’ flowers have a lot of red in, so they’re shades … Read more
Purple craze: There’s nothing lovelier than lavender with its heady scent and vivid colour, says Monty Don – and there’s a type to suit every taste Monty Don said lavender colours a mood of gentle refinement and prettiness He said it is long-lasting, ideal for a pot and resistant to almost total neglect Lavender hates … Read more
Green-fingered customers of Gardening Express vent anger on social media after their lockdown plants and flowers fail to arrive – with no sign of refunds or even a message from the website A growing number of Gardening Express customers have taken to Twitter Many deliveries have been heavily delayed and refund requests are troublesome The … Read more
Potting up your plot: Containers are a delight — but be sure to pick the right type Nigel Colborn shared his advice for planting and setting out summer containers British gardening expert said plants thrive when they’re given plenty of room He said most plants are fine with ordinary flower pots with holes at the … Read more
Queen guitarist Brian May took his first walk in the park since the coronavirus lockdown began on crutches after tearing his buttock. The astrophysicist, 72, tore his gluteous maximus three weeks ago while gardening, leaving him in agony forcing him into hospital. He suffered severe nerve pain as a result, which was so excruciating he … Read more
Gardening is ‘good for the soul’: Digging, weeding and planting improve happiness and ’emotional wellbeing’ even more than physical exercise or eating out, study finds Volunteers reported on their emotional wellbeing while doing different activities The Princeton University study had people cycle, eat out, walk and do gardening They found gardening for vegetables is more … Read more