Gardeners' tips
Hear from our gardeners and get lots of gardening inspiration and ideas to make the most of your outdoor space
How do I care for sage and lavender?
As perennial herbs from the Mediterranean, lavender, thyme and sage all prefer sunny, dry conditions. You’ll need to give them a hard prune in late spring to keep the plants compact.
What's the trick for growing parsley?
A little boiling water in the seed tray before sowing the seeds helps to break down their tough coating. Then put the tray in a warm place until they germinate.
Can I use bay leaves straight from a tree?
Yes, though the flavour is more subtle. Make sure you wash them, as they can have been on the tree for some time and tend to get dusty.
Refreshing mint
Mint is native to the Mediterranean and was introduced to Britain by the Romans. This popular garden herb is best kept with its roots confined, and its flowers are a magnet for pollinators.
Can you suggest a range of flowering plants to attract insect pollinators?
Grow plants that flower from spring to autumn to give continuity. Bees love herbs such as thyme and marjoram. Primrose, lungwort, foxglove, coneflower, ivy, ox-eye daisy are also good.
Going peat-free
Discover why it's important for gardeners to go peat-free and protect our precious peatlands around the world, and how you can help by using peat-free compost.
Give a gift to nature
Welcome the birds, hedgehogs, bats and bugs into your garden with our selection of feeders, nest boxes and houses. We've also got a special range that's made in collaboration with leading wildlife specialists CJ Wildlife.
Help protect pollinators
Bees play a vital role in the natural world around us but they're under threat. By donating to support nature and wildlife at the places in our care, you'll be helping to protect these pollinators and the green spaces they call home. Now more than ever, we need your help to look after the nature and wildlife we all find comfort in.