Garden care
Garden tidy
A winter garden tidy is one of the best ways to set your garden up for success in the growing season ahead. Although February can still bring cold and unpredictable weather, it’s an ideal time for clearing, organising and carrying out light maintenance before spring growth begins. Tackling these jobs now makes your garden easier to manage and ...
How to control weeds
Weeding is one of the most maligned jobs in the garden, but it’s one of the most important. Weeds compete for nutrients and can hugely impact the health of your plants and crops but there are many ways that we can make life easier for ourselves and cut down on the amount of work needed to keep the garden weed-free.Prepare new ground ...
How to care for roses
Considered one of the most romantic flowers you can find, roses are also one of the most popular garden plants for a British horticulture enthusiast. You’d be surprised at how easy they are to grow too, while the array of different colours, fragrances and varieties make them one of the most rewarding flowers to host in your garden.
Roses can ...
How to choose seating for your garden
There’s nothing quite as lovely as sitting in the garden on a warm summer’s evening. With a little planning and research, finding the perfect seat to enjoy your garden is very rewarding and will continue to be for years to come. From contemporary swing seats to relaxing loungers to traditional benches, your next garden seat purchase ...
How to care for garden furniture
It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to expand your home through to your garden. You can provide your family with another space to relax, entertain and play whilst enjoying the great outdoors. Garden furniture can last for many years, so long as it’s given a little TLC every once in a while. Taking care of your garden furniture ...
How to create and maintain the perfect lawn
Whether acting as the centrepiece or simply linking other key sections of your garden together, a great lawn can be as rewarding as a beautiful bedding display. If you’re looking to grow your lawn from scratch or are looking for advice on improving what you already have, our tips to create and maintain the perfect lawn will help create that ...
How to improve your soil
Soil that is good in heart will always help you grow the best produce - whether that’s fruit, vegetables or flowers - so it’s important to keep your soil in good shape. Good soil is essential for anchorage of plants, providing oxygen, water and nutrients as well as protecting plants from big fluctuations in temperature. The better the ...
How to install an arbour or arch
As wonderful as it is to fill your garden with plants and flowers, it’s also important to install an area for you to enjoy the fruits of your labour, as well as being a lovely decorative feature for your garden. Arbours and arches make a great addition to the garden both as a place to grow climbing plants and also to create height and ...
How to keep your garden safe and secure
Whilst gardens aren’t necessarily the first place that you think of as burglary targets, garden theft isn’t uncommon. There can be a lot of expensive equipment lying around and there’s less risk of thieves bumping into anyone! Most household insurance policies only offer limited cover for garden-related items, so it’s ...
How to lay turf
Creating your own lawn from scratch is easy. By choosing excellent quality turf and undertaking the right preparations, you'll be enjoying a beautiful green lawn in no time.Tools needed to lay turf
Turf (top tips on calculating quantities below)
Wheelbarrow
Rake
Fork
Garden hose
Topsoil – optional
When turf can be laidTurf can be laid ...
How to make the best compost
If you’re struggling to get good results in your garden, then DIY garden compost could be a secret weapon. Making your own compost can save you money too, – great if you’re gardening on a budget – and it’s completely organic. Here are our tips on creating a DIY heap.Get a good binFirst things first. If you’ve got ...
How to prune roses
There are over 100 species and thousands of cultivars of roses, but one thing they all have in common is the need for a bit of light pruning now and again. Simple pruning helps to promote vigorous growth and ensures plenty of colourful flowers. Pruning roses can be moderately difficult, especially if you’re dealing with an unknown species or ...
How to repair your lawn after winter
It is quite normal for lawns to look jaded after the wet and cold winter weather; there may be yellow and brown patches and the grass will have grown at different lengths. If the winter has been cold and dry, levels of light throughout the season will mean the damage is not too bad but if the winter is cloudy and wet you'll have double damage from ...
How to water your garden
We know it’s often hard to remember, but summer does occasionally make an appearance in the UK. Your garden can still flourish and look beautiful during warmer weather conditions with a little planning and careful maintenance. Here are our top tips for conserving water and using water responsibly while caring for your garden in the ...
How to start a compost heap
Homemade compost is a great soil conditioner to use as surface mulch around existing plants or for digging it in to your soil before planting. All soils benefit from the addition of bulky organic matter, which will act as a sponge to hold moisture in light, sandy soils and help break down heavy clay soils, making them easier to work. Compost also ...
How to care for your lawn in autumn
Autumn is a great time to get your lawn into shape before the temperature starts to change. With a little time invested now, you can achieve a luscious lawn that will thrive next year and beyond. Watch our short ‘How to’ video with 4 simple steps to getting your lawn in tip top shape.
Colin’s Frequently Asked Questions
Colin, our resident plant expert, has been advising Notcutts customers about their gardening needs for many years, and here are a selection of some of the questions he has answered through our "Ask Colin" service: I am growing bamboo in pots; do they need any maintenance?Watering is the main requirement. Ideally stand on a saucer. You ...
How to protect your garden in winter
In recent years, the UK has seen its fair share of wintry flurries. Many of the plants that are grown in our gardens are perfectly hardy and, if growing in the ground, are not damaged by low temperatures. However, there are some easy ways to give your garden extra protection against snow, cold snaps and generally unpredictable weather patterns - by ...
How to prune in winter
It’s important to prune your plants at the right time of the year. Many plants that are dormant in winter will benefit from pruning now, particularly fruit trees and bushes, roses and some shrubs.What is winter pruning?It is cutting back and reshaping certain plants to encourage strong healthy growth and plenty of fruit and flowers. It ...
Gardening naturally
For many, using fewer pesticides in the garden is the starting point to a greener garden. If you care about nature and the wellbeing of pets and family too but you don’t know where to start, we can help! The good news is natural choices also yield fantastic results.PreventionThis method is all about going back to basics. All of the work is in ...
Which type of rose to choose
Roses come in many different varieties. Knowing which type to choose will help you find your perfect match.
Patio rosesPatio roses are compact plants that produce clusters of flowering blooms over a long period of time. Great for smaller spaces, edging borders and for planting in containers.Modern bush roses
Modern bush roses produce masses of ...
How to choose spring flowering bulbs for pollinators
Spring is a magical time for gardens, as the ground starts to warm up and wildlife stirs from hibernation. For pollinators—bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects—it’s a crucial time as they search for early sources of food. Planting spring flowering bulbs is a simple and effective way to create a vibrant, ...
Time to feed
As summer sets in, your garden is likely coming alive with lush greens and blooming flowers. But to keep everything thriving through the season, it’s essential to get your plant feeding routine just right. Here are some handy tips to ensure your plants get the nutrients they need, when they need them.Timing your tomatoesTomato plants are a ...
Keep control
How to control weeds and common garden problemsManaging weeds and pests is one of the most maligned aspects of gardening, yet it's among the most important. Weeds compete with plants for nutrients, water, and light, while pests can cause direct damage to foliage, stems, and roots, both significantly impacting plant health and productivity. ...
Dry weather gardening
During the warmer months, your garden may need a little more attention when it comes to water maintenance to keep it flourishing all season long. Here are our top tips for conserving water and using water responsibly while caring for your garden in the summer.Plant selectionWhat you plant can influence how well your garden survives dry conditions. ...
Autumn refresh
As the colder months start to come around, the garden starts to wind down, but there's still plenty to keep you busy. Early autumn can be surprisingly productive, especially in the vegetable patch, and a good tidy-up now sets the stage for success next season.In with the newA trip round your local garden centre will give you a good idea about what ...
Protect your plants
Gardening is a rewarding and relaxing hobby, but it comes with its own set of challenges. One of the most common and frustrating obstacles gardeners face are pests; particularly slugs, snails, and other unwanted visitors. Fortunately, there are many natural and effective ways to keep your garden free from pests and keep it flourishing.
Here are ...