You wouldn’t dream of moving into a house without taking a look at the area. It’s the same in a garden. Before you can grow anything, you need to know what sort of conditions you have. Then you can choose plants that are suited to them. There really is no need to waste money on plants that will hate your environment. You’ll need to know what sort of soil you have, how much light there is and the prevailing weather conditions. Is it a windy site, a particularly cold one, or is it sunny and sheltered?
Think of your garden as a theatrical production. It's all right - you don't need any artistic training. You are aiming for a variety show that lasts a long time, offers year-round interest and alleviates boredom. The way to achieve this is to use a wide range of plants: from trees and shrubs to climbers, perennials, annuals and bulbs. What's the difference between them, and what can each of them bring to your garden?
Once you’ve understood the different types of plant and what they can do, you can tackle the job of putting them all together in a garden - working out which ones will look best where, and how they will complement each other. There are lots of different planting styles, from cottage gardens to prairie gardens, tropical borders to bog gardens. And there are ways to use shapes, textures and colours to create different effects. Soft pastels or vibrant shades?
When you know what plants you want, and which of them will be happy growing together, it’s tempting to rush off to the garden centre, go mad with the plastic, then come back and chuck them all in. Not a good idea, is it? You’ve done it before and half of them have died. So before you take the plunge, make sure that your soil is well cultivated and enriched. This module will tell you how to get your garden ready for plants, and it will also explain what sort of plants you should look for in the nursery or garden centre; what makes a good one, and which ones you should avoid.
Once your plants are growing you will need to keep them happy. How do you do this, and what sort of tools will you need? Plants need water and food, but when and in what sort of quantities? This module explains the cultivation techniques necessary to keep your plants in fine fettle. Don’t worry; you won’t have to be a slave to them, just a good mother. And when it comes to pruning don’t shake in your shoes. There are simple basic steps you can take to ensure you cut the right stem, at the right time, in the right place.
However good a gardener you are, there are always outside agencies that do their best to prevent you succeeding. That’s life. Weeds will invade your beds and borders, pests will fly in to nibble leaves and suck sap, and diseases will spread death and destruction in their wake. But grow your plants well, and know what steps to take when you spot a weed, a pest or disease, and you can stay one step ahead. Whether you are an organic gardener like me, or use chemicals wisely, making sure that the right product is used in the right place, the important thing is that you achieve a working relationship with nature and still enjoy your garden.
Growing flowers is wonderfully fulfilling. Growing fruit and vegetables is wonderfully filling. To pick and eat your own crops is a great thrill. You know they have been well grown; you know they are fresh and you know that, just like your own baby, they are the best in the world! Here you can discover just how to cultivate your own fruit and vegetables – and you don’t need a big garden to do so. Edible crops can be squeezed into the tiniest of plots.You’ll be surprised at how good some of them look – it’s a shame to pick them really!
The garden never stops moving, and no garden is ever finished. It follows, then, that the gardener is always gardening – even though to some the winter seems to be the closed season. But year-round gardening has its rewards. You can ensure that there is always something to cheer you up in the way of flowers, and always more things to plant and existing features to keep up to scratch. Not all these tasks are chores. Many of them will keep you in touch with the earth and things that grow, which is what How to be a gardener is all about.
You wouldn't dream of randomly decorating a room in your house, without planning it out beforehand. The same should also be true when creating a garden from scratch. A well-designed garden looks like a picture, one that can be achieved by following a few simple steps. Together we’ll discover some tricks of the trade, and once you’ve got to grips with the basics, take a look at our range of garden styles to inspire you in your own design.
A garden that is completely empty of plants and features is good as you can put your own stamp on it right from the start. But it can also be tremendously daunting. Where do you start? What goes in and what should be left out? Don’t panic. Take your time and go one step at a time and the right garden will gradually evolve.
You don’t need a gingerbread cottage in the country to have a cottage garden. Old-fashioned flowers and a cluttered ‘look’ usually suits more traditional-style properties, but it’s a good style for plant lovers with small gardens just about anywhere, as it allows you to pack lots of colour and interest into a small space.
Water brings a magical ‘fourth dimension’ to the garden. Reflections, sparkle, musical sounds - if you have a fountain - and the opportunity to attract wildlife and grow the types of plants that are only happy in a watery environment. There are so many ways of working with water that you are spoiled for choice. You can go formal or natural, traditional or modern; choose from open ponds or enclosed water features. There’s something to suit every style and size of garden.
A small garden has to provide colour, interest and entertainment for everyone who uses it, all year round. When you don't have much available room, that can prove to be quite a challenge. That's why a small garden needs a strong design, so you really make the most of every square inch of space. The way to do that is to be bold with your use of shapes, colours and planting.
The secret of successful gardening is to go with nature instead of trying to fight it. Even a ‘problem’ hot, dry, sunny spot can be turned into a real feature if you treat it right. It could become a stunning patio, courtyard or gravel garden.
It’s one thing to have a sensational garden, but if keeping it up to scratch takes all your spare time you can never just sit and enjoy it. The trick is to work out how much time you can spare, and design a garden that gives you the right balance.
Show gardens are great… at shows. But what if you want something that looks less man-made and more like nature intended? Today’s natural gardens look like the countryside did in the days before pesticides and weedkillers, when hay meadows were full of poppies, and hedgerows were bursting with primroses. But don’t get me wrong, natural gardens aren’t just left to run wild. That would be asking for weeds and brambles to take over. No, it’s more a case of using wild plants to make a garden look as if it grew all on its own. You could even create your own area of bluebell wood, full of birds and woodland wildlife, by planting grasses and wild flowers that will provide hiding places as well as food for them. But in order for the garden to look ‘right’ it still needs a spot of design.