Gardening
- LifestyleThe Telegraph
What to prune in December and January – and what to leave alone
Our gardens can seem inhospitable places during the depths of winter; light levels are at their lowest point, and there’s often that grey, drizzly weather that makes it so easy to stay indoors. However, during the darker months of December and January there are golden moments of sunshine, and those dry, cold conditions can be invigorating and spur you on to sharpen your secateurs and get out there.
6-min read - LifestyleThe Telegraph
What to plant and tidy in your garden this December
Did you think December was just for carols and present-opening? Turns out, there are plenty of gardening jobs to keep you busy during the festive period, from protecting plants from frost to smaller things, like hinting for gardening Christmas presents. Get stuck into these jobs and feel relaxed and ready to take on January.
6-min read - OpinionThe Telegraph
Ask Tom: What’s wrong with my house plant?
My peace lily, which I got over the summer, is not looking as healthy as it did, and the flowers are withering. What’s wrong with it, and is there anything I should do to revive it?
4-min read - LifestyleThe Telegraph
How to make your garden an inviting haven over winter
“A garden in winter is the absolute test of a true gardener,” wrote the plantswoman and designer Rosemary Verey in her 1988 book, The Garden in Winter. While many of us will ignore the slumbering borders and wait for warmer weather to get out and tackle jobs or spend some time outside, the hardiest among us will embrace it. As Verey goes on, “If our gardens are to be more than graves commemorating summer’s beauty, we must start by using our eyes.”
6-min read - LifestyleThe Telegraph
Caroline Quentin: ‘I suffer from mood swings; gardening makes me a more even person’
My husband Sam and I are currently living in the heart of rural Devon, close to the Somerset border. We’re surrounded by ancient woodland and farms – sheep, beef and dairy cattle. We recently moved out of our last house for various reasons, not least being we’re in the middle of downsizing as our two children have moved out and have their own places now. So, we’re renting a small stone house with a large garden at the back. We’ll probably be here for a while looking for our next home… There’s no
7-min read - LifestyleThe Telegraph
Ask Tom: Which evergreen climbers can I add to my garden to brighten it up?
My garden looks particularly bare at this time of year; are there any evergreen climbers that I can plant to add a bit of interest all year round?
4-min read - LifestyleThe Telegraph
How to make your own Christmas wreath in 10 easy steps
Wreath season is fast approaching – in fact, it has already arrived on some front doors. For traditionalists, a Christmas wreath should be classic and timeless, with green foliage, red ribbon and the odd pine cone for decoration. But, in recent years, the wreath has evolved to become a symbol of one’s personal style. Like any other form of decoration, the festive wreath has become subject to trends, be it the multiple colourful ribbons that decorated last year’s fashion-forward doors, or the edg
6-min read
