Page 25 - Latest Articles - jdlandscapeandgroundwork.co.uk

Hands planting a fresh basil plant into a rectangular planter with other herbs on a sunlit balcony.

Basil: Which Neighbours to Avoid in the Vegetable Patch

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

Basil is widely regarded as an easy-care culinary herb, pairing beautifully with tomatoes, pasta and summer salads. It also has...

Person using a garden tiller on soil in a sunny backyard with sprinklers and gardening supplies nearby.

The One Scarifying Mistake That Ruins Your Lawn in Spring

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

A hasty approach, however, can wreck your lawn. In spring, many gardens resemble a sodden sponge rather than a thick...

Person repotting a small plant in a plastic bag on a wooden table with gardening tools and water nearby outdoors

Save a Lemon Tree in Around 15 Days with a Plastic Bag

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

Many amateur gardeners know the situation: after being away for a few days or weeks, they return to find their...

Person watering a flowering potted plant on a wooden table on a sunlit balcony.

Oleander care: the golden rule for abundant flowers

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

Many amateur gardeners buy this evergreen shrub hoping for a true explosion of flowers. Yet in reality it may produce...

Person feeding small birds from a bowl in a garden with colourful berry bushes and gardening tools.

Create a Bird-Friendly Garden Naturally With Berry Shrubs, Shelter and Water

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

A natural approach can make your garden far more appealing in the long term. Who does not enjoy watching tits,...

Person pruning a young plant with secateurs in a raised garden bed, yellow flowering bush in background.

Pruning Roses in March: Avoid These Costly Mistakes

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

The shoots may look unruly and spring may be just around the corner, so it is tempting to quickly “tidy...

Person relaxing barefoot in a garden chair beside a table with a potted plant and drink, surrounded by pink flowers.

Red Creeping Thyme: A Water-Saving Lawn Alternative That Deters Mosquitoes

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

Anyone who spends hours mowing the lawn in summer, only to be bitten while sitting outside later, will know this...

Hands planting a seed potato into a raised garden bed with soil and straw mulch nearby.

Potato Planting Depth: How Deep to Plant Potatoes for a Bigger Harvest

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

Many home gardeners spend time fine-tuning varieties, fertiliser and watering schedules, only to be disappointed by a poor harvest later...

Hands holding a pinecone over a windowsill garden with potted plants, watering can, and a digital timer.

How a Pine Cone Helps Houseplants in Winter

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

A seemingly ordinary find from the woods could prove to be a game-changer. The cold season puts stress on more...

Two blue tits near a birdhouse and feeding tray in a sunny garden with spring flowers.

Asian hornet: How tits can help bees in March

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

With the first mild days comes a problem that beekeepers and hobby gardeners now recognise across large parts of Europe:...

Person harvesting fresh lavender flowers with garden shears and a wicker basket in a sunny garden.

How to Prune Lavender Properly: Keep It Blooming for 20 Years

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

A purple, fragrant cushion outside the patio can suddenly turn into a scraggy broom of dead wood. It is easy...

Woman tending to a vegetable and flower garden, surrounded by tomato plants, basil, marigolds, and gardening tools.

Oregano Companion Planting: The Best Partners for a Healthy Vegetable Bed

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

Many home gardeners plant oregano somewhere in the herb corner. Yet when this Mediterranean herb is deliberately combined with vegetables...

Person wearing gloves pruning a blossoming tree branch with shears in a garden orchard at sunset

This Old Orchard Trick Now Decides the Cherry Tree Harvest in Spring

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

An old orchard trick now determines the harvest in spring. In March, the garden begins to stir: buds swell, and...

Person using a garden roller to flatten soil in a sunny backyard with gardening tools nearby.

Lawn Aeration: The Simple Professional Trick for a Lush Lawn

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

A simple, little-known professional tip could give your lawn the boost it needs right now. Every year, many amateur gardeners...

Person trimming roots of snake plant on wooden table with soil, watering can, and bag of clay pebbles nearby.

Sansevieria: How to tell if your mother-in-law's tongue is dying

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

Many hobby gardeners notice far too late that something is wrong with their Sansevieria. Its leaves droop, the colour turns...

Small birds perched on and around a stone birdbath in a garden with berry-filled bushes at sunset.

How to Turn Your Garden into a Bird Paradise with Berry Shrubs, Hedges and Water

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

The real key lies somewhere else entirely. Anyone who has watched blue tits, robins and blackbirds turn their own garden...

Person kneeling and gardening among flowering plants in a well-maintained garden on a sunny day.

5 shade-loving shrubs for difficult garden corners

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

If you have a north-facing garden, a dark house wall or a corner beneath trees, you will know the issue:...

Hands placing straw mulch around a young tomato plant in a raised garden bed with a watering can nearby.

Tomatoes and Mulch: Preventing Stem Base Rot in the Vegetable Bed

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

At first, everything in the bed appears ideal: vigorous young plants, loosened soil and a fresh layer of mulch. Then,...

Hand cleaning soil from a terracotta pot with a yellow sponge on a wooden table with flowers and watering can.

Kitchen Sponge Trick: Save Water in Pots, Window Boxes and Compost

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

When the gardening season begins, beds, containers and window boxes can quickly be pushed to their limits: young roots, changeable...

Person adjusting a terracotta pot with a lemon tree on a balcony with a thermometer and watering can nearby

Protect Your Potted Lemon Tree from March Frost

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

Many hobby gardeners breathe a sigh of relief in February: their potted lemon tree has survived the winter, the first...

Person planting a bulb in soil surrounded by potted flowers and a calendar showing March.

Plant these four bulbs and tubers in March or face empty beds in early summer

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

Anyone who does not act now will be looking at empty beds in early summer. Many amateur gardeners know the...