Independent gardening advice for real gardens, balconies and windowsills.
A growing reference library of gardening terms, techniques and climate concepts explained in plain language.
These will grow in any good, cool, moist, well-drainedgarden soil if sand be put round their roots, but thrive best in a moderately rich loam. They may remain in the ground for years, for large bulbs...
These attractive plants require a deep, friable soil, notover rich. They may be grown from seed sown on a hotbed in March and lightly covered with fine mould. As soon as they are up give all the air w...
These pretty, little hardy perennialsare very useful as edgings. To grow them to perfection the ground should be highly manured, and the roots divided every year, planting them out 6 in. apart in a co...
Dandelions on lawns, etc., may be killed by cutting themdown as low as possible, and putting a little gas-tar or a pinch of salt on the wound. Or they may be dug up and blanched for mixing with salad....
Beautiful shrubs, mostly evergreens, bearing elegant flowersfollowed by bright-red poisonous berries. D. Mezereum is the most common variety, and is very suitable for the front of shrubberies. The Chi...
Ornamental half-hardy annuals. The seeds of all the speciesmust be sown on a hotbed early in spring. When the plants are strong enough transplant them in the border, where they will bloom more freely...
The gorgeous spikes of flowers produced bythese plants render them invaluable for the border. They like a deep soil, highly enriched. The perennials may be divided at the root in autumn, care being ta...