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Category: Gardening Articles

Learn about growing Pieris Forest Flame from the perfect growing condition, propagation and pests and diseases to look out for.
Growing Pieris ‘Forest Flame’ General care, planting and propagation

Growing Pieris ‘Forest Flame’ General care, planting and propagation

Add a splash of colour to your garden by growing the ever-popular evergreen Pieris shrub. In this guide, I am going to mainly refer to the ‘Forest Flame’ variety, but this information is also suitable for all other Pieris varieties as well. These evergreen plants present dramatic bright red foliage and small clusters of white flowers in the spring for an amazing display. You can find a wide range of cultivars to grow depending on your aesthetic preferences, so some…

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Growing magnolias in pots is a good way to grow some of the smaller magnolia varieties such as Stellata. Learn how to grow them in pots here
Growing Magnolias In Pots and Containers – The Complete Guide

Growing Magnolias In Pots and Containers – The Complete Guide

Magnolias are one of my favourite shrubs and I have several varieties in my own garden, from the smaller growing Stellata and Susan that flower in spring, to the summer flowering Magnolia Yellow River which is a really impressive tree. These small trees present abundant blossoms of various colours, from white to purple, to pink and even yellow. Many people are usually surprised that Magnolias can grow in large pots because these plants possess a wide root system, but there…

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Growing clematis against a fence or wall
How to plant clematis against a fence using trellis, wire or plastic netting

How to plant clematis against a fence using trellis, wire or plastic netting

Clematis are one of my favourite climbers, some of my favourites include the Clematis ‘Multi Blue’ and the Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’ as well as the evergreen (yes that’s right, evergreen!) Clematis armandii. I am also a huge fan of the Montana varieties because of their low maintenance, the minimal pruning that is required and how fast-growing they are. All are excellent for growing up and along a fence to provide a stunning show of colour and create privacy in your…

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Clematis problems including pests and diseases
Clematis problems – Pest, diseases and other problems to look out for

Clematis problems – Pest, diseases and other problems to look out for

The Clematis is by far the most popular climbing plant and anyone who has grown clematis appreciates the spectacular beauty of their display when in full bloom. These low maintenance plants just need fertile, well-drained soil and plenty of sun to thrive. For the most part, clematis can grow without any issues, but problems arise due to environmental factors, pests and diseases that attack the plant. However, most can be treated and sometimes even prevented. Understanding some of the problems…

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In this guide, I talk about how to grow Photinia 'red robin' from choosing the right position, pruning, propagation and common problems.
Growing Photinia ‘Red Robin’ – Planting, pruning and common problems

Growing Photinia ‘Red Robin’ – Planting, pruning and common problems

The Photinia Red Robin is a recognisable variety from a distance thanks to its vibrant bright red foliage in spring and clusters of beautiful small blooms around May-June. Photina is a fairly quick growing evergreen shrub that is perfect for any garden as they are easy to grow and do not require much maintenance, and respond well to pruning that will help to keep them under control size-wise. They do grow around 1ft a year and the eventual height can…

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Deadheading and pruning Geraniums
How to Prune and Deadhead Geraniums

How to Prune and Deadhead Geraniums

Did you know that Geranium leaves of some types can be used in the kitchen? These bright bloomed and aromatic foliage plants have several uses apart from being ornamental. Both the flowers and the leaves are edible and they are used in the production of geranium oil, which is said to have medical benefits like reducing inflammation. You can reap the benefits of geraniums by planting them in your garden or pots but they also make an excellent house plant….

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Rhododendrons can sometime start to wilt and the leaves begin to droop so in this guide I show it happens and how to overcome it.
Why Are The Leaves On My Rhododendron Drooping – 8 Possible Reasons

Why Are The Leaves On My Rhododendron Drooping – 8 Possible Reasons

Rhododendrons are typically healthy plants known worldwide for their brightly coloured spring blooms. This sturdy plant comes in many different varieties of varying heights and foliage mass. If you have one in your garden, you might start worrying once you notice foliage starting to curl inwards or droop. Please, do not panic, finding the root cause of the problem will go a long way in restoring your Rhododendron’s health. Below is a checklist of some reasons why your Rhododendron’s leaves…

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There are a few reasons why your lemon tree might be dropping the baby lemons from aphids to growing conditions. Learn more
Why Is My Lemon Tree Dropping Small Lemons?

Why Is My Lemon Tree Dropping Small Lemons?

Lemons trees are not hard to grow, in fact, as long as the soil is slightly acidic, has enough nitrogen, and the weather is not too cold, they will thrive fantastically. Once your tree begins producing fruits, lemon trees don’t need much maintenance. They will produce lemons whether they are indoors or outdoors with little effort; however, what do you do when you notice baby lemons falling off your tree? There are varied causes that can cause this and it…

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Most people grow delphiniums in flower beds but you can also grow delphiniums just as well in pots and containers.
Growing Delphiniums in Pots – Choosing a Container, Feeding and Winter Protection

Growing Delphiniums in Pots – Choosing a Container, Feeding and Winter Protection

Offering towering flowers and vivid colours, Delphiniums command their space in the garden with ease. These plants grow in beds and borders but can also be grown successfully in large pots. They may look like a lot of work, but they are quite easy to grow, as I will show in this guide. These perennial plants come in a wide range of varieties with differently coloured blooms as we as different eventual heights so sometimes choosing slightly smaller cultivars for…

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In this guide, I show you some of the most common rose problems caused by diseases and pests. With pictures, identify your problem now.
12 Common Rose Problems and How to Identify and Treat Them

12 Common Rose Problems and How to Identify and Treat Them

Roses are considered the queen of flowers due to their popularity worldwide, and as beautiful as they are, they have their own share of problems with diseases such as blackspot, rust and mildew being some of the most common but more on these below. There are some rose cultivars designed to be more pest and disease resistant, but I have never found a specific rose that doesn’t suffer from one issue or another. In this article, I cover some of…

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