There’s no time to waste; let me, Lee Burkhill, show you how to use this site to go from zero to Garden Ninja in a matter of helpful guides and gardening videos. If you want to become a fantastic gardener, then let me help train you at your own pace! I’m an award-winning garden designer […]

Quick Answer The Ryobi OHT1855R ONE+ is a 2.7kg cordless hedge trimmer that cuts branches up to 22mm, runs for around 30 minutes on a 2.0Ah battery, and uses the same ONE+ battery as over 100 other Ryobi tools. It is heavier and pricier than entry-level rivals, but the rotating handle and clean cut make […]

Quick Answer Sow courgette seeds indoors in April or May at 18 to 21 degrees, then plant out in a sunny, sheltered spot once frost risk has passed. Feed weekly with a high potassium fertiliser once flowering starts, and harvest fruits at 10 to 15cm every two to three days to keep plants cropping all […]

Quick Answer The best ornamental grasses for UK gardens are clump-forming varieties like Stipa tenuissima for small spaces and Miscanthus or Calamagrostis for larger borders. Most need full sun and free-draining soil, need very little feeding, and want cutting back hard each February before dividing overcrowded clumps every three to four years in spring. I […]

Quick Answer Sharpen secateurs and shears with a whetstone at a 20 to 25 degree bevel, working only the outer edge. Spades and hoes take a metal file, mower blades come off and go in a vice, never sharpened in place. Clean and oil every tool afterwards, and do a full service each autumn. Sharp […]

I’m an award-winning garden designer specialising in the Manchester, Liverpool, Southport and Cheshire areas of the North West of England, specifically small, awkward or unconventional gardens. I love problem gardens and love to use my creative design and problem-solving to make incredible spaces for customers. I have a passion for good design with plants, and alongside […]

Quick Answer Box hedges die or deteriorate mainly from two causes: box blight, a fungal disease causing brown leaves, black stem streaks, and bare patches in damp conditions; or box tree moth caterpillar, a pest that strips foliage and leaves distinctive white webbing. Both can kill established plants if left untreated. Correct diagnosis is essential […]

Quick Answer Flamingo trees usually die from overwatering rather than neglect. Standing water around the roots, especially in pots without enough drainage, causes root rot far more often than drought does. Too much intense afternoon sun can scorch the variegated leaves, and a pot that is too small will leave roots circling and starved of […]

You’re staring out at your garden right now, aren’t you? That rectangle of lawn, those overgrown borders, that wonky patio that the previous owners slapped down in 2003. Maybe it’s a brand new build with nothing but builders’ rubble and a token bit of turf. Either way, you’ve got absolutely no idea where to start, […]