Spring Gardening

Quick Answer The best time to sow grass seed in the UK is late August to the end of September, with mid April to May as the second window. Sow when the soil is above 8°C. Prepare a weed-free, level, firm seedbed, sow 35 to 50g per square metre in two passes at right angles, […]

Quick Answer Grass seed takes 7 to 21 days to germinate in the UK when the soil is above 8°C and kept moist. Perennial Ryegrass appears first, in 5 to 10 days, Fescues take 7 to 14 days and Bents 10 to 21 days. A new lawn is usually ready for its first cut after […]

Quick Answer Water new turf until the soil underneath is wet as soon as it is laid, then soak it every two to three days for the first fortnight, easing to twice a week by week five. Keep off it for two weeks. Once it passes the tug test, usually at three to four weeks, […]

Quick Answer The best grass seed for most UK gardens is a hard wearing mix led by Perennial Ryegrass, such as Johnsons TuffGrass for family lawns. For shade, choose a Fescue and Meadow Grass mix like Boston Seeds Shady Lawn. For fine ornamental lawns, pick a Fescue and Bent mix with no Ryegrass. Match the […]

Quick Answer Rolled turf in the UK costs about £3.30 to £5.40 per square metre delivered when you buy 40 rolls or more, and up to £10 per roll for very small orders. A typical 50m² lawn needs about £235 to £300 of turf if you lay it yourself, or roughly £750 to £1,750 for […]

Quick Answer To level a lawn, fill shallow dips by top dressing with a sandy loam mix no more than 1cm deep at a time, letting the grass grow through between layers. For deeper hollows or bumps, cut an H shape in the turf, peel it back, add or remove soil, then relay it and […]

Quick Answer Lay turf in autumn (September to November) or spring (March to April) when the soil is above 8°C. Clear every perennial weed, dig to 15cm, add compost or topsoil, rake level, firm it by treading, then rake a fine tilth. Lay rolls in a staggered brick pattern, butt joints tightly, and soak the […]

🌱 Quick Answer Plant Camassia bulbs in September or October, 10 to 15cm deep and 15 to 20cm apart, in sun or light shade. They thrive in heavy clay and soil that’s wet in winter and spring, naturalise in meadows and long grass, and flower in late April to June before coming back year after […]

🌱 Quick Answer English bluebells droop to one side, have narrow leaves, deep violet flowers with curled back tips, cream pollen and a sweet scent. Spanish bluebells stand upright with flowers all round the stem, broad leaves, paler open bells and blue pollen. Plant cultivated English bluebells 10cm deep in autumn, or in the green […]

🌱 Quick Answer Plant Crocus bulbs (technically corms) in September and October, though anything in the ground before Christmas will usually still flower. Set them 8 to 10cm deep, pointed tip up, 5 to 8cm apart in full sun or under deciduous trees. They flower from February to April and come back every year. That’s […]