James Whitmore
Writer at Garden Tool Base
James writes about plant care, growing vegetables and planning gardens for UK readers. Articles draw on the sources cited in the text. The author portrait was generated with AI.
Articles by James Whitmore
- Choose a garden rake for leaves, lawns and prepared soilGardening
Choose a garden rake for soil preparation or leaf clearing. Compare tine styles, widths and techniques for lawns, borders, raised beds and small gardens.
- Choose garden border edging that suits your lawn, plants and upkeepGarden Design
Choose garden border edging for curves, straight runs and planted beds. Compare common materials, plan the line and install it for easier upkeep.
- Lavender can grow in clay soil if you keep its roots drierGardening
Can lavender grow in clay soil? Find out how a raised mound, raised bed or container can improve drainage, and how to check whether your spot stays too wet.
- Keep a spider plant healthy with the right light and wateringGardening
Spider plant care made practical for UK homes: choose a bright spot, judge when to water, manage brown tips and grow new plants from the offsets.
- Choose and grow a delphinium plant for your gardenGardening
Choose a delphinium plant for your UK garden by height, position and care needs, then learn when to plant, how to support tall stems and protect new growth.
- How to grow cosmos flowers for a long UK summer displayGardening
Grow cosmos flowers in a UK garden with advice on sowing, sunny positions, containers, feeding, deadheading and protecting tender plants from frost.
- Grow cornflowers from seed for a bright UK summer displayGardening
Grow cornflowers in a sunny UK bed or pot. Find sowing dates, spacing and care for Centaurea cyanus, and learn how it differs from perennial cornflower.
- Grow coral bells or Heuchera for lasting colour in your gardenGardening
Grow a coral bells plant in a UK border or pot: choose the right light and drainage, plant at the correct depth and keep Heuchera healthy year-round.
- How to plant and care for a hortensia in your gardenGardening
Choose a hortensia plant for your UK garden, find the right spot, plant it at the correct depth and learn when to water and prune it.
- Grow rosemary for year-round flavour in a UK gardenGrow Your Own
Grow rosemary in a UK garden or pot with the right sun, drainage and winter care. Learn when to plant, how to prune and which growing option suits your space.
- Plant hyacinths for a fragrant spring display in your gardenGardening
Planting hyacinths in autumn? Learn when to plant, how deep to set bulbs, how far apart to space them and how to grow them in pots or borders.
- Plant hellebores well and keep them thriving in your gardenGardening
Choose a hellebore plant for your UK garden, then get its position, planting depth, spacing and seasonal care right for healthier winter and spring displays.
- Build a useful gardening toolkitGardening
Garden tools for UK beginners: pick a small set by task, fit and care. Learn which tools matter, how to maintain them and stay safe with power kit.
- Find out why a garden stays waterloggedGarden Design
Garden drainage made practical: diagnose waterlogging, test soil and runoff, and choose suitable fixes such as rain gardens or permeable paths, checking local rules.
- Choose paths that connect your gardenGarden Design
Garden paths: pick gravel, paving, bark or stepping stones that drain, feel safe underfoot and suit UK gardens. Compare access, maintenance and setting.
- Grow potatoes in beds or containersGrow Your Own
Growing potatoes made simple for UK gardens: choose earlies or maincrop, plant at the right depth and spacing, earth up, water well and harvest safely.
- Grow tomatoes from the first sowing to harvestGrow Your Own
Growing tomatoes in the UK, step by step: choose outdoor or greenhouse types, time sowing to your frost risk, water and feed correctly, then train and pick.
- Work with clay soil without making it worseGardening
Clay soil: spot it fast, avoid the mistakes that worsen it and use UK‑proven fixes, organic matter, green manures, timing and raised beds, to improve structure.
- Plan a garden that asks for less upkeepGarden Design
Low maintenance garden: pick plants, surfaces and access that cut weekly jobs. Use mulch, right‑sized lawn and permeable paths to reduce watering and weeding.
- Turn garden waste into compostGardening
Learn how to site a bin, balance greens and browns, manage moisture and know when garden compost is ready. Simple steps for UK gardens, patios and plots.
- Start a no-dig vegetable bedGrow Your Own
Learn no dig gardening for UK plots: clear tough weeds, add 10–15 cm of compost, use cardboard only when needed, then top up 5 cm yearly for easier growing.
- Find the light in a north-facing gardenGarden Design
North facing garden made simple: map shade through UK seasons, tell dry from damp shade, site seating, and pick reliable plants for your conditions.
- Choose peat-free compost for the plants you growGardening
Peat-free compost for UK gardens: know the difference between potting compost and soil improver, and pick mixes for seeds, containers and ericaceous plants.
- Set up raised beds for a first vegetable patchGrow Your Own
Set up raised beds for a first vegetable patch: pick a sunny spot, choose a reachable width, use safe materials and fill with the right peat‑free mix.
- Make a small garden feel easier to useGarden Design
Small garden ideas for UK plots: set routes, views and planting that earn their place. Get sizes that work, choose materials, and avoid planning snags.
- Make a vegetable garden out of potsGrow Your Own
Vegetables in pots: choose UK‑friendly crops, pick sensible pot sizes, go peat‑free and learn watering and feeding so your patio actually crops.
- Prune your roses at the right timeGardening
When to prune roses in the UK and why it varies. See timings for bush, climbing and rambling roses, with regional tips and the cuts and tools to use.