The gardening library
Practical reading for your next garden job.
- 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.