Pat Duke

In the garden How many of us have been looking at the evergreen hedges itching to give them a decent trim and keep things in order? Hedges are similar to the edges of a painting in that they can make or break a garden if they are what is technically termed ‘a mess’. This is a task that c...

In the garden As flowers give way to brown desiccated heads then it’s time to go round and give the garden a quick tidy. This will make all the difference and extend the flowering season at the same time. It can be quite therapeutic taking your time snipping heads off and dropping them in a bu...

In the garden Strolling around the cutting garden with a critical eye at this time of year can lead to the neighbours overhearing loud tutting, sighs or the odd repetition of the word ‘no’. There are now gaps of bare soil and any distinct lack of colour can be obvious. Due to warmer cond...

SEPTEMBER can sometimes offer drier weather than even August so we will probably need to keep watering during dry spells to keep flowers going after dead heading. Changes in climate and us having warmer, drier winters, especially here in the South West mean planting spring bulbs later so it gives us...

In the garden When it rains the garden can soon look like nobody owns it, especially at this time of year. To regain some order any spent annuals need to be combed out and carried by the armful to the compost heap. Not only does this make everything look neater and tidy, it also lets air flow throug...

In the Garden Getting the timing right for cutting back all the beds for me depends on three things. Firstly, the weather, which is currently flirting with us in a ‘will it or won’t it' go into full on autumn mode, can decide in one torrential downpour that it’s time. I also look f...

Reflecting upon the past year

Expert advice for your garden and vegetable patch

Expert advice for your garden and your vegetable plot

Expert advice for your garden and your vegetable plot