I’ve had many years of gardening and in that time I’ve seen what works with roses – and boy have I seen what absolutely doesn’t. So I’m going to share what plants to keep away from your precious roses, straight from my own garden disasters and successes. Understanding Roses Roses are the high-maintenance celebrities of …
After spending many years rehabilitating neglected lilac bushes and planting new ones in all sorts of garden configurations I’ve learned what works – and what spectacularly fails – when it comes to companion planting with lilacs. These are what NOT to plant with lilacs, straight from my own garden disasters and triumphs. Understanding Lilacs Lilacs …
I’ve been growing hostas for over a decade now, and they’ve taught me more lessons about gardening partnerships than my last three relationships combined. They may seem easy going at first glance but they can be surprisingly picky about their garden companions. After years of watching my hostas thrive, struggle and sometimes flat-out give up …
I’ve spent years growing lilies in everything from tiny balcony containers to sprawling garden beds. And I’ve killed enough lily plants to start my own compost business. So let me save you the heartache and share what NOT to plant with these dramatic bloomers. Understanding Lilies The first time I planted lilies I stuck them …
Even when you just say the name Honeysuckle it makes you think of its sweet scent in the summer evenings and hummingbirds flitting between the flowers. I’ve grown honeysuckle for many years and while they’re absolutely gorgeous they can be very territorial in the garden. So I’m going to give you the plants and flowers …
After spending three seasons trying to figure out why my gladiolus kept falling over and most flowing well I eventually worked out what was going on- I’d been surrounding them with all the wrong plants! So I’m going to give you the worst plants to plant alongside gladiolas so you don’t make the same sort …
Daisies look cheerful and easy going but that can be misleading. Whilst they look lovely they can be picky about what’s planted near to them. so I’m going to give you the worst plants you can plant as companions to daisies and why they’re terrible neighbors for them as well as what to plant instead. …
After killing three hibiscus plants in my first year of gardening (yes, I’m admitting this publicly), I eventually figured out what I was doing wrong. It wasn’t due to watering or the sunlight – it was the plants I’d planted with it that were causing all the trouble. So I’m going to go through the …
After years of caring for my garden beds I’ve learned what works with peonies and what makes them unhappy. In this case the wrong companions make a big difference. So I’m going to give you some insights about what plants don’t work with peonies and why. Understanding Peonies Peonies can be particular about both their …
I’ve had some issues with my pansies in the past. And although they’re beautiful little flowers that look innocuous they are picky about what’s grown with then. So let me save you running in to problems with your pansies and having to watch them slowly die off because they’re planted next to the wrong flowers …