Care Guides
Care guides by Rupert Foxton-Smythe
426 guides
Dahlia Cultivation Skills
The Fascinating History of Dahlias Dahlias have an interesting history. The first tubers arrived in Europe at the end of the 18th century-sent over to Madrid by the Spanish settlers in Mexico.
Container Gardening Outdoors
Lacking the traditional garden – or one of adequate size – a gardener must use whatever is to hand.
Clever Small Water Gardens
With a bit of imagination, you can capture the sparkle and serenity of an ornamental pond in miniature – ideal for small-space gardening.
Growing Plants in Window Boxes
If you enjoy growing house plants you will soon have every available space indoors covered with them.
Dried Flowers: How to Preserve Leaves, Stems and Berries
A little extra time and care can give your flowers a longer lease of life. Ideally, you should take precautionary measures before giving the flowers their long drink but, if this is not possible,…
The Different Types of Aquatic Plants
Water plants are divided into three groups. First, there are those that live entirely under the water and are known as oxygenating.
Akebia–Care Guide
These climbing shrubs have pretty, light green leaves and carry fragrant purple flowers in the spring. They are vigorous growers, and can reach 8.5m (28 ft).
Growing Roses for Cut Flowers
Roses are deciduous shrubs and climbers of great diversity in habit, foliage, fruit and flower.
The Right Amount of Light for House Plants
In their natural environment, plants grow in light that best suits their needs. If they are to thrive as house plants they should be placed in a position that resembles their natural conditions as…
Growing Lilies Outdoors
Lily bulbs are made up of fleshy, overlapping scales. There is no outer protective skin and they must therefore not be allowed to dry out. Do not store Lily bulbs – plant them when they arrive.
Growing Carnations and Pinks
The Genus Dianthus The genus Dianthus is large, but the popular garden flowers are border carnations, growing about 2 ½ ft.
Floating Plants
Characteristics and growth habits While not florally outstanding – some have no flowers at all – this group contributes to the control of algae by surface coverage.