Care Guides
Care guides by Rupert Foxton-Smythe
426 guides
Mixed Beds and Borders
There are houses and gardens which, because of their style and layout, are most suited to a formal treatment of plants.
Best Way to Grow Tulips
There are hundreds of types of tulips to choose from, singles, doubles, those with blotched flowers, feathery kinds, striped types and so on.
Glass Containers and Bottle Gardens
Glass demijohns and fish bowls also take up relatively little space. When properly planted, they are not only very decorative but also extremely suitable for species that require high atmospheric…
Water Plants
Any expanse of water in a garden, however small, is greatly enhanced by a good selection of floating and marginal aquatic plants.
Do I Want a Popular Plant or a Rarity?
Many of the plants in the A-Z guides are distinctly common – you will find them in gardens everywhere.
Plants Between Patio Paving
The best spot for a patio is the one with the most sun. It should also be convenient to the house, provide a good view, privacy, space for eating and relaxing, and some shade.
Flower Arrangements Using Irises
We all know the Dutch flower paintings which include amongst them many fine examples of differently coloured irises.
How to Arrange Ferns in Displays
Ferns have a strange charm of their own. Used in groups, they can be very decorative, the lacy fronds of some contrasting with the long tongue like leaves of others.
Bedding Plants for Beginners
Generally speaking, the beginner in garden matters will buy most of his bedding plants as he buys his bulbs, probably from a local nursery or market.
Beginners Guide to Cloche Gardening
First, cloches. There are several types you can buy in glass or plastic. There are three types of glass cloche -the tent-shaped, the flat-top barn cloche and the barn cloche.
Growing Fruit in Small Gardens
It isn’t often realised how much fruit can be grown in quite a small garden. Trees can be trained as cordons or espaliers to make the very best use of available space.
Herb Growing Simplified
Apart from their culinary value herbs are highly decorative plants and can be grown on any old patch of ground.