Care Guides
Care guides by Rupert Foxton-Smythe
426 guides
How to Grow Anemones
There are four main types of ‘bulbous’ anemones: St Brigid, the French, the Fulgens, and the Dutch.
Flowering Bulbs
The bulbous plants provide us with some of the loveliest of the garden flowers. Few other plants give such brilliance and profusion of colour for so little effort on the part of the grower.
Growing Bulbs
Given the right conditions, bulbs are happy anywhere — in window-boxes, tubs, old sinks, or naturalized in the smallest patio lawn.
Shrubs for Year-Round Interest
It is tempting to choose shrubs solely on the basis of their flowers, but if you consider their leaves, bark and berries as well, you can create a display that is colourful all the year round.
How to Use Garden Plants
When planting a garden we generally use a combination of the groups of plants mentioned above.
Wall Fruits – Apples
Apples are perfectly hardy in this country, but given the protection of a wall some of the finest varieties, such as ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’, will succeed in the north of England when they would not do…
Over and Under Watering House Plants
The obvious effect of an underwatered plant is that it wilts and becomes limp and unsightly. However, there are other clues to look for.
Growing Shrubs and Climbers
American gardeners, who are very good at inventing names that are highly descriptive, often refer to the trees and shrubs used in gardens as foundation planting.
How to Plant Bottle Gardens
The culture of plants in terrariums and bottle gardens is very similar. The principle of cultivation is that the high sides of the container restrict evaporation and moisture runs back to the compost…
Growing Bonsai Trees
The literal meaning of the word bonsai is planted in a shallow tray or container (suiban in Japanese) and refers to the attempt to artificially perfect natural tree forms in miniature.
Repotting Houseplants
Repotting houseplants should be done annually; the best time to do this is in spring when your plants are beginning to grow again after a winter period of slow or very little growth.
Which Potting Compost Is Best for Indoor Plants?
Discover what potting mixtures contain and take the guesswork out of choosing the right one to keep your house plants healthy.