There is no doubting that most children love the outside. They love playing outside, getting dirty and learning all about the outside world. This is why it is great to take this moment to teach our children more about the outside world through gardening. BY teaching children all about gardening, including how to care for a garden and plants, you are going to give them an amazing life skill. The skill to help them to know how to care for things other than themselves, as well as give them the ability to make a positive impact on our world. By implementing a love for gardening from a young age, you will find they do more in later life to keep our planet earth in the best condition they can. Not only can they learn about plants, but wildlife as well. Protecting our wildlife is great and could spark what they wish to become in later life.

Mental Health, a topic that is generally avoided, but gradually becoming one that people are more open about. So, let’s think about mental health and whether gardening can help us.

If you struggle with any form of mental health, you will likely notice that it can become a challenge to head outside. This is where gardening can come into play. When you put your mind into the gardening mode, you will find that it becomes easier for you to get outside. By doing this, you are taking your mind away from whatever is bothering you, as well as giving you some much needed fresh air and vitamin D.

Gardening will have a huge impact on your mental health. It will help to boost your mood and help you to feel calmer bust by getting outside with nature. So yes, gardening can help with your mental health, and it should be something that is considered.

Gardening is one of the most relaxing hobbies of all time. But, why is this such a relaxing hobby to get into?

One of the main reasons why we find gardening to be a relaxing hobby is because you are out with nature. The sounds of nature are known to be extremely calming, so it is no wonder why people feel relaxed when gardening.

Gardening can also be seen as a relaxing hobby as it is full of creativity. Unlike other hobbies, in gardening there is no right or wrong, it is all down to your own creativity.

The only stressful part with gardening is caring for the flowers when they have been planted. But this can be fairly simple, as long as you keep on top of this care plan you should always find this to be a relaxing time.

So, gardening is a relaxing hobby, will you be taking part in this hobby?

The winter months are fast approaching in the United Kingdom and your garden care should not stop just because it’s getting cooler. So, today we are going to share with you some ways that you can prepare your garden for the winter months.

Clear Debris
Before the winter months are here, you want to head out to your garden and remove any debris from your garden, especially your lawn. If you leave debris to sit on your lawn throughout the winter months it is unlikely to rot away. It is also more likely to cause your lawn to be killed off, meaning you will have bald patches of grass that you need to sort the following year. The best way to keep your lawn healthy is to remove any debris.

Clean Your Tools
You should think ahead and clean your gardening tools during the winter months. This is the perfect time to clean your tools as it is very unlikely that you will be using these until the following spring. Cleaning your tools during the winter means you will have one less job to worry about when springtime comes around and you are wanting to work in your garden.

Review Your Plants
Before the winter months come around you want to head out into your garden and review what plants you have growing. By this we mean look at what flowers and crops are growing in your garden currently. Some of these will not survive the cold winter months, therefore it will be best if you pot these and bring them indoors or put them into your greenhouse. This is the best way to have your plants to survive the winter months.

These are just a few things you can do to help your garden during and leading up to the winter months. There is no reason to forget about your garden during this time, it still needs caring for.

Choosing between compost and topsoil can be difficult, especially if you are new to the gardening world. While both of these seem to be the same they are slightly different in very minor ways.

Topsoil is mainly useful when you are planting directly into your garden soil. It will add depth and improve the quality of the soil you are planting beneath your turf. Topsoil is also much better at retaining its shape, meaning you will not end with a mess all over your garden. It also holds moisture that is much needed for your plant’s growth, helping to improve its growth.

While topsoil may seem like the best option, there is one main scenario when compost may be better for you. This is why you are planting your flowers into plant pots. Compost brings with it extra nutrients that potted plants will be lacking if topsoil is used. It is possible to mix both topsoil and compost to make your own potting compost that will combine the benefits of both.

For some gardeners, we do not wish to change the way the ground of our garden looks, but we still want to add a splash of colour somehow. The best way to do this is by having pots around your garden, where you can then plant flowers, small trees, shrubs and other plants. But what do you need to consider when buying pots for your garden?

Price Point
One of the most important aspects to consider when buying pots for your garden is the price point. You should create yourself a budget and stick to it as surprisingly pots can become very expensive.

Size Limits
You will also need to know exactly where you want to place your pots in your garden. Taking measurements of this area so you know the ideal and maximum pot size. You do not want to spend loads of money for the pot to then not fit in the desired location.

Remember Soil
Another aspect that you need to remember when purchasing pots for your garden is soil or compost. You will need to fill your pots with something before you can begin planting in them. Now, soil and compost can both be fairly expensive, so you should consider the price of these as well as the pots within your budget. A larger pot will cost more to fill.

Colour Schemes
Now, pots can come in a range of different colours and styles. We recommend that you do lots of research into different pots and don’t just buy the first you see. Consider the colour scheme you are after as not all will look right with every kind of flower or plant.

These are the top four aspects you need to consider when purchasing pots for your garden. Always have a budget for yourself to stick to as pots can quickly become a very expensive purchase.

Spring, a time of year that all gardeners love and hate at the same time. A time of year where we need to be in the zone, yet still enjoying everyday life. So, let us get ready for spring together and enjoy this moment as one!

I personally like t begin my spring preparation with my garden planning. As I like to mix my garden up every year, trying new crops and new plants, I need to take careful planning. Working out what plants I want to put where to have a maximum effect. This takes up time, drawing a plan for my garden and figuring out where plants and crops will work best.

Once this plan is all sorted, I head out to the garden! Carefully preparing all of the lands where my crops and plants will be planted. Ensuring it is all raked thoroughly, given lovely fertiliser. Ensuring it is the best quality compost, from my own compost bin to give my plants the best chance this year!

Again, I head back to planning. Now I know my compost is sorted and ready to be planted in. Once all my seeds arrive planning begins again. I like to know when I should plant crops to make the most use out of them. For example, I will plant carrots 1 week apart so I have a steady flow of carrots coming in at harvest time. I also like to plant my flowers so they all bloom around the same time, allowing my garden to be bright and beautiful.

To get ready for spring with me takes a lot of planning. We all need to plan to make the most out of our gardens. Understanding when to move plants from the greenhouse to outside. As well as when they will all be ready for harvesting.

The most important item to a gardener is of course their tools, you can’t be a gardener without your tools. Today, we are going to share with you where you can buy gardening tools in Northampton.

Dobbies
One of the most commonplace to buy gardening tools in Northampton are the local garden centres, Dobbies. These can however be more expensive than other places, so it is important to shop around.

Homebase
Another shop which is DIY and gardening based is Homebase. This is a good place to shop to buy gardening tools within any budget. With them being able to offer high to low prices ranges all at good quality.

Facebook Market Place
Market Place on Facebook is another good place to buy gardening tools around Northampton. With people from your area selling their unwanted tools for a fraction of the cost to purchase new. Meaning you could get higher quality products for less money.