Local Gardener Grow Guide: Common Name: LaurustinusFamily: AdoxaceaeType: Evergreen shrubHeight: 2-4 meters (6-13 feet)Spread: 2-3 meters (6-10 feet)Hardiness: Hardy in USDA zones 8-10, tolerating...

How to Grow Viburnum tinus : Month-by-Month Guide

Viburnum tinus, or Laurustinus, is an evergreen shrub that provides year-round interest. Its main flowering period spans November to April, with clusters of pinkish-white...

How to Force Hyacinths to Flower Early

Hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis) are beloved for their vibrant colours and fragrant blooms, making them a popular choice for spring gardens and indoor displays. They’re...

How to Grow Heather in the UK

Heather (Calluna, Erica, and Daboecia species) is a low-maintenance, hardy plant that adds colour and texture to UK gardens year-round. With its vibrant flowers...

How to Grow Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)

Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) is a vigorous, deciduous climber that brings cheer to the garden in the bleak winter months with its bright yellow...

A Month-by-Month Guide to Growing Orchids in the UK

Orchids are mesmerizing plants, and with proper care, they can thrive and flower even in the UK. Whether you're growing tropical species indoors or...

December-Flowering Camellias: Winter’s Brightest Blooms

Camellias are a quintessential feature of UK gardens, celebrated for their elegant blooms, glossy evergreen foliage, and adaptability to a variety of garden styles....

Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’: A Gardener’s Guide

Skimmia japonica 'Rubella' is a reliable, evergreen shrub that offers year-round interest and thrives in a variety of garden settings. Known for its attractive...

How to Grow and Care for Amaryllis in the UK: A Month-by-Month Guide

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) is a stunning plant that’s perfect for bringing vibrant color to your home during the grey winter months. In the UK, where...

How to Grow Mahonia

Mahonia, often called Oregon grape, is a beautiful evergreen shrub that brings interest to the garden throughout the year. With bold, holly-like foliage, fragrant...

Jobs for this month

December Gardening Tips From Barnsdale Gardens

Ooohhhhh …it's nearly here…Christmas! A time for cosy evenings by the fire and wrapping presents next to the tree. But keep your hands off...

Looking Out for Hedgehogs in Winter: How to Help Them

Hedgehogs are some of the most endearing creatures in our gardens, but winter can be a challenging time for them. Here’s how to look...

Protecting Your Plants from Deer and Rabbit Damage During Winter

Winter can be a challenging time for gardeners, particularly when wildlife like deer and rabbits are seeking food. As the cold season strips away...

Winter Compost: Digging Out and Spreading for Healthy Garden Borders

Winter is an excellent time to dig out your compost heap and spread the rich, organic material on your garden borders. This seasonal task...

Growing Onions in December: A Guide for UK Gardeners

While December isn’t the traditional growing season for onions, it’s still possible to start your onion-growing journey during the winter months. Whether you’re aiming...

How to Assess Tree Safety For High Winds

Trees are a vital part of any garden, providing beauty, shade, and habitats for wildlife. However, during high winds, they can pose a hazard...

How to Keep Your Pond Ice Free

Winter poses unique challenges for garden ponds in the UK, as freezing temperatures can threaten aquatic life and disrupt the delicate pond ecosystem. Keeping...

Leave your Sedum stems in December!

In December, Sedum spectabile requires minimal care and is best left undisturbed. Here’s why: Don’t Be Tempted to Cut It Down Winter Interest The dried flower heads...

What to Do with Amaryllis in December

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) is a beloved plant for its stunning, trumpet-shaped flowers, often seen as a centerpiece during the festive season. Here's how to care...

Do not walk on frosty lawns

Walking on a frosty lawn can significantly damage it due to the nature of how frost affects grass blades and the soil underneath. Here’s...

Gardening Questions

What type of Tithonia is best for the UK?

Local Gardener -

Tithonias (Tithonia rotundifolia and Tithonia diversifolia), commonly known as...

How to Stop Invasive Bamboo from Spreading and Remove It for Good

Local Gardener -

Bamboo can be an attractive addition to a garden,...

What is Soldier Frass?

Local Gardener -

What is Soldier Frass? Soldier frass compost is an...

Filling a Plant Pot : Grit, Crocks, Perlite, or Something Else?

Local Gardener -

Filling a plant pot correctly is key to keeping...

Rain vs. Tap Water: Which is Best for Watering Plants and Seedlings?

Local Gardener -

Watering is one of the most important aspects of...

What’s The Difference Between Apples and Crab Apples

Local Gardener -

When strolling through a garden or countryside, you may...

Fruit or Berry, Do you Know The Difference?

Local Gardener -

Fruit or Berry, and the Surprising World of Legumes Today,...

Is your bee hotel killing solitary bees?

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Solitary Bees: Champions of Pollination and Why Bee Hotels...

Is your Leylandii going brown?

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Leylandii going brown is usually a sign of stress...

What Are The Best Plants for The Bedroom?

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Adding plants to your bedroom can improve air quality,...

Your Garden

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The perfect Christmas gift for garden lovers: Customisable Copper Plant Labels from Copper & Green

Products Local Gardener - 30th September 2025 0

French Soaps Launches Iconic Chrome Wall-Mounted Rotating Soap Holders

Products Local Gardener - 11th September 2025 0

French Soaps UK is delighted to spotlight the enduring elegance and thoughtful design behind its Chrome Wall Arms, the original Provendi rotating soap holders...

Repotting with LECHUZA: Special autumn PON promotion!

Products Local Gardener - 10th September 2025 0

As we enjoy the last days of summer and look forward to the golden season of autumn, houseplant parents will be getting ready to...

SealStop: the clever hose gadget helping households save water

Products Local Gardener - 9th September 2025 0

Helping you seal the gap between water usage and water wastage As the UK faces increasing periods of drought and tighter water restrictions, one small...

How to Prune Lavender: A Step-by-Step Guide

Garden Local Gardener - 20th August 2025 0

Lavender is a garden favourite, but without pruning it soon turns woody and straggly. With a simple yearly routine you can keep it compact,...

Wildlife

Rockin’ Robin! Top ten Christmas garden bird ‘did you know’ facts

Top ten ‘did you know’ facts about our favourite Christmas garden bird, by FeatherSnap’s ornithologist, Maria Kincaid Robins are strongly associated with Christmas and regularly feature...

Red squirrel range in Highlands increases by over 25%

Red squirrel range in Highlands increases by over 25% following major reintroduction project by rewilding charity The range of red squirrels in the Scottish Highlands...

Disappearing songbirds. The UK’s silent crisis

Once the familiar soundtrack to every morning stroll or afternoon in the garden, the cheerful chorus of the UK’s songbirds is growing quieter. Since...

Wait… UK Canada Geese Don’t Come from Canada?!

If you’ve ever watched a flock of Canada geese flying overhead in autumn, you might have assumed they were making their long journey from...

Looking Out for Hedgehogs in Winter: How to Help Them

Hedgehogs are some of the most endearing creatures in our gardens, but winter can be a challenging time for them. Here’s how to look...

The Secret Gardeners: Pollinators of the UK

Welcome back to Local Gardener, where we dig into the intricate relationships between nature and humanity. Today we’re honing in on pollination right here...

Understanding Horticulture

The History of Garden Mazes and Labyrinths – And How to Create One in Your Own Garden

Local Gardener -

Garden mazes and labyrinths have a long and fascinating...

Aphids—tiny but mighty

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🌿 Amazing Aphid Facts You Might Not Know! 🐜✨ Aphids—tiny...

Winter Grafting: A Traditional Gardener’s Guide

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Grafting is an ancient horticultural technique that allows gardeners...

Improving Drainage in Clay Soil: What Really Works?

Local Gardener -

Clay soil can be both a blessing and a...

Why Do Peppers Feel Hot? The Science Behind Chilli Heat

The Tomato Scandal: How a Beloved Fruit Was Once Feared as Poison

The Future of Fruit: What Could Replace the Banana?

Apples have more genes than humans!

Understanding F1 Hybrids in Gardening

Marianne North : The Painter and Plant Collector

The Legacy of David Douglas: A Pioneer in Plant Hunting

The crazy world of bananas

Earth’s Oldest Forest : The Gilboa Forest

Welwitschia mirabilis – The Immortal Desert Wonder

Rafflesia arnoldii – The Stinking Giant

The Permian Period and Beyond

The Carboniferous Period: A Golden Age for Plants

The Age of Plants – The Devonian Period

Plants That Listen: How Plants Detect and Respond to Sound

The Surprising Truth Behind the Smell of Freshly Cut Grass

Pests & Diseases

Tackling Box Blight and Box Tree Caterpillar Legally in the UK

B Local Gardener - 28th October 2025

How to diagnose, prevent and treat Box Blight and Box Tree Caterpillar in accordance with UK law Box hedges (Buxus sempervirens and related species) have...

Black Spot

Local Gardener - 3rd April 2025

Black Spot (Plant Disease: Caused by Diplocarpon rosae) Classification: Kingdom: Fungi Phylum:...

Blackleg

Local Gardener - 2nd April 2025

Blackleg (Plant Disease: Caused by Phoma lingam and Pectobacterium...

Blackfly

Local Gardener - 2nd April 2025

Blackfly (Aphididae: Aphis fabae Scopoli, 1763) Classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order:...

Bitter Pit

Local Gardener - 31st March 2025

Bitter Pit Overview:Bitter pit is a physiological disorder affecting apples...

Pyracantha Moth (Argyresthia conjugella)

Local Gardener - 29th March 2025

Pyracantha Moth (Argyresthia conjugella) Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ArthropodaClass: InsectaOrder: LepidopteraFamily: YponomeutidaeGenus:...

Firethorn Leaf Miner (Phyllonorycter leucographella)

Local Gardener - 29th March 2025

Firethorn Leaf Miner (Phyllonorycter leucographella) Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ArthropodaClass: InsectaOrder: LepidopteraFamily:...

Beet and Mangold Fly

Local Gardener - 7th March 2025

Beet and Mangold Fly (Pegomya hyoscyami) Taxonomy & Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum:...

Apple Sawfly

Local Gardener - 27th February 2025

Apple Sawfly (Hoplocampa testudinea) OverviewThe apple sawfly (Hoplocampa testudinea) is...

Apple Scab

Local Gardener - 27th February 2025

Apple Scab (Venturia inaequalis) OverviewApple scab is a fungal disease...

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RHS Hardiness Ratings	USDA Plant Hardiness Zones	Approximate Temperature Range (°C)
H1a H1b H1c	13 12 11	>15°C 10 to 15°C 5 to 10°C
H2	10b	1 to 5°C
H3	9b to 10a	-5 to 1°C
H4	8b to 9a	-10 to -5°C
H5	7b to 8a	-15 to -10°C
H6	6b and 7a	-20 to -15°C
H7	6a	Below -20°C