For Mike Powles and his team of six volunteer grounds staff at Walsham Le Willows Sports Club, the aim of their maintenance is simple: to keep the surfaces in the best possible condition all year round. That task is now much easier thanks to the purchase of a Deep...

Dobbies Garden Centres has announced a new partnership with Waves, the country’s largest hand car wash and valeting provider. Five premium car wash facilities are now open at Dobbies stores; Woodcote Green, Ashford, Peterborough, Ponteland and Brighton. Last year, Dobbies launched an ambitious national store refurbishment programme, designed to broaden...

FeatherSnap, the solar-powered, Wi-Fi enabled smart bird feeder, is proudly supporting the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2026 encouraging households across the UK to join hundreds of thousands of people taking part in the nation’s largest annual survey of garden birds.  Fun, free and open to everyone, the Big Garden Birdwatch provides a...

Green-tech, the UK’s leading supplier of professional landscaping products, is pleased to announce an enhanced partnership with British Hardwood Tree Nursery, a specialist provider of bare root and cell grown trees, shrubs, hedging and planting accessories. Both companies are part of the Origin Enterprises PLC group, and the collaboration will...

After more than six years of dormancy, Raglan Golf Club had become a shadow of its former self – with overgrown fairways, unplayable greens and failing drainage. When new owners took over in spring 2024, they swiftly brought in Course Manager Lucy Sellick to embark on a 10-month restoration...

British Garden Centres is delighted to announce the successful acquisition of Ferndale Garden Centre in North Derbyshire. The centre officially joined the group in...

It is most definitely storm season! But don't let the tempests of this life get in the way of a nice, neat outside space.  Blowing a hooley could be just the thing you and your garden need for a chance to try out some of the superb Mountfield tools, which are great for a Big Garden Tidy Up!Whether you need to deal with broken branches, tidy up hedges or simply blow a pesky amount of debris away, the Mountfield’s Freedom100 cordless range will revolutionise your tidying experience with a selection of mowers and hand tools which are powered by shareable 20V batteries. MVS 20 Li Kit Cordless...

Cardoons (Cynara cardunculus) can be relatively easy to grow, especially if you have some gardening experience and the right conditions. Cardoons come in several varieties, each with distinct characteristics. Here are some popular varieties: 1. ‘Gigante di Romagna’ Description: This is a large variety known for its robust growth and thick, meaty stems. Origin: Italy Uses: Ideal for blanching and eating the tender inner stalks. 2. ‘Porto Spineless’ Description: As the name suggests, this variety has fewer spines, making it easier to handle and harvest. Origin: Portugal Uses: Popular for its tender stems and ease of preparation. 3. ‘Red Cardoon’ (Cynara cardunculus var. altilis) Description: This variety features striking red or purple-tinged stems and foliage. Origin: Likely a cultivated variety selected for its color. Uses: Adds ornamental value to gardens...

A tropical-style garden in the UK can transport you to warmer climes, filled with vibrant colors, lush foliage, and a sense of untamed wilderness. One of the best ways to achieve this look is by incorporating climbing plants, which add height, texture, and a sense of wild abundance. Here are three of the best climbers to consider for your UK tropical-style garden: Honeysuckle ‘Dropmore Scarlet’, Spanish Flag, and Clematis armandii. Each brings its own unique flair, helping to create that exotic, verdant paradise you’re aiming for. 1. Honeysuckle ‘Dropmore Scarlet’ (Lonicera x brownii) Interesting Facts: Honeysuckle ‘Dropmore Scarlet’ is a hybrid variety, developed in Canada in 1950 by breeder Frank Skinner, combining the...

Creating a tropical-style garden can be a rewarding endeavor, especially if you choose flowers that not only add vibrant colors but also bring unique textures and interesting stories to your garden. Here are five excellent choices to elevate your tropical paradise with their yellow flowers, complete with some fascinating facts that might surprise you. 1. Calla Lily (Zantedeschia spp.) Elegance in BloomCalla lilies are renowned for their elegant, trumpet-shaped blooms and lush, dark green foliage. Native to southern Africa, these flowers thrive in warm, moist conditions, making them a perfect fit for tropical-style gardens. The flower comes in a range of colors, from pure white to deep purple,...

 Whether you’re designing a lush paradise in your backyard or adding tropical flair to a border, flowers play a pivotal role in bringing that rich, colourful, and dynamic look. Let’s take a journey through a rainbow of tropical blooms!” The Stars of the Show—Big, Bold, and Beautiful “The first step in creating a tropical garden is selecting flowers that bring bold colours, dramatic shapes, and plenty of presence. Let’s start with some heavy hitters: Lilies: Whether it’s Asiatic or Oriental hybrids, lilies are showstoppers. Their large, fragrant blooms in shades of white, orange, pink, and even red create a luxurious tropical atmosphere. Oriental lilies like ‘Stargazer’ add intoxicating fragrance,...

Begonias are often thought of as tender summer bedding plants, but several hardy varieties can survive UK winters and return year after year. These plants are perfect for shady borders, woodland gardens, and containers, offering colour, texture, and late-season interest when many other plants are fading. Why Choose Hardy Begonias in the UK? They return each year, unlike tender bedding begonias. Many produce flowers in late summer and autumn, filling gaps in the garden. They thrive in shaded or partially shaded areas, ideal for north-facing walls, under trees, or woodland borders. Certain cultivars, such as Begonia ‘Torsa’, provide large, tropical-looking foliage that adds drama to UK gardens. Best Hardy Begonias for UK...

Christmas already feels like a long time ago, but the Barnsdale Gardens team hope you enjoyed it as much as they did! Never ready to rest on their laurels, the work doesn't stop when it comes to looking after these 38 beautifully designed gardens in Rutland. You may be surprised at the tips from this super knowledgeable team, which can be utilised in your own garden. Take a look below for a medley of jobs that need doing in January … Propagating Shrub RosesAs long as the ground is not frozen, now is an excellent time to take hardwood cuttings of shrub roses. Choose a healthy, pencil-thick shoot...

Fatsia japonica camouflage is easy to grow providing you get a few things right. First it must be in the right position. They like indirect sunlight but not direct sunlight. So it needs to be in a bright position but not exposed to full sun. Corners are a good place, where the sun cannot get to burn the leaves. Fatsia camouflage like moist soil but do not like being kept in permanently wet soil. A well drained spot, preferably not in clay. With regard to frost tolerance, the variegated forms are supposedly not as tough as the plain fatsias. (This winter however has seen my plain fatsias totally...

While all cannas benefit from winter protection in the UK, some varieties are notably hardier than others. These differences in hardiness depend on their...

Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’, commonly known as the red Abyssinian banana, is a stunning focal point in tropical-style gardens, thanks to its bold, red-tinged leaves and...

To wake up Colocasias from dormancy in the UK, you need to provide warmth, moisture, and light at the right time. Best Time to Start in...

The distinction between Butia capitata and Butia odorata is a result of taxonomic revision and improved botanical understanding over time. Both are members of the Arecaceae family and commonly referred...

Bamboo Is Monocarpic This means that each individual plant only flowers once in its lifetime — then it dies. Unlike annuals that flower and seed every year, or...

Brugmansias — often called Angel’s Trumpets — are divided into warm group and cold group species. This classification is based on their natural habitats and temperature preferences, which affect how (and where) they...

How often do orchids flower? That depends on various factors including the species of orchid, its growing conditions, and care it receives. Generally, most...

Harden off plants might sound like a perplexing gardening term, but it’s a crucial step for the health and resilience of your green companions....

Many gardeners rely on experience, reputation, and trust to keep work flowing. While that approach can work, it often leaves gardeners exposed when expectations aren’t clear. Contracts don’t need to be complicated, but avoiding them—or using them poorly—is one of the most common business mistakes in gardening. Here are the top five contract mistakes gardeners make, and how to avoid them. 1. Relying on Verbal Agreements A handshake might feel sufficient, especially with long-standing clients, but memories fade and expectations change. Verbal agreements offer little protection if a dispute arises over price, workload, or frequency of visits. How to avoid it:Always put the agreement in writing, even for small jobs....

As price rise season approaches, many small businesses feel the pressure to hold their prices down. There’s a fear that increasing prices will drive customers away, especially in tough economic times. But there’s an uncomfortable truth that needs saying: Cheap prices don’t just attract more customers – they attract the wrong ones. Cheap Prices Set the Tone of Your Business When your prices are low, you’re not just selling a service. You’re sending a message. Low prices tell customers: You’re competing on cost, not quality Your time isn’t especially valuable There’s room to negotiate, complain, or push boundaries This is why the cheapest customers are often the most demanding. They expect premium service for...

As the gardening season gets going, it can be tempting to cram in work even on bank holidays—especially when the weather's fine and the diary's full. But if you're regularly working Easter Monday, May Day, or August Bank Holiday just to keep up, it's time to ask whether that's really good business. Spoiler: it’s probably not. 1. If You Need to Work Holidays, Your Business Model Might Be BrokenIf your income depends on working every public holiday, the numbers aren’t adding up somewhere. A well-structured gardening business should allow time off without making you panic about lost income. Undercharging, doing too much solo, or chasing too many small...

Starting or scaling up a gardening business in the UK often means getting your hands on a dependable van. Whether it’s for hauling tools, plants, compost, or waste, a van is the beating heart of many green-fingered enterprises. But what’s the most affordable and practical way to get one — especially if you're working with a limited budget? In this guide, we’ll break down the most cost-effective ways to get a van, from buying outright to flexible finance options, tailored for sole traders and small business owners in the gardening trade. 1. Buying Outright – Simple and Debt-Free If you have cash available — around £3,000 to £4,000 —...

Robotic lawn mowers are quietly transforming garden maintenance across the UK, raising growing concerns about the future of thousands of professional gardening jobs. As these machines become more affordable and technologically advanced, many homeowners and councils are choosing automation over traditional labour. These compact, battery-powered machines operate autonomously, using GPS, boundary wires or onboard cameras to navigate gardens. Equipped with sharp rotary blades, they trim grass continuously and return to a charging station when power runs low. Most models can be controlled via smartphone apps, and many operate silently at night or during rain. Robot mowers are designed to cut grass little and often, typically every day or...

THE TRUE COST OF HIRING: WHAT DOES IT REALLY TAKE TO EMPLOY SOMEONE? Hiring an employee at minimum wage may seem straightforward, but the true cost of employment stretches far beyond the basic hourly rate. Business owners, especially those in gardening and trade industries, must factor in taxes, insurance, vehicle expenses, equipment, travel time, and more to ensure they not only cover their costs but also turn a profit. So, how much do you really need to charge per hour just to break even? Let’s break it down. The Base Wage: Where It All Begins From April 2025, the UK minimum wage stands at £12.21 per hour, equating to...

As the gardening season kicks off on April 1st, self-employed gardeners and landscapers should take a moment to review their prices. With inflation pushing up the cost of materials, fuel, and insurance, keeping rates the same as last year could mean earning less for the same hard work. If you haven’t updated your prices in a while, now is the time—before the busiest months of the year begin. How Much Have Costs Risen? Inflation isn’t just about the price of groceries. Gardeners face rising costs across the board: General inflation (CPIH) has gone up 3.8% in the last year. Service-based inflation (SPPI), which includes businesses like gardening, has risen 4.2%. Landscaping materials...

For generations, professional gardeners have relied on vans to transport tools, plants, and materials. But in recent years, changes in emissions laws, parking restrictions, licensing, and even speed limits have made running a gardening business more complicated—and more expensive—than ever. From the cost of upgrading vehicles to unexpected fines, many gardeners now find that staying on the road is a constant challenge. Clean Air Zones: A Costly Challenge Many UK cities have introduced Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) and Clean Air Zones (CAZ) to reduce pollution. These zones target older diesel vans, which are common among self-employed gardeners. London's ULEZ covers all boroughs, charging £12.50 per day for vans that...

From April 2026, the UK government’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA) scheme will bring big changes for self-employed gardeners and small gardening businesses. Under these new digital tax rules, those earning over £50,000 annually will be required to maintain digital financial records and submit tax updates to HMRC every three months. From April 2027, the threshold lowers to £30,000, affecting even more self-employed gardeners. Will You Have to Pay Tax Every Quarter? Despite the new requirement to submit quarterly updates, gardeners will not have to pay tax every quarter—at least for now. Instead, tax payments will continue to be due once a year...

The days of petrol-powered lawnmowers may be numbered, as major manufacturers begin phasing out small engines in response to environmental regulations and shifting consumer demand. While the transition is already underway in the United States, the UK market could soon face similar changes. So could we eventually get a petrol lawnmower ban in the UK? U.S. Manufacturers Lead the Shift Several major lawnmower manufacturers have made significant moves in the U.S., responding to growing restrictions on petrol-powered equipment: Honda announced in 2022 that it would cease production of petrol lawnmowers in the U.S. by September 2023, citing "market conditions" and stricter environmental laws. The company is selling off its...

Starting and running a gardening business in the UK requires more than just horticultural skills—you also need to ensure you comply with legal regulations and have the right insurance in place. This guide will walk you through the key legal and insurance requirements to protect yourself, your business, and your clients. 1. Registering Your Gardening Business Before you start working with clients, you need to legally register your business. The structure you choose will affect your tax responsibilities, liability, and paperwork. Sole Trader vs. Limited Company Sole Trader: The simplest option, where you operate as an individual. You must register for Self-Assessment with HMRC (gov.uk/register-self-assessment). Limited Company: A separate legal entity,...

If you’re starting a gardening business, one of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether to operate as a sole trader or a limited company. Each has its pros and cons, and the best choice depends on your goals, financial situation, and how you want to manage your business. This article will break down the differences between these two business structures and help you decide which is right for you. 1. What is a Sole Trader? A sole trader is a self-employed individual who runs their business alone. It’s the simplest and most common business structure for gardeners, landscapers, and other tradespeople. Pros of Being a Sole Trader ✅...