KNOW IT, GROW IT

Discover the science, beauty, and practical care of plants with expert guides in botany, horticulture, and gardening.

Sprayed Before You Eat It: The UK’s Hidden Use of Glyphosate on Food Crops

Local Gardener - 1st July 2025 0

Most people know glyphosate as the weedkiller in Roundup — something you spray on driveways or patios to kill unwanted growth. But in UK...

Seed Wars: How Farmers Lost the Right to Grow Their Own Crops

1st July 2025

Disappearing songbirds. The UK’s silent crisis

22nd May 2025

RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2025: Trolleys at the Ready for a Grand Day Out

12th May 2025

Flowering Now

Growing Tithonias in the UK

16th June 2025 0

Tithonias, commonly known as Mexican sunflowers, are a vibrant addition to UK gardens. With their fiery orange-red blooms and striking stature, these tender annuals...

Growing Alstroemeria in the UK

16th June 2025 0

Alstroemeria, commonly known as the Peruvian lily or lily of the Incas, is a versatile and long-lasting perennial that has become a favourite in...

What type of Tithonia is best for the UK?

27th February 2025

How to Grow Agapanthus in the UK

3rd December 2024

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

3rd December 2024

How to Grow Perennial Geraniums: Planting, Care, and Top Varieties

28th October 2024

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?

Local Gardener -

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

Is your Leylandii going brown?

Local Gardener -

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

What Are The Best Plants for The Bedroom?

Local Gardener -

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

Your Garden

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How to Improve Clay Soil: Turning Heavy Ground into a Productive Garden

Garden Local Gardener - 4th July 2025 0

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Disappearing songbirds. The UK’s silent crisis

NEWS Local Gardener - 22nd May 2025 0

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...

Cobra RM514SPC Lawn Mower

Garden Local Gardener - 20th March 2025 0

Cobra RM514SPC Lawn Mower – History, Specifications & Review The Cobra RM514SPC is a powerful self-propelled rear roller mower, designed to create a professional striped...

Protecting Fruit Bushes with Netting

Garden Local Gardener - 5th March 2025 0

Growing fruit bushes like currants, gooseberries, raspberries, and blueberries can be incredibly rewarding, but without proper protection, birds and other wildlife can quickly strip...

Starting Tomatoes, Peppers, and Cucumbers Indoors

Garden Local Gardener - 5th March 2025 0

March is the perfect time to start tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers indoors, giving them a head start before transplanting them outside...

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

Local Gardener -

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

Winter Grafting: A Traditional Gardener’s Guide

Local Gardener -

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

Earth’s Oldest Forest : The Gilboa Forest

Welwitschia mirabilis – The Immortal Desert Wonder

Rafflesia arnoldii – The Stinking Giant

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

Black Spot (Plant Disease: Caused by Diplocarpon rosae) Classification: Kingdom: Fungi Phylum: Ascomycota Class: Leotiomycetes Order: Helotiales Family: Dermateaceae Genus: Diplocarpon Species: Diplocarpon rosae Description: Black spot is a fungal disease that primarily affects...