The AnswerBank Articles

Caring for your Lawn – Watering, Weeds and Worms

In our last article we covered a general guide on how to care for your lawn during two of the most difficult and important times of the year – autumn and spring. In this section, we will show you a few tricks that you can use that aren’t season-specific that will make your grass top of the class.WateringBecause of ...15:26 Fri 09th Jul 2010

Caring for your lawn – Autumn & Spring

A lawn can be a tricky thing to look after. Too much or too little water, using the wrong height mower blades and adding a bit too much fertilizer can completely destroy your garden. Here we have constructed a guide that will allow you to get the best out of your grass all year round.AutumnAs the weather cools around a...15:26 Fri 09th Jul 2010

A Guide to Garden Ponds

A pond can be a very appealing feature in any garden. Whether it is big or small, a well-kept water feature offers a lot: the relaxing tinkling of a fountain or fall, a focal point with a surface that reflects your plants wonderfully, a home for frogs and a feeding spot and watering hole for birds and other wildlife.Bu...14:26 Fri 09th Jul 2010

Focus DIY

Focus DIY is one of the largest DIY retailers in the UK. Their stores have sections for bathroom, kitchen, decorating, furniture, gardening and tools and offer great bargains. Focus DIY has their own branded goods plus all the big names in their stores. The brand was founded by Bill Archer and Greg Stanley (who had pre...16:00 Wed 26th May 2010

Royal Horticultural Halls

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert. It is a charity and exists to promote gardening and horticulture in Britain and Europe. This is done through a series of f...15:37 Mon 24th May 2010

Garden Museum

The Garden Museum (formerly the Museum of Garden History) aims to become the leading national venue for exhibitions and debate on gardens and garden design. The museum covers the whole range of gardening, from royal gardens to allotments. The Garden’s focal point is the beautiful 17th Century inspired knot garden...15:37 Mon 24th May 2010

UK Daffodil Shortage

The sight of a broad swath of bobbing yellow flowers inspired Wordsworth to pen his famous poem. For many of us seeing daffodils at the sides of roads or in gardens is a sign that spring is on the way. The days are getting lighter and warmer and the weather is getting better. However, this year that has not been the ca...15:37 Mon 24th May 2010

A Guide To Soil PH

When planting new flowers and shrubs planning ahead is very important. One vital thing that you will have to establish is the PH of the soil that you are going to be working with.   What is PH   PH is one of those things you might remember from science lessons when you were back at school. We aren’...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Guide To Evergreen Plants

An evergreen plant can provide your garden with a feature that looks good all year round. However before you rush out and buy one you should consider a few things.   Is Your Garden Suitable   Firstly would an evergreen plant grow in your garden Evergreens have certain light requirements, like all plants...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Hothouse/Greenhouse Planning And Growing Guide

A greenhouse can provide the perfect environment for growing unusual plants which would not survive outdoors in our temperamental British weather. However the prospect of building or buying one can seem daunting.   Planning a Greenhouse   When considering getting a greenhouse there are some things you sho...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Growing Rhubarb Guide

Rhubarb can be a great winter warmer desert in the form of crumble and, because they are tough, hardy, vegetables (or are they fruit ) they can be almost completely left to their own devises. With a little help from a green finger or two at the right time you can have a truly spectacular crop. One warning to heed is t...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Hanging Basket Guide

If you have any covered outside areas around your home then you may be considering the best way to breathe some life into them. Hanging baskets can be a great way to do this. As hanging baskets are reasonably easy to maintain and offer huge bursts of colour in summer (if you so wish) they can be a great way of livening...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Water Garden Guide

A water garden can be a beautiful feature of your garden’s design – or if you are particularly into water and water-features, it can be your whole garden! You may like a small, cool, section at the back of the garden – divided by an ivy covered trellis – which can be a safe haven for the Sunday ...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Rose Garden Guide

The rose is a symbol of love and beauty as espoused by poets throughout the ages – and with good reason, these beautiful flowers are likely to bring any garden out into huge bursts of colours. A whole garden of these wonderful plants will astound guests in summer months and keep the head gardener (whether that&rs...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Growing Tomatoes Guide

We all know that the quality of your cooking relies heavily on the quality of the raw produce. One way to get the freshest produce is to do it yourself. Growing your own food can one of the best ways to keep a complete control over what you eat – knowing exactly how your food has been treated can be invaluable. ...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Growing Gooseberries Guide

A gooseberry bush can be one of the easiest fruits to grow in your garden. If you have a small garden it can be ideal as it is easy to grow, produces plenty of fruit and doesn’t mind being in partial shade. They are hardy plants which can withstand cooler areas and harder winds. Another great thing about gooseber...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Formal Garden Design Guide

For those with enough space and time you may have considered changing your garden design into something more refined. A formally designed garden can be visually pleasing, easy to maintain and allows managing a garden efficiently. For those who are keen on gardening this is the perfect way to show off your expertise. ...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Beneficial Garden Wildlife Guide

Gardening is an endless struggle to control and craft nature into pleasing forms for the human eye. Yet this relationship need not always be combative. Of course it does feel like war sometimes; against the endless growth of grass and the constant need for pruning. And then there are slugs. While we may have spent s...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Apple Tree Pruning Guide

To get the fullest and tastiest fruit from your apple tree you will be required to do some selective pruning.  The advantages of pruning are in the quality of the fruit and controlling the shape and the size of the tree – the latter can be vital in smaller gardens. By pruning you are attempting to limit t...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Apple Tree Guide

Most of us like to have some fruit in our garden. While we might not be able to have some of the more exotic fruits which we have come to enjoy and take for granted, we can always rely on a crisp and fresh apple. As the apple is native to Britain they usually thrive with a little attention. There are several things to ...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010