Useful ideas. Good beginnings.
Make more of your garden
Gardening that fits your space.
New to gardening? Start with one pot. Our guides help you choose what to grow, check the compost and look after your plants.
In the garden this autumn
Choose a job for the weather and space you have. The October guide is a useful place to start.
October jobs, one at a time
Check drainage and shelter, clear slippery leaves and plan your next planting job.
Put fallen leaves to use
Find a leaf-mould method that fits your space, and see when it is ready to use.
Plant a pot of spring bulbs
Choose the bulbs before planning the layers. Check their planting dates and depths.
Start with one pot
You can begin with a patio corner or a sunny doorstep. Follow these four guides to make your first planting easier to look after.
1. Plan your first pot
Choose a position and one planting you can manage. Check the space, light and container before you buy.
2. Choose compost and check drainage
Read the bag for the plants you have chosen. Then check the drainage holes before filling the pot.
3. Grow herbs you will use
Pick a few herbs for your kitchen and give them the conditions they need. Keep mint in its own pot.
4. Prepare for colder weather
Find out which plants can stay outside. Check shelter and drainage, and move tender plants when needed.
Latest guides
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How to choose secateurs for a small garden
Start with the stems you will cut, then check hand fit, cutting limits and replacement parts before buying.
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Watering can or hose: choosing kit for patio pots
Choose watering equipment around the trip from tap to pot, the weight you can manage and the control your plants need.
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Choosing pots for a small garden: size, material and cost
Compare usable root space, weight, drainage and winter care before paying for a new pot or planter.
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How to plant spring bulbs in pots
Plant spring bulbs in a pot with open drainage holes, using the depth for the chosen species. Start with one type, or use a large…
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November garden jobs for a small UK garden
In November, plant tulip pots when conditions allow, finish suitable winter planting and recheck shelter and drainage. Leave frozen or waterlogged ground alone.
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October garden jobs for a small UK garden
In October, clear wet leaves, check pot drainage and arrange shelter before frost. Plant sound spring bulbs still waiting, and plan tulip pots for November.
Small steps. Something growing.
Good things. Grown by you.
A windowsill, a few pots or a patch of earth. Start with the space you have and build your confidence one small job at a time.