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Winter is most definitely here and many of us may be looking at our gardens in dismay. Conditions have already been quite harsh this year so ensure you’re taking the necessary precautions to prevent avoidable damage. The New Year is the perfect time to complete any small garden jobs, have a clear out of any old or damaged items and also get your garden in tiptop shape for the new season! Here are a couple of things you can do to prepare your garden for the new growing season, prevent harm to plants and wildlife and a couple of beautiful houseplants that thrive during winter.Have a Tidy Up!-..

This time of year is perfect to start a compost heap, you’ll have lots of garden waste as you clear up ready for winter and you could have some nutritious, organic compost to use as early as next spring.Here at A. Hill & Sons, we’ve got our expert gardeners together and compiled your “Definitive Guide to Composting” The Position and Container Possibly the most important decision you’ll make during your composting process is the container in which to create your heap and where to put it – this part can quite literally make or break your compost.It’s important that the site is not subject t..

We hate to be the bearer of bad news but summer is very nearly over… Sadly there is no time to sit here dreaming of an Indian summer because there is a lot of work to be done in the garden as the season changes. Grab yourself a cuppa, get a pen and paper and let’s get planning for the gardening season! When does autumn start?First things first, let’s actually establish when autumn begins. There are two ways in which the seasons are defined - meteorologically and astronomically. The meteorological calendar is split into equal periods of three months: • September – November is autumn ..

Hanging baskets are a welcomed addition to any front or back garden as they provide vibrant and valuable colour at eye level. They are a great, cost-effective way to add colour to small spaces or against drab walls and fences. They are relatively easy to create and maintain and they are perfect for both the summer and winter seasons - you will just plant different flowers accordingly. Firstly, you need to decide what type of hanging basket you want to use. There are three main types: • Rattan Baskets – attractive and normally have a plastic liner which helps water retention • Plast..

The flower bed is a plot of soil from which flowers are grown and just as we need like nicely made bed complete with fluffy pillows to rest our weary heads at night, flower beds need a well prepared bed in order to grow and flourish successfully. Spending time preparing your beds is the key to a garden full of happy flowers, and we all know that happy flowers means a happy gardener! So read on for a step-by-step guide… Step 1: Remove weeds The more thoroughly you do this whilst your bed is clear, then the less weeding you’ll have to do throughout the season – bonus! Step 2: Dig in..

Your garden may still seem dormant and frosty but we all know how quickly spring creeps up on us. Although there may be sunny days, don’t be fooled by these mild spells and begin certain jobs too early - February is often the coldest month of the year! Light levels are increasing and temperatures should begin to drop towards the end of the month, causing wildlife to stir and giving us a signal that spring is on the way. A Hill & Sons want you to get ahead in your garden before you fall behind, so we’ve rounded up the top 5 garden related tasks that you should plan to comple..

Happy New Year to you all - we hope that you’ve had a wonderful festive period!If, like us, you indulged in one too many mince pies or got involved with a few too many cheese boards, now is the time to try your hardest to shed those extra few pounds! Obtaining a healthy lifestyle can sound a little complicated to begin with. Recipes seem to have an endless list of exotic ingredients and it might seem like you need to dedicate an entire day to cooking healthy! However, the Hill’s team have been looking at how to make healthy eating a little simpler (and cheaper!) The answer? Grow yourself he..