'National Allotments Week' takes place between the 7th and 13th of August this year, and the STIGA team have the tools you need to get your allotment ship shape for sowing, growing and harvesting!

The hedges of our gardens hide a fascinating secret world, where plants and animals give life to precious ecosystems. Here's how to take care of it, protecting biodiversity, without disturbing the guests who find shelter there.

I get asked by so many people "What’s the secret to achieving a fabulous-looking lawn with the amazing lawn stripes so coveted by everyone who loves gardens?" I always start off with my main mantra- “cut it little and often!” But as you would probably expect, it’s not quite so simple! 

Time flies and we have been busy.  

The bulbs are shooting, the daffodils are appearing and Spring is just around the corner.  The daylight is increasing and we are about to see the emergence of further shoots to bring our gardens back to life.  We have recently had a cold spell here in Wales which has given us an opportunity to start to think about the season ahead.

Unfortunately, our warmer months are now over.  Now is the time to prepare the garden for Autumn and helping it recover from the summer heatwave.  

April was a relatively dry month for us here in Wales. We have seen huge variation in day and night temperatures and there is still that chance for a frost. This is one of the busiest times of the year. Remember to open greenhouse doors and vents on warm days, or install automatic vent openers, to improve air circulation.

This February has seen a really damp start to the year here in Wales.  We’ve been battered by two storms and the most recent storm, named Storm Eunice hit us with incredible winds. Thankfully we had a boot of tools in readiness for the storm and the Keder greenhouse managed to hold up to the 90mph winds.  Whilst there is no doubt that Gardening is seasonal, the variations in our weather right across the UK means that there is no set rules for setting actual dates for sowing and planting.  Whilst gardening calendars are really useful, the weather will determine what we can do in the garden.  In this edition, we’ll give you an update on what’s happening in the garden as well as some pointers to help you maximise the benefits from your garden.