Gardening Blog

Rowan provides fuel for pollinating insects and is an important foodplant for several caterpillars

Gardeners and butterflies are relishing the last burst of warmth before Jack Frost arrives to dust our plants with his icy shimmer.

Heleniums bring both colour and a food source for pollinators to your flowerbeds in autumn.

There is increasing evidence that gardening provides substantial health benefits and improves wellbeing. Simply being in a green space can make you feel happier and healthier and gardening is an easy way to get out in nature.

This month the Secret Gardener investigates the best plants to provide caterpillar food and flying-fuel for both day and night flying moths.

The Secret Gardener's star plant which has been flowering without stopping, since it was planted couple of years ago, is the Perennial Wallflower Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’.

When buying potted plants, we should consider four significant environmental issues: pesticides, biosecurity, peat, and plastic.

As February gets into its stride, the signs of the fast approaching spring are becoming more and more evident.

January is an easy month to help butterflies and moths in the garden. Many species will be taking shelter until temperatures start to rise so leave leaf litter and postpone pruning to protect eggs, caterpillars and crysalises.

The Secret Gardener investigates which species just one lichen-covered branch could be supporting and reminds you to be careful when bringing twigs inside.

Create a moon garden to cater for night-fliers this Moth Night.

Michaelmas-daisies are one of the stars of the autumn flowerbed, providing nectar for butterflies – such as the Red Admiral - when other plants are starting to fade.

As you are pottering around deadheading pay attention to which flowers are the most popular nectar sources.

Let an area of grass grow long or sow an area with a mix of wildflowers and grasses to provide food and shelter for butterflies, moths and other wildlife.

The Verbena family includes useful nectar plants for butterflies and other pollinators.

All of us can contribute to improving the area around our homes for wildlife - whether rural or urban - and one way is by sowing wildflower seed.

Being a committed wildlife gardener means compromising a little on the tidiness of your garden to protect the overwintering sites of insects and other creatures.

Along with all the other resolutions you are making this month, why not jot down some ideas for helping butterflies and moths in your garden this year.

Holly is one of the plants most strongly associated with Christmas, but it is also a useful resource for butterflies and moths...

Heather is an attractive, evergreen shrub that can bring colour to your garden all year-round. It's also a useful nectar source for butterflies and moths and the foodplant of several caterpillars.

Create a bulb lasagne for butterflies by layering bulbs in a container. Follow the Secret Gardeners recommendations and your plants will flower in succession from February to July.

Seed harvesting is a cost effective way of preserving and increasing your stock of plants. Any surplus can be shared or swapped with friends or family.

The Secret Gardener takes a look at what's available in garden centres this month for some last-minute, low maintenance, butterfly-friendly gardening.

Despite their exotic looks, Hawk-moths and their caterpillars don't have particularly fancy tastes. Most of their food plants are commonly found in gardens.

You might not associate a garden rockery with butterflies and moths but actually the hot and dry microhabitat, with well-drained soil, can offer conditions suitable for some great nectar plants.

The large, flat, flower heads, which give Umbellifers their name (think umberella), sit atop tall stems, providing excellent perches for butterflies and moths in need of nectar.

Plant the right pollinator-friendly seeds now and you could also benefit. The Secret gardener introduces some plants that provide nectar for butterflies and moths and are also suitable to cut for flower arranging.

Witch Hazel is one of few January flowering shrubs. It will provide nectar when little else is available and its star-like blooms add a bright burst of colour in a pale winter landscape.

The Secret Gardener suggests a potted Christmas tree that can go out in the garden after the festivities are over, and provide a meal for moths.