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Houseplant of the month: Areca palm

The areca palm (Dypsis lutescens AGM) is one of the most popular houseplants, and no wonder, with its slender arching yellow stems and feathery evergreen leaves. Known also as the bamboo palm, butterfly palm or golden cane palm, it originates from the forests of Madagascar. These plants can eventually reach around 2m (6.5ft) in height, but they grow relatively slowly indoors, so there’s no need to fear them taking over your home! And areca palms don’t just look good – they’re also good at removing toxins like formaldehyde from the air.

Home trends: hanging plants & lights

With our ideas to combine hanging plants and lights, you will be armed with plenty of ways to mix clever lighting with some of the best houseplants you can find. The two together work so well, both highlighting the plant and also the rooms in your house. Not only that but you can make a real statement, be creative or keep it on the down-low for something a little more subtle. Either way, there are many options and here are a few for you to try.

8 x hardy plants for winter

Beat the cold weather with our top 8 hardy plants for winter and continue to have colour and interest with evergreen foliage and flowers in your garden all year.

Taking care of your vegetable garden in winter

When the autumn harvest is over, it can feel as though vegetable gardening is over for the year, but it doesn’t have to be this way. With time to spare, now’s your chance to plan ahead for a bumper crop.

Taking care of your vegetable garden in winter

Indoor Style: Pretty Pastel

Create calm rooms when using pretty pastels in the home with natural colours for decoration, furniture and accessories. This colour scheme can be mixed with darker accents which will really stand out with the addition of big foliage plants as well. It is a trendy, relaxed yet contemporary style which works well in any home.

Delphiniums, lobelia and snaps

In the middle of winter, it’s hard to imagine flowers blooming, but if you sow annuals indoors now, you’ll have more than enough to fill your borders with colour in summer. For easy annuals to grow from seed this winter, you can’t go far wrong these three.

Happy Veganuary!

January means it’s Veganuary so we have put together a vegan garden guide to help you not just consider your diet and lifestyle but also what you do in the garden or on the allotment. Veganic gardening is about gardening without the use of not just chemicals but also no animal products either. If you take on the Veganuary challenge why not read on to see how to garden vegan as well.

Flower of the month January: Rose

There is nothing like a rose to cheer up a garden, room in the home or on the allotment. When the Christmas decorations have been put away after the festivities why not enjoy some fresh, colourful roses in a vase or plant some bare-root plants out this month? With so many roses to choose from, there is one to suit every situation and they are much easier to look after with just a few tips.

DIY Ideas: Recycling the Christmas tree

We have put together some crafty ideas for recycling the Christmas tree to help you not only reuse your tree but to also make it easier for you when taking down the decorations after the 12 days of Christmas. When the festivities are over, it can sometimes be hard to find options for the Christmas tree that once stood in your home full of baubles and tinsel but with these ideas, not only will you have a fun crafty January but they will also make good use of your Christmas tree.

15 garden tips for January

January’s here, the shortest day is behind us and it’s the start of another great gardening year. To help you get your garden into shape for spring, we’ve put together our top 15 gardening tips for January.

Houseplant of the month January: Zamioculcas

Zamioculcas zamiifolia, aka the ZZ plant, aroid palm or fern arum, is fast becoming one of the most popular houseplants available. With its neat, arching stems and glossy green leaves, it looks a bit like an outsize fern, making a fantastic focal point in any room. And if you’re after some extra impact, there’s Zamioculcas zamiifolia ‘Raven’ with its fabulous deep purple-black foliage.

Houseplant of the month January: Zamioculcas

Garden trends forecast 2020

It is an exciting time for gardeners, with new research, products and innovative techniques being introduced to help with environmental issues, wellbeing and community. The garden trends forecast reports we may see an increase in these areas.