Latest Articles - lakeviewlandscaping.co.uk

Person in an apron harvesting fresh hops in a garden with a basket, book, and pan of oil nearby.

Wild hops: the spring “weed” worth up to 1,000 euros per kilogram

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

When people tidy the garden in spring, they often cut back an unremarkable green climber growing through the hedge. It...

Man pruning hydrangea plant in garden during golden hour with gardening tools nearby

Monty Don’s March hydrangea pruning and mulch trick for more blooms

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

Plenty of gardeners feed their plants, water faithfully and still wonder why their hydrangeas flower less lavishly each year. British...

Woman planting seedlings in a garden bed surrounded by potted flowers on a sunny day.

Fast-Growing Flowers to Sow in March for Quick Blooms

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

Winter may still feel as though it is lingering, and the borders can look tired and washed out - yet...

Person kneeling on wooden deck planting a young red maple tree among colourful flowers and gardening tools.

Five hardy shrubs for shade beds: cherry laurel, hydrangeas, Japanese maple, fatsia and rhododendron

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

Shade beds are often written off as dreary leftover spaces: bare, awkward to plant up and short on colour. Yet...

Person pruning a potted plant with green-handled shears on a sunny outdoor patio with other plants nearby.

Oleander in April: Why It’s All Leaves and No Buds - and the Prune That Changes It

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

In April, oleander can look lush and green on a balcony or patio - yet there’s still no sign of...

Person pruning a blossoming tree in a sunlit garden using secateurs while standing on a small ladder.

Cherry tree spring pruning: the old trick for more cherries

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

If you want to pick baskets of sweet cherries in June and July, you don’t necessarily need fertiliser, specialist treatments...

Sunlit porch with wicker chairs, wooden table, and colourful potted flowers hanging on white railing.

Shade flowers for a north-facing balcony: seven plants that bloom all summer

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

Yes, it can be done. Plenty of amateur gardeners give up on gloomy corners in frustration and plant little more...

Man kneeling and tending to a lilac bush in a garden under a large tree on a sunny day.

Juglone in the garden: how Asian lilies cope under walnut trees

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

How risky is it really? If you have a black walnut in the garden, you may have seen it happen:...

Person tending to ripe strawberries in a garden bed with a basket of harvested greens nearby.

A simple April routine for strawberries: clean, feed, mulch for a bigger harvest

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

When strawberry plants wake up in April, it quietly determines how full your bowls will be in summer - or...

Person planting flower seeds in a wooden tray filled with soil on a round table beside seed packets and calendar.

Fast-Growing Flowers to Sow in March for Beds and Balcony Boxes

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

Bare borders, gloomy balcony planters, winter still lingering in your bones - yet the craving for colour is already back....

Woman planting a small red-leafed tree in a colourful garden with blue and pink flowers.

Five shrubs that thrive in shade in the garden

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

A huge opportunity sits right there. With carefully chosen shrubs for shade, you can turn a seemingly “dead” patch into...

Hands tending to a basil plant in a raised garden bed with tomatoes and marigolds nearby.

Oregano in the Vegetable Garden: Best Plant Companions and What to Avoid

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

Many hobby gardeners think of oregano mainly as a pizza herb. In a bed, however, this Mediterranean perennial does far...

Hands tending to vibrant yellow Bidens aurea flowers in a sunlit garden bed with gardening tools nearby.

Bidens aurea: the long-flowering Gold Bidens for sunny gardens

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

While plenty of summer flowers are already flagging, a tireless bloomer from Mexico is only just getting into its stride:...

Man kneeling and planting shrubs in a sunlit garden bed, surrounded by gardening tools and plants.

Photinia Hedge Problems: Why Pittosporum Is the Easy-Care Replacement from Spring 2026

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

Across countless front gardens, the once-proud Photinia hedge is suddenly looking tired: brown patches, bare sections, and leaf drop as...

Person harvesting ripe strawberries with scissors in a garden bed covered with straw mulch and a notebook nearby.

End of March Strawberry Care: One Simple Cut for XXL Summer Fruit

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

Plenty of hobby gardeners only think about their strawberries once the first flowers appear. By then, you have effectively left...

Person spreading fertiliser pellets on strawberry plants in a garden bed with lettuce and gardening tools nearby.

Wine Corks in the Vegetable Garden: Practical Uses for Beds, Pots and Raised Planters

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

Too many corks end up in the bin after the wine – and they really shouldn’t. In the vegetable garden,...

Person sitting on a bench in a garden surrounded by colourful flowers, with a watering can and laptop nearby.

8 Robust Perennials for a Low‑Maintenance Garden

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

Many amateur gardeners eventually throw in the towel: too much watering, too little time, and weather extremes that undo all...

Hands holding a grub and magnifying glass in a vegetable garden bed with lettuce and beetroot.

Suddenly thick, white grubs turn up in the vegetable bed – panic in the garden?

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

Suddenly thick, white grubs turn up in the vegetable bed – panic in the garden? Not necessarily. Their appearance can...

Person gardening potted flowering plants on a sunny balcony with watering can and fertiliser bag nearby.

April Balcony Flowers: 11 Robust Picks for Sun, Part Shade and Shade with Less Watering

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

From April onwards, plenty of people get the urge to garden: that dull balcony should finally look colourful again -...

Young man watering a small tree in a garden on a sunny day.

Jujube Tree (Chinese Date): Plant in Late March and Follow Four Rules

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

While many amateur gardeners are still torn between planting an apple or a cherry, a nearly forgotten fruit tree is...

Person kneeling on grass, pulling weeds in a garden with a lawnmower and gloves nearby in the background

First Lawn Mow in March: The One-Third Rule for a Healthy Spring Lawn

Oliver Whitfield • August 13, 2026

Many amateur gardeners feel the urge as soon as the first mild spring weekend arrives: out with the mower, everything...