Prune honeysuckle

I have a Lonicera 'Belgica' that is three years old. It has not been pruned since it was planted as I wanted it to grow up to hide a neighbour's hot tub. Problem is, now it is over seven feet tall, four feet wide and top heavy. It is on a metal trellice that blows in the wind now. How much should I prune it back (ie. two thirds to the root, one third, etc). When should it be pruned? What would be another good way to support it? more...

Old-fashioned, elegant flowers

As a young child I was often taken to visit gardens of stately homes, plus I had two aunts and an uncle who worked for families with large, elegant gardens, so early encounters with certain plants – ones with what I would call old-fashioned elegance – are most definitely etched in my mind. more...

Climbing vines

When the keen gardener runs out of horizontal space, it’s natural to look around for other surfaces to adorn with plants. Some, like fences, the walls of the house, garages and sheds, are already there, waiting to be decorated; others, like pergolas, tepees, arches and screens, can be bought ready-made or constructed with some simple carpentry. The fun part is choosing what to put onto them, and the choice is wide. But a little thought beforehand can save you from numerous headaches later. more...

Climbing vines

The long and the short of choosing the perfect climbing vine to liven up your garden’s walls, fences, screens and more. more...