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Welcome to Gardening With Ken!

Gardening With Ken is my blog where you will find gardening hints, tips and advice, as well as design ideas.
I've been gardening for over 50 years and have won awards for my work.

The Latest Posts

It’s January, so let’s get planning our garden for the new growing year

It’s January, so let’s get planning our garden for the new growing year

January is the time to begin planning a new growing year, and poring over a seed catalogue or two is the perfect way to while away an evening.
Ken’s Weekly Tips – Lawncare, the professional way

Ken’s Weekly Tips – Lawncare, the professional way

There's nothing quite like a well manicured lawn, and how you cut it and clear the clippings can make a huge impact on how it looks.
Ken’s Weekly Tips – Keeping Thyme looking at its best

Ken’s Weekly Tips – Keeping Thyme looking at its best

Thyme is a wonderful herb, and to keep it growing at it's best it needs attention and feeding just like any other plant in the garden.
From the Allotment – Dealing with Muntjac Deer

From the Allotment – Dealing with Muntjac Deer

My pest problems are nothing compared to what my friend Andrew is dealing with - the non-native Muntjac Deer.
Ken’s Weekly Tips – Leaves + Grass Clippings = Fantastic Compost

Ken’s Weekly Tips – Leaves + Grass Clippings = Fantastic Compost

Are you one of those people who dump their lawn clippings and leaves at the recycling centre? If so stop, and turn it into compost instead.
Ken’s Weekly Tips – An Easy Way to Plant Tulips

Ken’s Weekly Tips – An Easy Way to Plant Tulips

Tulips are a must have flower for any garden, and if you plant them my way, you've get years of colour. Try it, you won't be disappointed.
It’s cold. It’s wet. It must be December.

It’s cold. It’s wet. It must be December.

December seems an unlikely month for doing jobs in the garden, but a few hours spent on a drier day will give you a head start for next year.
Ken’s Weekly Tips – Back At The Pond

Ken’s Weekly Tips – Back At The Pond

We're back at the pond and yes, the hard work has paid off. Hardy weeds will prevail for sometime to come but I have a plan.
Looking to maintain a garden border, and keep your garden looking gorgeous?

Looking to maintain a garden border, and keep your garden looking gorgeous?

It maybe Autumn, but the flowers in this border demonstrate that with careful planning and the right maintenance, gardens just keep giving.
Ken’s Weekly Tips – The right way to plant a bare root Rose bush

Ken’s Weekly Tips – The right way to plant a bare root Rose bush

With proper care - from planting to pruning, and protection from pests and disease - you can enjoy the beauty of a rose plant for decades.
Ken’s Weekly Tips – Pond clearing the easy way

Ken’s Weekly Tips – Pond clearing the easy way

Clearing this pond of several years of over growth wasn't an easy task, but the end result was well worthwhile.
How to Reshape a Hedge

How to Reshape a Hedge

A hedge can be a thing of beauty, but as anything in the garden, left too long and it can quickly become overgrown.
Stihl power tool demonstration

Stihl power tool demonstration

Stihl make some of the best power tools for gardeners and landscapers, and here's David demonstrating the latest additions.
A very attractive spread of Cyclamen

A very attractive spread of Cyclamen

The flowers of a Cyclamen hederifolium come before the leaf, and what beautiful flowers they are.
The flowers have gone, but what’s left behind looks great

The flowers have gone, but what’s left behind looks great

The flowers may have gone but the seeds on these plants are so attractive it would be a shame to cut them.
It’s November, and it’s turned autumnal in the garden.

It’s November, and it’s turned autumnal in the garden.

The changing of the clocks means Autumn has arrived, and it's a great time to get some roses and soft fruit bushes planted into the garden.
Ken’s Weekly Tips – Save some Runner Bean for next season

Ken’s Weekly Tips – Save some Runner Bean for next season

Runner beans are one of my garden favourites but I don't pick all the beans that grow, some I leave to become next years plants.
An Update From the Veg Plot

An Update From the Veg Plot

The slugs and caterpillars continue to thrive after what has been a very wet Summer, leaving my red cabbage feature looking very sorry for itself.
Ken’s Weekly Tips – Simplify your watering with a soaker hose

Ken’s Weekly Tips – Simplify your watering with a soaker hose

Watering borders and beds can be a chore, but a soaker hose gets it done quickly - giving you more time to enjoy your garden.
It’s October, and it’s time to get in the garden and start on those Autumn jobs

It’s October, and it’s time to get in the garden and start on those Autumn jobs

The weather may have started to cool, but there's still time to add colour to your garden and get some winter vegetables and salad started.
Ken’s Weekly Tips – Molinia – A wonderful ornamental grass

Ken’s Weekly Tips – Molinia – A wonderful ornamental grass

I'm a fan of ornamental grass, and Molinium is my favourite. If you're thinking of adding Molinium to your garden, be careful with what you chose.
Ken’s Weekly Tips – Colchium, a marvel amongst plants

Ken’s Weekly Tips – Colchium, a marvel amongst plants

No, it's not a crocus although it's often mistaken as a crocus. It's called Colchium, and it's a flower that brightens any autumnal garden.
Gardening With Ken – Aeonium. A stunning plant that looks to be made of metal.

Gardening With Ken – Aeonium. A stunning plant that looks to be made of metal.

You'll find most Aeoniums as house plants but this specimen is planted in a regular garden amongst Sedum. It really does look stunning.
From the Allotment – A most unusual planting

From the Allotment – A most unusual planting

When you take on an allotment, you have no idea what has been planted by the previous plot holder. Take a look at what Andrew found on his.
Ken’s Weekly Tips – How to create an established hedge. Fast!

Ken’s Weekly Tips – How to create an established hedge. Fast!

Hedges can take an age to become established, but Bob and I planted this hedge in record time. Find out how we did it.
Ken’s Weekly Tips – The Right Way To Deadhead A Geranium

Ken’s Weekly Tips – The Right Way To Deadhead A Geranium

There's a technique to deadheading Geraniums. Get it wrong and you invite disease into the plant. Here, I'm showing you the right way to do it.
Ken’s Weekly Tips – Dealing with fungus on sleepers

Ken’s Weekly Tips – Dealing with fungus on sleepers

When fungus grows on a sleeper, it's just doing what it's meant to do - breaking down dead organic matter and returning it to the soil.
It’s September, and it’s another busy month in the garden.

It’s September, and it’s another busy month in the garden.

September is now upon us, and there's a lot to do to keep it looking at it's best, and to prepare it for next season.
From the Allotment – The caterpillars have left their mark

From the Allotment – The caterpillars have left their mark

It maybe a dull and damp Bank Holiday, but Andrew's busy on the allotment. The brassicas are looking sad but everything else is looking good!
Ken’s Weekly Tips – Pennisetum – The plant that will tolerate a lot!

Ken’s Weekly Tips – Pennisetum – The plant that will tolerate a lot!

Pennisetum forms a compact low mound, and it produces lasting brush-like flowers in late summer, and it works brilliantly in these beds.