Ideas & advice

July is one of the most beautiful times of the year for your garden. Summer colour is in full bloom and your borders, patio containers and hanging baskets are filled with vibrant displays of foliage and fragrance.

Now that summer is finally here and the daylight hours are at their longest, June is a great month to spend as much time outdoors as possible, enjoying your garden’s beautiful blooms.

This year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show may be over, but we’re keeping the excitement alive by helping you create an outdoor space that tells your unique story, in line with this year’s show theme: Your Space, Your Story. 

If you’re a pet owner with an outdoor space your pooch loves to explore, then discover our advice on how to create an outdoor space the whole family can enjoy this spring – even the furry ones. 

The closer we get to warmer weather and peak gardening season, the more you’ll want your outdoors to begin to burst with life and colour. Long-flowering perennials may be exactly what you’re looking for. 

Combine vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs together in your garden patches to help control pests and encourage your crops to grow healthy.

Everyday life can overload us with information, especially with our busy phones being so easily accessible. To escape, many people find that spending time in nature or gardening at home helps reduce stress and calms their mind. A sensory garden can be the perfect soothing escape from these everyday worries.

May is an exciting month with lots of fresh growth and plants to enjoy, as well as plenty of exciting new jobs to keep you busy in the garden. Beautiful blooms begin to open, meaning bright new colours to admire, and trees and shrubs burst into leaves.

What kind of compost do I need? It’s a common question all new gardeners ask themselves at the start of their growing journey. But don’t worry - we’ve broken it down for you.

Brighten up your garden by planting and growing your very own super sunflower. They’re best planted in spring as they can take up to 13 weeks to grow, so now is the perfect time to get planting! 

Container planting is one of the easiest, cost-effective ways to spruce up your garden, and we’re here to show you how to do it. Container planting is a great gardening activity for beginners, as well as an amazing way to personalise your outdoor space, helping you enjoy garden living even more this spring.

After a wet and chilly winter, your garden will likely need some restoring. Spring is the perfect time of year to start tackling those essential garden maintenance jobs that will leave your garden looking great again. Plus, as the days become longer and begin to warm up, you’ll want to spend as much time outside as you can! 

A new season is the perfect time to get creative with your outdoor decor. If you’re looking for something charming, bright, and easy-to-make, then why not try making this beautiful homemade front door wreath? It’s a wonderful way to welcome guests with a pop of colour and celebrate the transition into spring. 

Whether you have a long driveway, staircase or quaint front porch, there are many ways to add a touch of personality to your front door decor. One simple way is by adding pops of colour with stylish planted containers. 

Learn how to start growing tomatoes, including step-by-step instructions on how to plant tomato seeds and young plants, plus basic care tips on how to water, prune, and feed your tomato plants until they’re ready for harvest.

As the weather begins to warm and nature bursts into blossom, April becomes a busy yet exciting month in the gardening calendar. Getting lots of gardening done this month will reduce your workload later when summer finally arrives, giving more time to sit back, relax and enjoy all your efforts.

There are many kinds of mowers available, from ones that run on battery power to easy-to-control hover mowers. To help, we’ve pulled together a quick guide to the most common types of lawn mowers available on the market.

Lawns are the hearts of our gardens – they’re a place to relax, entertain, play, and of course grow beautiful plants and flowers.

The weather is beginning to warm up, you’ve given your lawn its first trim of the season, and now it’s time for one of the best parts of spring gardening: planting your summer bedding plants. 

Whether you’re looking to bring an outdoor space back to life or get started on the new season’s planting, make maintaining your gardening a breeze with these must-have tools for any gardener.

Orchids are a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a vibrant, long lasting flowering houseplant that effortlessly elevates any space. While they have a few specific care needs, they generally low maintenance, making them an easy way to brighten up your office, bedroom, or any corner of your home. 

Looking for ideas for Mother’s Day gifts? There’s lots of great gifts you can surprise mum with that are a bit different from a usual bouquet of flowers.

What exactly is plant propagation? It’s not as complicated as you might think, and this guide explains all in a beginner-friendly way.

This month the new gardening season begins - nature stirs into growth as the days get longer and the soil warms up. Now’s the time to plant your summer flowering bulbs as well as everyone’s favourite veg - the humble potato.

The lighter mornings and sunnier days of spring might make us think warmer weather is here to stay – but unexpected cold spells and frost can ruin your plants and limit their growth.

It might be the busiest season in your gardening calendar, but we’re here to help you tick off exactly what you should be doing outdoors at this time of year. 

If you enjoy birdwatching from the comfort of your armchair, then this simple yet charming garden DIY project is a wonderful twist on a traditional bird bath and ideal for you to build at home.

If you’re looking to bring a touch of nature to your indoor decor and create a beautiful centrepiece that will impress your guests, crafting a hyacinth centrepiece is the perfect choice.

Whether you’re a newbie or a spring gardening enthusiast, bulbs are some of the easiest and most rewarding plants to grow.

Become an eco-friendlier gardener with our top tips and ideas on how you can reuse or recycle plastic plant pots you no longer need .

Fill your home with the aroma of fresh herbs with this DIY herb planter - ideal for brightening up your kitchen or dining room with some greenery.

Looking for an easy spring project to add great taste to not just your summer garden, but your dishes too? Growing your own rhubarb could be just what you’re looking for.

Bring the new season into your home with this spring-themed centrepiece, made with everyone’s favourite spring flowers.

Have a go at creating your own hanging basket just in time for summer. It’s a simple and fuss-free gardening project that will instantly brighten up your outside space.

If you don’t have the time or space to sow seeds or take cuttings, then growing young plants is a super easy, convenient, and quick way to get a head start on your very own summer flowers.

Baked, mashed, roasted or fried, nothing tastes as good as your own home-grown crop of potatoes. This versatile veg is loved by everyone and is one of the easiest to grow at home, making it ideal for beginners or a fun family project.

Looking to start growing your own vegetables? Look no further! Our guide to growing onions and shallots is the perfect place to start.

As early spring bulbs begin to colour your garden, you want to enjoy every moment that you can outside, as well as make sure the rest of your outdoor space is beautifully maintained.

Sometimes the only way to get through winter is to start gearing up for spring. Whether you'd rather curl up on the couch and start planning what to plant, or brace the cold and get to work outside, there’s something to do to keep you busy, warm, and prepare for your best growing season yet.

Shop our ads to explore everything that makes up Dobbies magical festive experience and enjoy Christmas in every sense.

Finding the right Christmas tree for your home & family is essential. To help make your decision easier, we’ve create a detailed guide below that outlines everything you need to know about each tree variety.

The last of the leaves fall from the trees as our gardens slip into the frosty winter chill, plants with evergreen leaves and any with winter flowers are even more appreciated at this time.

The days are getting colder, and the remaining fiery colours of autumn are slowly beginning to fade – small signs that winter is almost upon us!.

These top picks will make this Bonfire Night less frightful for your pooch and more relaxed for everyone.

Your four-legged friends need a balanced died to keep them happy and healthy, especially when they reach adulthood.

An artificial Christmas tree can be the perfect way to add festive flair to your home this season.

Coming together as a family and choosing a Christmas tree is one of the most magical, exciting moments of the season.

When it comes to buying your real Christmas tree, you’ll want to make sure it’s been supplied in the most eco-friendly way possible.

We’re here to solve your secret Santa dilemma with great gifting options whatever budget you’re working to.

We’ve just added our new-season collection of cosy homewares to help you transition your home in time for autumn’s arrival.

There's nothing quite like the twinkling glow of decorative lights to let you know that Christmas is almost here! With so many types to choose from, our essential guide will help you pick the perfect lights to create a dazzling display indoors and out.

The only thing more thrilling than Christmas day is the build-up to all the fun! Create extra special excitement in your home this year with this unique homemade advent calendar that doubles as a bespoke decoration.

Inspired by nature and using cuttings and decorations taken from your real Christmas tree, this festive creation is the perfect winter activity for the full family to enjoy on a cold, snowy evening in the run up to Christmas.

Get to know our October houseplant of the month – the zingy citrus tree! Looking for a Mediterranean feel and a burst of sunshine in your home, whatever the weather? Citrus trees are a great way to bring some colour to your home, or outdoors on a patio or balcony.

There’s no need to let your garden become a nightmare this October! As the thick of autumn draws in, there are many simple steps you can take to nourish your garden and prepare it for the season ahead.

Autumn is the perfect season to get stuck into garden maintenance and cleaning.

Soon it will be time to start harvesting the autumn vegetables you’ve worked hard to grow over summer – or maybe you’ve already started!

Create a beautiful and welcoming autumnal display at your front door this season to really set the stage for the rest of your home.

The easiest way to upgrade your outdoor spaces this autumn is by planting up a gorgeous container filled with stunning autumn plants, flowers, and even vegetables!

If you’re looking for a unique way to show off your favourite flowers this spring, then you should try this fun, easy, and visually rewarding layered planting technique.

Daffodils are pinnacle springtime flowers! As one of the first flowers to bloom in the new year, they’ll cheer up those dark late winter days, making them a must-have for your garden.

The petite purple, yellow, and white flowers of crocus covering your grounds are sure to brighten up those dull late winter days!
rocuses are one of the earliest blooming spring bulbs and a source of nectar pollen for many insects too.

With large purple pom-pom like blooms on tall stems, these striking easy-to-grow bulbs are well worth planting this autumn to bring late-spring colour into your garden.

Tulips are incredibly popular spring flowers and it’s not hard to see why. Their showy cup-shaped bulbs come in almost infinite colours, meaning they’re perfect for adding interest to borders and pots.

Discover everything you need for your garden as we come into the last few weeks of the summer season.

After the busy summer garden season, September is the perfect month to reset your flower and vegetable garden, whilst starting to make plans for next spring.