News

Gardening for health and wellbeing
  Find out how gardens boost your mental and physical wellbeing, and discover stories from people whose lives improved because of it   Maximise the healing power of nature Grow yourself happy Zia Allaway speaks to three people about how being outside helps with their wellbeing Full article - Zia Allaway speaks to three people about how being outside helps with their wellbeing Wellbeing at RHS Partner Gardens Discover RHS Partner Gardens to visit this winter for wellbeing Full article - Discover RHS Partner Gardens to visit this winter for wellbeing RHS Your... Read more...
Urban gardening
Advice Urban gardening Urban garden design inspiration Plants for encouraging pollinators in small spaces Urban gardening Don’t be put off by small and awkward outdoor spaces, or even no outdoor space at all. From balconies to rooftops and green walls, explore our advice on how to transform your home into a green haven What to grow Discover the best plants to grow in urban spaces Top 5 ways to provide for pollinators in urban gardens Full article - Exotic and subtropical plants Full article - Plants for encouraging pollinators in... Read more...
Beginner’s guide to gardening without a garden
Whether it’s a patio, a window box, a windowsill or your front doorstep, even tiny spaces have the potential to bring you gardening joy What type of gardener are you? If you have plants, you are a gardener. Discover gardening for all Allotmenteer Not sure what to grow or where to start? We have all the tips and advice you need Full article - Not sure what to grow or where to start? We have all the tips and advice you need Urban gardener Choose the best indoor plants for your home... Read more...
Beginner’s guide to gardening
Just a little know-how will soon have you reaping gardening rewards. Start small and use our advice and step-by-step guides to help you get started Beginner gardening inspiration Discover our ideas to help you decide what will work for your lifestyle Debunking the top five gardening myths From inquiries received by the RHS Advisory team Creating a budget-friendly garden Find out how to make a low-cost garden to love Bring colour into your garden Discover three ways to get you started 10 ways to a low maintenance garden See our... Read more...
Grow Your Own
  There’s nothing quite like the flavour of homegrown fruits, vegetables and herbs – or the joy of growing them yourself. Not sure where to begin? We’ve got all the tips and guidance to help you get started   What to grow Grow what suits your space, climate, and tastes – whether it’s herbs, veggies, or fruits you love Grow fruit Explore the wide variety of fruits you can grow in pots or directly in your garden Full article - Explore the wide variety of fruits you can grow in pots or... Read more...
Understanding plants
Ever wondered what's going on inside your plants? Understanding how plants grow helps you be more in tune with what they need to stay happy and healthy.   Plants are living beings. Like us they eat, drink and breathe and are influenced by both nature and nurture. Unlike us, they can’t move around and choose their surroundings. Knowing more about how they 'work' will help you look after your plants and ensure they thrive in your garden.   How plants absorb water Learn more about plants’ amazing ability to absorb water, what happens when there... Read more...
Garden design
Ideas and inspiration to help you design the garden you’ve always wanted, with style ideas and planting suggestions to get the look you love How to design a garden Where to start on designing your perfect outdoor space Garden design: sources of information Managing water in your garden How to plan a border Get to know your garden Creating your garden plan Getting started with a new-build garden Garden design: sources of information Managing water in your garden How to plan a border Get to know your garden Creating your... Read more...
Fertilisers
Fertilisers are concentrated sources of plant nutrients. Applying fertilisers is often referred to as ‘feeding’. When used wisely, they improve crop yields, resolve nutrient deficiencies and support the growth of plants in containers.   Save to My scrapbook Pelleted chicken manure is a popular organic fertiliser Quick facts Fertilisers boost available nutrients for plant growth Plants in the ground seldom need routine feeding Organic fertilisers are derived from plants or animal by-products Inorganic fertilisers are synthetic (chemically manufactured) plant nutrients or naturally-occuring mined minerals  They are available as liquids, granules, pellets or dry powders  Bought fertilisers... Read more...
Essential plant nutrients
In total, plants need at least 16 elements, of which the most important are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Plants obtain carbon from the atmosphere and hydrogen and oxygen from water; other nutrients are taken up from the soil. Although plants contain sodium, iodine, and cobalt, these are apparently not essential. This is also true of silicon and aluminum. More From Britannica agricultural technology: Fertilizing and conditioning the soil Overall chemical analyses indicate that the total supply of nutrients in soils is usually high in comparison with the requirements of crop plants. Much of this potential supply, however, is bound tightly in... Read more...
Types of fertilizer
Plants need nutrients to grow which they absorb from the soil via the plant’s root system. Fertilizers provide the major nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and important secondary elements) that plants need. Unless the nutrients are replenished, the soil’s productive capacity declines with every harvest. Mineral Fertilizers The European fertilizer industry transforms millions of tons of naturally occurring raw materials such as air, natural gas and mined ores into high quality plant nutrition products .  Nitrogen fertilizers Nitrate-based fertilizers are the most commonly used straight fertilizers in Europe. The main products... Read more...
How fertilizers are made
The fertilizer industry transforms millions of tons of air, natural gas and mined ores into plant nutrition products based on the three essential nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. But how are fertilizers produced?  NITROGEN (N)   For nitrogen-based fertilizers, the largest product group, the process starts by mixing nitrogen from the air with hydrogen from natural gas at high temperature and pressure to create ammonia. Approximately 60% of the natural gas is used as raw material, with the remainder employed to power the synthesis process. The ammonia is used to... Read more...