Gardening Advice from one of the Gardening Greats

sometimes find ourselves being particularly ruthless with what grows in our gardens. But remember, everything grows at a different rate and sometimes the most mundane of plants will flourish to become the most beautiful. But only if they’re left in the ground.

Give your plants a good chance by ensuring the soil they’re in is in good condition. A simple testing kit will let you know if you need to re-compost, add fertiliser, or simply switch to a different soil type.

“I really enjoy my time spent with the public, chatting about and sharing the passion we all have for gardening and horticulture. It’s a subject that is so deep – and you can explore it in such a variety of ways – and yet most of the conversations I have with people end up with them asking my advice on the worries and woes that they are experiencing back home in their outdoor spaces.

I’m quick to tell them I don’t have all the answers, particularly when their gardens are several miles away, but I do my best to help. I always say, as a golden rule, that prevention is better than cure. So, with that in mind, here are my top seven gardening mistakes (and how to avoid them):

Less is more when it comes to good gardening, and if you cram too much together it will look a mess, or worse still, die of overcrowding.

Be regimented with your watering routine and adjust it depending on rainfall to ensure your garden is nicely hydrated at all times.

Japanese knotweed and Russian vine are particularly unruly and will undermine not just your flowers, but nearby buildings too.

Gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh We may like to see the birds and hedgehogs, and even the odd fox, in our gardens, but do try to protect your plants from being eaten.

Few of us have a limitless budget, so it’s better to do a little bit at a time rather than focus entirely on one part of the garden, leaving the rest of it looking neglected.

Remember, no two gardens are the same, just as no two gardeners are the same, and you’re never going to get it right all the time. The most important thing is to be organised and put the effort in – if you do that, the rewards will very often follow close behind.”

9.30am – 10.45am & 11am – 12.15pm: Trinity Toddlers, Trinity Church, Massie St, CHEADLE SK8 1BB

9.15am – 10.40am: Marlborough Minis, Marlborough Primary School, Tytherington Drive, MACCLESFIELD SK10 2HJ

10am – 12pm: ABC Toddler Group (ages 0 – 3), The Hub Community Centre, ALTRINCHAM Baptist Church, Pownall Road WA14 2SZ – please check availability (0161) 941 2018 (also Wed & Thu)

9.45am – 11.15am: Woodlands Baby & Toddlers, ALTRINCHAM United Reformed Church, Woodlands Parkway, Timperley WA15 7QT (also Fridays)

9.30am – 11.30am: Playaway Toddler Group, Poynton Baptist Church, 22 Park Lane, POYNTON SK12 1RD

10am – 11.30am: Seedlings Parents & Toddlers, Hazel Grove Baptist Church, Station Street, HAZEL GROVE SK7 4EX (also Tuesdays)

1.15pm – 2.45pm: Parents and Tots, Saint Albans Church, Parish Centre, Hall Street, MACCLESFIELD SK10 3AA

10am – 11.30am: Seedlings Parents & Toddlers, Hazel Grove Baptist Church, Station Street, HAZEL GROVE SK7 4EX (also Mondays)

10am – 12pm: Tuesday Tots, The Marquee, St Phillips and St James Church, Alderley Edge SK9 7UZ (pre-book)

10.30am – 12pm: Parent & Toddler Group (ages 0 – 5) ALTRINCHAM Methodist Church, Barrington Road WA14 1HF (also Thursdays)

9.15 – 11am: Prestbury Mums & Tots, Prestbury Village Hall, Macclesfield Road SK10 4BW

10am – 11.30am: Active Angels Toddler Group, Bramhall St. Michael’s Church, St Michaels Ave, BRAMHALL SK7 2PG

10am – 11am: Rhyme Time (songs, play and chat), Poynton Methodist Church, POYNTON SK12 1RB

Rugbytots is the world’s favourite Rugby play programme. Dynamic, structured and fun play sessions for toddlers and young children are held at Macclesfield Leisure Centre, Bollington Civic Hall, Poynton Civic Hall and Congleton Mossley Village Hall. Classes are tailored for children aged 2—3.5, 3.5—5 and 5—7 years old.

Tumble Tots is the UK’s leading physical play programme for children aged 6 months to 7 years. Come along and see your child build their ‘skills for life’, developing co-ordination, balance, climbing and everything in between. Classes run between Monday and Friday at Wilmslow and Macclesfield Leisure Centres.

9.30am – 11am: Butterflies, Chelford Primary School, Oak Rd, CHELFORD SK11 9AY

10.30am – 11am: Storytime, Olive ROC Centre & Café, 88-90 Castle Street, Edgeley, STOCKPORT SK3 9AL

10am – 12pm: Tuesday Tots, The Marquee, St Phillips & St James Church, ALDERLEY EDGE SK9 7UZ (pre-book).

9.30am – 11am: Butterflies, Chelford CE Primary School, Oak Rd, CHELFORD SK11 9AY

1pm – 3pm: Little Treasures Baby & Toddler Group, Elim Christian Life Centre, Parsonage Street, MACCLESFIELD SK11 7GY

10am – 11am: Baby Chat – please bring a mat and some toys if possible. Bramhall Methodist Church, 23 Bramhall Lane South, BRAMHALL SK7 1AL

10.30am – 11.45am: Toddlers (pre-schoolers): Cheadle Hulme Methodist Church, Ramilies Ave, CHEADLE HULME SK8 7AL

10am – 12pm: ABC Toddler Group (ages 0 – 3), The Hub Community Centre, ALTRINCHAM Baptist Church, Pownall Road WA14 2SZ – please check availability (0161) 941 2018 (also Tue & Thu)

10.30am: Tiddlywinks, Wilmslow Methodist Church, Kings Close, Water Lane, WILMSLOW

9.30am – 11.30am: Jolly Tots, Knutsford Methodist Church, Princess Street, KNUTSFORD WA16 6BY

12.45pm – 2.15pm: Just for Dads (for Dads, Grandads & male carers with children aged 0 – 4), Guywood Centre, Guywood Lane, St Chad’s Church Romiley, STOCKPORT SK6 4AN. Call Vicky on 07745 862557

9.30 – 10.30am & 11am – 12pm: Prampushers, Guywood Centre, Guywood Lane, St Chad’s Church Romiley, STOCKPORT SK6 4AN. Call Vicky on 07745 862557

10.30am: Tiddlywinks, Wilmslow Methodist Church, Kings Close, Water Lane, WILMSLOW

9.30am – 11.30am: Jolly Tots, Knutsford Methodist Church, Princess Street, KNUTSFORD WA16 6BY

9.30am – 11.30am: Toddler Group (please bring a mat and some toys). Poynton Methodist Church Hall, POYNTON SK12 1RB

10.30am – 11.45am: Baby Chat (up to 12 months / before walking), Cheadle Hulme Methodist Church, Ramilies Ave, CHEADLE HULME SK8 7AL

10.30am – 12pm: Parent & Toddler Group (ages 0 – 5) ALTRINCHAM Methodist Church, Barrington Road WA14 1HF (also Mondays)

10am – 11.30am: Oasis Baby & Toddler Group, St. John’s Baptist Church, KNUTSFORD WA16 6DH (pre-book)

9.30am – 11.30am: Little Fishes Toddler Group, St. Paul’s Church, St. Paul’s Road, Heaton Moor, STOCKPORT SK4 4RY, book on (0161) 432 3431

10am – 11.30am: Oasis Baby & Toddler Group, St. John’s Baptist Church, KNUTSFORD WA16 6DH (pre-book).

10am – 12pm: ABC Toddler Group (ages 0 – 3), The Hub Community Centre, ALTRINCHAM Baptist Church, Pownall Road WA14 2SZ – please check availability (0161) 941 2018 (also Tue & Wed).

Emmanuel Church Centre, Bruntwood Lane, CHEADLE HULME SK8 6BE

9.45am – 11.15am: Woodlands Baby & Toddlers (from birth to school age) Altrincham United Reformed Church, Woodlands Parkway, TIMPERLEY WA15 7QT (also Tuesdays)

9am – 11.30am: Fun 4 Tots Group, Benchill Community Centre, Benchill Road, WYTHENSHAWE Manchester M22 8EJ

10am – 12pm: Tiny Hands (babies to preschool), St Mary’s Methodist Church, Wilmslow Road, HANDFORTH SK9 3LF (pre-book)

9.30am – 11am: Toddle Time, St Matthews Church, Grenville St, Edgeley STOCKPORT SK3 9EE

10.30am – 11.45am: Wobblers (crawling to 24 months) CHEADLE HULME Methodist Church, Ramilies Ave, SK8 7AL

10.30am – 12pm: Just for Dads (for Dads, Grandads & male carers with children aged 0 – 4), Guywood Centre, Guywood Lane, St Chad’s Church Romiley, STOCKPORT SK6 4AN Call Vicky on 07745 862557. www.stchadsromiley.co.uk 23