Resources

Gardening Resources

Welcome to our curated collection of helpful gardening resources. Whether you’re looking for tools, reference guides, or seasonal checklists, you’ll find valuable information here to support your gardening journey.

Essential Gardening Tools

Basic Tool Kit for Beginners

  • Hand Trowel: Essential for digging, planting, and transplanting
  • Pruning Shears: For trimming plants and harvesting
  • Garden Gloves: Protect your hands from thorns, dirt, and blisters
  • Watering Can or Hose: Keep your plants hydrated
  • Garden Fork: Break up soil and turn compost
  • Rake: Level soil and collect debris
  • Spade: Dig holes and edge garden beds

Advanced Tools

  • Wheelbarrow for transporting materials
  • Hoe for weeding and soil preparation
  • Loppers for cutting thick branches
  • Soil test kit to check pH and nutrients
  • Moisture meter for precise watering

Seasonal Gardening Checklists

Spring Checklist

  • Clean up winter debris from garden beds
  • Prune dormant shrubs and trees
  • Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
  • Prepare soil with compost and amendments
  • Plant cool-season vegetables
  • Divide perennials
  • Apply mulch to beds
  • Check and repair irrigation systems

Summer Checklist

  • Water deeply and consistently
  • Deadhead flowers to encourage blooming
  • Harvest vegetables regularly
  • Monitor for pests and diseases
  • Stake tall plants and tomatoes
  • Add mulch to conserve moisture
  • Plant succession crops
  • Weed regularly

Autumn Checklist

  • Plant spring-blooming bulbs
  • Harvest remaining vegetables
  • Collect and save seeds
  • Plant cool-season vegetables
  • Divide and transplant perennials
  • Clean up fallen leaves
  • Amend soil with compost
  • Protect tender plants from frost

Winter Checklist

  • Plan next year’s garden
  • Order seed catalogs
  • Clean and maintain garden tools
  • Protect plants from harsh weather
  • Start cold-hardy vegetables indoors
  • Review what worked and what didn’t
  • Attend gardening workshops or classes

Plant Hardiness Zones

Understanding your USDA Hardiness Zone helps you select plants that will thrive in your climate. The UK uses a similar system with zones typically ranging from 7-9.

To find your zone: Search for ‘USDA Hardiness Zone Map’ or ‘UK Hardiness Zone Map’ online and enter your postcode.

Companion Planting Guide

Great Garden Partnerships

  • Tomatoes: Plant with basil, carrots, marigolds
  • Carrots: Pair with onions, leeks, rosemary
  • Cucumbers: Grow with beans, peas, radishes
  • Lettuce: Plant with carrots, radishes, strawberries
  • Peppers: Combine with basil, onions, spinach

Avoid These Combinations

  • Tomatoes and potatoes (both susceptible to same diseases)
  • Onions and beans (onions inhibit bean growth)
  • Cucumbers and aromatic herbs (can affect cucumber flavor)

Common Measurements & Conversions

Spacing Guide

  • 1 inch = 2.5 cm
  • 1 foot = 30 cm
  • 1 yard = 91 cm

Water Measurements

  • 1 gallon = 4.5 liters
  • 1 inch of water per week = approximately 0.6 gallons per square foot

Composting Quick Reference

Green Materials (Nitrogen)

Fresh grass clippings, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, fresh plant trimmings

Brown Materials (Carbon)

Dry leaves, cardboard, newspaper, straw, wood chips

Ratio

Aim for 2:1 brown to green materials for optimal decomposition

Pest Identification & Solutions

Aphids

Appearance: Tiny green, black, or white insects on stems and leaves
Solution: Spray with water, introduce ladybugs, use insecticidal soap

Slugs & Snails

Signs: Holes in leaves, silvery slime trails
Solution: Beer traps, copper tape, handpicking, diatomaceous earth

Caterpillars

Signs: Large holes in leaves, visible caterpillars
Solution: Handpick, use Bt spray, encourage birds

Watering Guidelines

  • Best time to water: Early morning (reduces disease, allows leaves to dry)
  • How much: 1-2 inches per week for most plants
  • Deep watering: Better than frequent shallow watering—encourages deep roots
  • Check soil: Water when top 1-2 inches are dry

Useful Gardening Websites & Organizations

  • Royal Horticultural Society (RHS): Expert advice and plant information
  • Garden Organic: Organic gardening resources
  • BBC Gardeners’ World: Tips, advice, and inspiration
  • Which? Gardening: Product reviews and recommendations

Books We Recommend

  • “The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible” by Edward C. Smith
  • “Rodale’s Basic Organic Gardening” by Deborah L. Martin
  • “The Well-Tempered Garden” by Christopher Lloyd
  • “RHS Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers”
  • “The New Organic Grower” by Eliot Coleman

Have a resource suggestion? Contact us to let us know!

Scroll to Top