Woman's Weekly Living Series May 2025

"Spring is not only in the air, but it’s in full swing! Which is great news for our gardens that are ready for a seasonal spruce. And in even better news, this issue is packed with ideas on how to get much more from your garden this year, including options for budget updates. My favourite article, however, has to be our feature, ‘Joy for All’, (p22). Creating an outdoor space which is suitable for a range of accessibility needs will be an issue dear to many readers’ hearts. Garden design experts share their advice on changes, big and small, which can make a meaningful difference to how the outside can be enjoyed and experienced by everybody."…

POWER TO THE FLOWERS FOR NO-MOW MAY Plantlife has launched its annual campaign No Mow May, doing all they can to encourage everyone to put the lawnmower away and allow wildflowers to bloom. Leaving lawns unmown for a month and beyond and having a relaxed cutting regime through the summer makes a big difference to biodiversity. Areas of longer grass are fascinating if you look closely, plants that were once cut down regularly form small jungles, full of life. The lawns which boast the highest number of wildflowers are those which have patches of various grass lengths, providing different microhabitats for a range of species. You can create mown grass paths through wilder areas, or leave uncut strips of different lengths at the boundaries. These areas will become beautiful sanctuaries,…

FACT FILE GARDENER Sarah Marsh, with ‘manpower for hedges and lawns’. LOCATION Welwyn, Hertfordshire. SIZE A third of an acre. SPECIAL FEATURES Spring tulip ‘show’, colour co-ordinated perennial borders, parterre and topiary, wooden parterre productive zone, secret shade glade, entertaining terraces, summer house retreat, working glasshouse. ASPECT The main areas are west-facing with some shading from tall hedges and mature trees. SOIL TYPE Neutral, free-draining loam which has been enriched with homemade compost. PROBLEMS Fighting box blight and box moth caterpillar. INSPIRATION Beth Chatto’s philosophy: ‘right plant ,right place’ and style ‘blended, free-flowing planting.’ When Sarah needed bold and brilliant colour to create immediate impact in her spring garden, she turned to tulips. Devastated by the loss of her sister, Lucy, to cancer, Sarah wanted to raise money and opened…

AT A GLANCE CHRYSANTHEMUMS (HARDY) PLANTING SEASON Outdoors from late May onwards. FLOWERING SEASON July/August to November/December. SOIL TYPE Moist, well-drained with organic matter, ph. neutral to slightly acidic. ASPECT Full sun, sheltered. MATURE HEIGHT 50-120cm SPREAD 90cm Following in the wake of dahlias, there’s now a chrysanthemum comeback – their prolific, late-flowering blooms boosting borders with revived sultry, sunset colours, from late summer right through to November. Brilliant new (but more tender) introductions from Japan and China, some of which can carefully be grown outdoors, are causing a real stir among cut flower growers. These may be the forerunners of the next wave of garden chrysanthemums. Hardy garden varieties They bring an injection of very late colour, which works well with other autumn-flowering herbaceous border or cottage garden plants;…

1 Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) Very easy to grow, these tall self-seeding biennials add a touch of romance to the garden. Sending up tall, elegant spires of bell-shaped flowers, they are a magnet for the bees. Foxgloves are happy in full sun or part-shade in any soil, though they dislike very wet or dry conditions. Both flowers and leaves can be used to produce a green dye – though remember to wear gloves, as all parts of the plant are toxic. HxS: 1.2mx60cm 2 Yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) Irises flower briefly but seductively in late spring and early summer. Unlike most irises which need a warm, sunny spot and well-drained soil, this likes moist conditions, thriving at the edges of streams and ponds in bog gardens. Dyers use…

An accessible garden not only provides a therapeutic connection with nature, but also offers numerous physical and mental-health benefits. With thoughtful design and appropriate adaptations, gardening can be a source of joy and fulfilment regardless of physical challenges. ‘Gardening provides gentle exercise that can be adapted to any ability level, helping to maintain strength, flexibility, and coordination,’ says Kate Sheehan, occupational therapist, and spokesperson for Stannah (stannah.com). ‘The joy of gardening should be accessible to everyone, regardless of physical abilities or mobility challenges.’ Here’s how to create a garden that works with your abilities, not against them, and enjoy life through the pleasure of nurturing plants. 1 Place beds and borders within reach Raised beds and elevated planters allow gardening while seated, which is ideal for wheelchair users,…