Latest news with #SimonAkeroyd
The Irish Sun
18-07-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Want free lavender plants? How to take cuttings in 5 steps & fill your garden with flowers & fragrance in a few weeks
WOULD you like free lavender plants to brighten up your outside space? Well, luckily for you, a gardening guru has shared how to take Advertisement 4 Do you want a garden that's full of stunning lavender? Well, you've come to the right place and will need to follow these five simple steps Credit: Getty 4 Simon Akeroyd has shared a step-by-step tutorial to ensure lavender blooms in your garden Credit: Facebook/Simon Akeroyd 4 First, you'll need to cut non-flowering shoots and strip the leaves Credit: Facebook/Simon Akeroyd 4 Next, you can grab some pots and gritty compost, and insert your cuttings around the edge Credit: Getty Thanks to these five quick and easy steps, you'll be able to fill your Posting on social media, Simon Akeroyd, a gardening enthusiast from the UK, shared Sharing his top tips online, Simon confirmed that there's no time like the present to get started, as now is the best time to propagate First things first, you'll need to look and cut for non-flowering young shoots which are turning woody at the base. Advertisement Read more gardening stories Once you've cut these shoots, the second step is to strip the lower leaves and cut just below a bud at the base. It's important that you take a few cuttings, as this will increase your success rate. For the third step, you'll need to grab some pots and gritty compost, and insert your cuttings around the edge. According to Simon, after just 'a few weeks,' your lavender 'will have started to grow.' Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Exclusive Once each cutting has formed roots, you can then move onto the fourth step, which involves potting them individually. With Simon's fifth step, it's very important that you keep the lavender plants well watered. Cheap and easy ways to transform your garden including painting fences black After following these steps, Simon confirmed: 'Next year they will become beautiful flowering lavenders.' Simon's Facebook reel has clearly impressed many, as it has quickly racked up 50,000 views, 1,800 likes and 52 comments. Advertisement Gardening tips and hacks How to transform your garden on a How to preserve your favourite flowers at home - Which plants should I be When is the When should I start How What colour of Will my Beginner One person said: 'Thank you so much.' Thank you for showing an ignoramus like me how to do something good in the garden Facebook user Another added: 'We have a lavender hedge in our front A third commented: 'Thank you. Going to try this.' Advertisement Meanwhile, someone else beamed: 'Your videos are always interesting, Simon. Thanks for sharing, I will definitely do this.' Not only this, but another wrote: 'Your videos are fantastic! Thank you for showing an ignoramus like me how to do something good in the garden.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club Top gardening trends of 2025 Gardening experts at Matrix planting It seems that a top planting trend for this year is going to be Matrix Planting. In essence, planting in groups or blocks to give an effect of being wild whilst actually being carefully managed. Selection of the plants is essential, to give year-round interest either with flowers, seed heads or frosted/snowy spent flower heads. Some recommend using plants that seed around, but this could make managing your matrix planting harder to keep under control. Chrysanthemum comeback I hope that the humble Chrysanthemum makes as much of a comeback this year as Dahlias have over recent years, because the simple single flowered types, such as 'Innocence' and 'Cottage Apricot' would be spectacular within a matrix scheme. The hardy varieties are so easy to grow in a sunny spot and give such a valuable burst of late summer and autumn colour that would lift any dull- looking border. Blended borders For some time now we have been promoting the growing of veg within ornamental borders and I think this could really take off this year. The choice of ornamental-looking varieties available in seed catalogues is phenomenal and, if managed correctly, visitors to your garden will not even realise that you have veg growing! Must-have tool My secret is out. I discovered the Hori Hori a couple of years ago and now it seems so is everyone else. It is such a well-made, adaptable tool that can be used as a trowel or weeding tool in the garden that and everyone I speak to who have used it absolutely would not now be without it. Enough said!
The Sun
18-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
Want free lavender plants? How to take cuttings in 5 steps & fill your garden with flowers & fragrance in a few weeks
WOULD you like free lavender plants to brighten up your outside space? Well, luckily for you, a gardening guru has shared how to take lavender cuttings in barely any time at all. 4 4 4 4 Thanks to these five quick and easy steps, you'll be able to fill your garden with more flowers and a gorgeous fragrance in a matter of weeks. Posting on social media, Simon Akeroyd, a gardening enthusiast from the UK, shared a reel to explain how gardeners can nab themselves extra lavender plants without needing to spend a penny. Sharing his top tips online, Simon confirmed that there's no time like the present to get started, as now is the best time to propagate lavender. First things first, you'll need to look and cut for non-flowering young shoots which are turning woody at the base. Once you've cut these shoots, the second step is to strip the lower leaves and cut just below a bud at the base. It's important that you take a few cuttings, as this will increase your success rate. For the third step, you'll need to grab some pots and gritty compost, and insert your cuttings around the edge. According to Simon, after just 'a few weeks,' your lavender 'will have started to grow.' Once each cutting has formed roots, you can then move onto the fourth step, which involves potting them individually. With Simon's fifth step, it's very important that you keep the lavender plants well watered. Cheap and easy ways to transform your garden including painting fences black After following these steps, Simon confirmed: 'Next year they will become beautiful flowering lavenders.' Simon's Facebook reel has clearly impressed many, as it has quickly racked up 50,000 views, 1,800 likes and 52 comments. Beginner gardeners were grateful for the handy tips and many eagerly raced to the comments to thank Simon for his step-by-step instructions. One person said: 'Thank you so much.' Another added: 'We have a lavender hedge in our front garden so this will come in handy, thank you.' A third commented: 'Thank you. Going to try this.' Meanwhile, someone else beamed: 'Your videos are always interesting, Simon. Thanks for sharing, I will definitely do this.' Not only this, but another wrote: 'Your videos are fantastic! Thank you for showing an ignoramus like me how to do something good in the garden.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club Top gardening trends of 2025 Gardening experts at Barnsdale Gardens has shared the top gardening trends of 2025. Matrix planting It seems that a top planting trend for this year is going to be Matrix Planting. In essence, planting in groups or blocks to give an effect of being wild whilst actually being carefully managed. Selection of the plants is essential, to give year-round interest either with flowers, seed heads or frosted/snowy spent flower heads. Some recommend using plants that seed around, but this could make managing your matrix planting harder to keep under control. Chrysanthemum comeback I hope that the humble Chrysanthemum makes as much of a comeback this year as Dahlias have over recent years, because the simple single flowered types, such as 'Innocence' and 'Cottage Apricot' would be spectacular within a matrix scheme. The hardy varieties are so easy to grow in a sunny spot and give such a valuable burst of late summer and autumn colour that would lift any dull- looking border. Blended borders For some time now we have been promoting the growing of veg within ornamental borders and I think this could really take off this year. The choice of ornamental-looking varieties available in seed catalogues is phenomenal and, if managed correctly, visitors to your garden will not even realise that you have veg growing! Must-have tool My secret is out. I discovered the Hori Hori a couple of years ago and now it seems so is everyone else. It is such a well-made, adaptable tool that can be used as a trowel or weeding tool in the garden that and everyone I speak to who have used it absolutely would not now be without it. Enough said!
Tom's Guide
11-07-2025
- General
- Tom's Guide
Don't throw them out — banana skins make the ideal garden fertilizer with this 2-step recipe
Fertilizing your garden is an important part of keeping your plants and grass happy by providing nutrients that'll help it thrive. And while you can buy all sorts of fertilizers, you can save yourself a lot of money while helping the environment with easy ways to make homemade fertilizer. But, before you start raiding your cupboards for ingredients to whip up garden-loving concoctions, it really can be as easy as picking up a bunch of bananas. And I learnt this, thanks to a simple Instagram post from @simonakeroydgardenwriter. Simon Akeroyd has written over 30 gardening books, so you could say he's a bit of an expert. I'm one of his over one million followers on Instagram and while I've watched a lot of his quick and easy-to-follow videos, there's one about bananas that's really caught my eye. A post shared by Simon Akeroyd (@simonakeroydgardenwriter) A photo posted by on As Simon explains in his Instagram caption, you shouldn't throw away your banana skins. Instead, you should use them to make free plant feed instead. But, how? Simon writes: "You can either dilute the concentrate (add a splash into your watering can next time you're watering plants) or use as a concentrate for a real nutrient boost, depending on the strength of the feed". And he demonstrates as such in his video. He shows how you can cut up the banana skins and place them in a glass jar, leave it outside to collect rainwater or fill it up from the tap, and then leave it for a few days to ferment. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Then, you can pour it on whichever plants you want, just like you would when you usually water them. Or, you can pop them in your compost pile to add nutrients like potassium, magnesium, and calcium that'll all help plant growth. It's really as simple as that. The best thing about bananas is how quickly they decompose. While that's not ideal if you like to eat your bananas a little more on the yellow side, it's great news for your garden. As bananas break down easily, the nutrients are released a lot quicker and can be distributed across your garden with ease. Plus, if you opt to make Simon's liquid concentrate, you'll only have to wait a few days for the bananas to turn brown before you can use it. Bananas are also a natural fertilizer, so it's really just finding the right method to get them to feed your plants. And if you use Simon's glass jar method, you'll be able to water your plants with the liquid in two simple steps. Then, your plants can take advantage of all the nutrients found within a banana that are especially good for plant life, like phosphorous and potassium. It'll help with flowering, water retention and the overall health of your plants. Basically, bananas are best and since you'll have eaten the middle, you're not only saving money, but you're saving the planet with a natural homemade creation.
Tom's Guide
10-07-2025
- General
- Tom's Guide
Garden expert shares how your pee can give your plants a boost — here's how
I'm all for finding new ways to give my plants a boost, but when I stumbled upon my former colleague's Instagram post, I chuckled. Expert gardener and author, Simon Akeroyd shares an ingenious way he fertilizes his plants. What's more, it doesn't cost him a dime, but he does need to spend a penny! A post shared by Simon Akeroyd (@simonakeroydgardenwriter) A photo posted by on What's more, Akeroyd's hack is one of the most natural ways to reuse and recycle, and it will bring you rich says in his post, 'Sorry if this horrifies you. But the key to successfully growing plants is natural fertilizer.' So, instead of spending your dollars on off-the-shelf products, he says, 'You have free access to the best natural stuff out there.' You've got it, 'Yes, your WEE is the best plant food out there!' he adds. He goes on to explain that gardeners have been using wee as plant food since ancient times, and all because it contains three main nutrients that plants love — nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Although I don't think I'll be taking Akeroyd's next piece of advice, unless I'm behind closed doors, he says, 'Next time you are in the garden and sense nature calling, just wee into your watering can.' Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Urine alone is too strong to water your plants, and you will also need a fair amount, so Akeroyd suggests diluting it to 10 parts water to 1 part urine. And he adds, 'Thankfully, there is an inexhaustible supply of this amazing plant feed which will help your garden come up smelling of roses.' Not only that, 'It's free. You don't have to spend a penny,' says Akeroyd, adding, 'The power to grow plants really does come from within!' This watering can in Alpine Green, hold 2 gallons (8 liters) at full capacity. It comes with with a long nozzle, filter, connector an nozzle to provide either a column or sprinkle of water. For ease of use it also features two handles to keep it stable when using. According to the Medicine Plus, the average urine output per day is about 2 liters, which when diluted, could provide you with enough natural fertilizer to make up 20 liters of fluid. But urine must be diluted before being poured on your plants, as the natural salts and nutrients within your own natural fertilizer can cause harm if used at full strength. For instance, you'll probably have noticed how an immaculate lawn can quickly die as soon as a dog takes a pee on the grass.
Wales Online
18-06-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Garden planting tip can save you £100 a year but you'll need someone's help
Garden planting tip can save you £100 a year but you'll need someone's help Simple hacks can save hundreds of pounds a year by getting out in their green space You can save hundreds of pounds a year by spending more time in the garden (Image: Getty ) Garden enthusiasts are being urged to check if they can trim their household expenses by making full use of their green space. Simon Akeroyd, an author and gardening expert, has divulged several methods for cultivating your garden that could potentially save you a tidy sum, as part of Raisin UK's Grow Your Savings initiative. One of his practical tips could save you £100 but you'll need a friend's help. He explained: "Love a plant in your friend's garden? Ask for a cutting instead of buying new. Propagating (creating new plants from existing ones) your own plants can build your garden for free, potentially saving £5–£20 per plant across dozens of additions." He referred to RSPB statistics showing that if you can get a 50% success rate with 20 cuttings, resulting in 10 new plants, you could save £100 compared to buying the plants in store. Akeroyd also suggests that growing your own fruit and vegetables can help reduce your grocery bills. Highlighting insights from the gardening blog Something About Plants, he noted that gardeners could save around £83 annually just by growing strawberries and blackberries at home. You can also try growing many other tasty edible plants like lettuce, tomatoes, peas, beetroot, carrots, and rhubarb. You can also make big savings by creating your own compost instead of purchasing it throughout the year. You can use kitchen scraps and garden waste to form a compost heap, or invest in a wormery to transform your waste and cuttings into nutrient-rich compost. Article continues below Composting at home could lead to an annual saving of around £115 due to reduced waste disposal costs and not having to buy compost from stores. The horticultural expert explained: "A 10-litre bag of compost can cost up to £4, but using a 330-litre compost bin at home can produce the equivalent of more than 33 bags a year, all for free, and with the added bonus of reducing household waste. "Many local councils also offer compost bin schemes to help you get started."
