Ideas & advice

If you’re a pet owner with an outdoor space your pooch loves to explore, then discover our advice on how to create an outdoor space the whole family can enjoy this spring – even the furry ones. 

The closer we get to warmer weather and peak gardening season, the more you’ll want your outdoors to begin to burst with life and colour. Long-flowering perennials may be exactly what you’re looking for. 

Combine vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs together in your garden patches to help control pests and encourage your crops to grow healthy.

Everyday life can overload us with information, especially with our busy phones being so easily accessible. To escape, many people find that spending time in nature or gardening at home helps reduce stress and calms their mind. A sensory garden can be the perfect soothing escape from these everyday worries.

What kind of compost do I need? It’s a common question all new gardeners ask themselves at the start of their growing journey. But don’t worry - we’ve broken it down for you.

Brighten up your garden by planting and growing your very own super sunflower. They’re best planted in spring as they can take up to 13 weeks to grow, so now is the perfect time to get planting! 

Container planting is one of the easiest, cost-effective ways to spruce up your garden, and we’re here to show you how to do it. Container planting is a great gardening activity for beginners, as well as an amazing way to personalise your outdoor space, helping you enjoy garden living even more this spring.

After a wet and chilly winter, your garden will likely need some restoring. Spring is the perfect time of year to start tackling those essential garden maintenance jobs that will leave your garden looking great again. Plus, as the days become longer and begin to warm up, you’ll want to spend as much time outside as you can! 

A new season is the perfect time to get creative with your outdoor decor. If you’re looking for something charming, bright, and easy-to-make, then why not try making this beautiful homemade front door wreath? It’s a wonderful way to welcome guests with a pop of colour and celebrate the transition into spring. 

Whether you have a long driveway, staircase or quaint front porch, there are many ways to add a touch of personality to your front door decor. One simple way is by adding pops of colour with stylish planted containers. 

Learn how to start growing tomatoes, including step-by-step instructions on how to plant tomato seeds and young plants, plus basic care tips on how to water, prune, and feed your tomato plants until they’re ready for harvest.

It might be the busiest season in your gardening calendar, but we’re here to help you tick off exactly what you should be doing outdoors at this time of year.

There are many kinds of mowers available, from ones that run on battery power to easy-to-control hover mowers. To help, we’ve pulled together a quick guide to the most common types of lawn mowers available on the market.

Lawns are the hearts of our gardens – they’re a place to relax, entertain, play, and of course grow beautiful plants and flowers.

The weather is beginning to warm up, you’ve given your lawn its first trim of the season, and now it’s time for one of the best parts of spring gardening: planting your summer bedding plants. 

Whether you’re looking to bring an outdoor space back to life or get started on the new season’s planting, make maintaining your gardening a breeze with these must-have tools for any gardener.

Orchids are a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a vibrant, long lasting flowering houseplant that effortlessly elevates any space. While they have a few specific care needs, they generally low maintenance, making them an easy way to brighten up your office, bedroom, or any corner of your home. 

What exactly is plant propagation? It’s not as complicated as you might think, and this guide explains all in a beginner-friendly way.

The lighter mornings and sunnier days of spring might make us think warmer weather is here to stay – but unexpected cold spells and frost can ruin your plants and limit their growth.

If you enjoy birdwatching from the comfort of your armchair, then this simple yet charming garden DIY project is a wonderful twist on a traditional bird bath and ideal for you to build at home.

If you’re looking to bring a touch of nature to your indoor decor and create a beautiful centrepiece that will impress your guests, crafting a hyacinth centrepiece is the perfect choice.

Whether you’re a newbie or a spring gardening enthusiast, bulbs are some of the easiest and most rewarding plants to grow.

Become an eco-friendlier gardener with our top tips and ideas on how you can reuse or recycle plastic plant pots you no longer need .

Fill your home with the aroma of fresh herbs with this DIY herb planter - ideal for brightening up your kitchen or dining room with some greenery.

Looking for an easy spring project to add great taste to not just your summer garden, but your dishes too? Growing your own rhubarb could be just what you’re looking for.

Bring the new season into your home with this spring-themed centrepiece, made with everyone’s favourite spring flowers.

Have a go at creating your own hanging basket just in time for summer. It’s a simple and fuss-free gardening project that will instantly brighten up your outside space.

Baked, mashed, roasted or fried, nothing tastes as good as your own home-grown crop of potatoes. This versatile veg is loved by everyone and is one of the easiest to grow at home, making it ideal for beginners or a fun family project.

Looking to start growing your own vegetables? Look no further! Our guide to growing onions and shallots is the perfect place to start.

These top picks will make this Bonfire Night less frightful for your pooch and more relaxed for everyone.

Your four-legged friends need a balanced died to keep them happy and healthy, especially when they reach adulthood.

We’ve just added our new-season collection of cosy homewares to help you transition your home in time for autumn’s arrival.

Inspired by nature and using cuttings and decorations taken from your real Christmas tree, this festive creation is the perfect winter activity for the full family to enjoy on a cold, snowy evening in the run up to Christmas.

The only thing more thrilling than Christmas day is the build-up to all the fun! Create extra special excitement in your home this year with this unique homemade advent calendar that doubles as a bespoke decoration.

Get to know our October houseplant of the month – the zingy citrus tree! Looking for a Mediterranean feel and a burst of sunshine in your home, whatever the weather? Citrus trees are a great way to bring some colour to your home, or outdoors on a patio or balcony.

Soon it will be time to start harvesting the autumn vegetables you’ve worked hard to grow over summer – or maybe you’ve already started!

Create a beautiful and welcoming autumnal display at your front door this season to really set the stage for the rest of your home.

The easiest way to upgrade your outdoor spaces this autumn is by planting up a gorgeous container filled with stunning autumn plants, flowers, and even vegetables!

If you’re looking for a unique way to show off your favourite flowers this spring, then you should try this fun, easy, and visually rewarding layered planting technique.

With large purple pom-pom like blooms on tall stems, these striking easy-to-grow bulbs are well worth planting this autumn to bring late-spring colour into your garden.

Discover everything you need for your garden as we come into the last few weeks of the summer season.

Mix the vibrant colours of your summer garden with the rich orange tones of autumn for a warm welcome home each day.

Decorate your doorway and welcome garden birds with this gorgeous D.I.Y bird feeder wreath.

Find out how to deadhead flowers in your beds, borders, containers and hanging baskets to extend the flowering season in your garden.

While the days are getting shorter, the colour of your garden can become even richer in late summer.

For a stunning display in your garden come springtime, you need to start planning early - this means planting your favourite spring-flowering bulbs in autumn.

It might seem too far away to think about, but if you want to add homegrown vegetables to your Christmas dinner this year then now is the time to start sowing.

Get to know our August houseplant of the month – the brilliant bromeliad. While we can’t transport you to an exotic location, we can help transform your home and bring the tropics to you with a new houseplant!

Wet weather doesn’t have to mean hanging up your trowel and saying goodbye to gardening - take advantage of rainy days and start harvesting rainwater to use in your garden.

Get to know our July houseplant of the month – marvelous Monstera!  As one of the most iconic houseplants that almost everyone will instantly recognise, the Monstera has been loved for decades for its large, dramatic, tropical leaves.

This Father’s Day, show your dad or father figure how much he means to you by giving him a gift he’ll truly love.

Celebrate National Children’s Gardening Week 2024 with us and get ready to have lots of fun outside with these garden activities for children.

The warmth of late spring makes the ideal conditions to sow vegetable seeds outside in your garden.

Season 3 of Netflix’s regency drama Bridgerton is set to captivate audiences with its enchanting tales once more as it returns this May.

A border in your garden is an ideal way to add colour, structure and year-round interest using your favourite plants and flowers. To get the most out of your border, it requires some careful planning.

Get to know our houseplant of the month – the fabulous Ficus! Ficuses are beautiful, diverse, and low-maintenance houseplants - it’s no wonder why they’re so popular amongst plant enthusiasts, even beginners.

Looking for stunning displays every time you plant a container? Simply follow this easy guide which covers the thrillers, fillers and spillers planting technique.

Nowadays there’s more and more ways to create an enjoyable space in your garden where you can relax in the warm weather. One quick, straightforward way to elevate your outdoor experience is by filling your garden with scented florals.

Looking for a gardening project which adds instant colour to your home throughout 2024? Creating your own cut flower patch in your garden could be just what you’re looking for.

Using grow lights is a great way of keeping your indoor plants healthy during the cold, dark months of winter, or if you live somewhere that doesn’t get enough natural sunlight.

Pollinating insects like bees and butterflies are crucial to our planet’s ecosystem. There are some simple things you can do to aid their survival, such as planting and growing valuable pollinator friendly plants in your garden.

When we think of growing vegetables, we might think of vast farmer’s fields, or large veggie patches in the back garden.

Roses are beautiful, versatile garden plants that come in many shapes, sizes and colours. From patio roses and shrubs to tall climbers, there’s so many varieties to try growing this spring.

Our gardens are great for many different things; entertaining friends and family, growing your favourite plants, and getting some much-needed rest and relaxation.

Repotting your plant is a crucial, often over-looked step in houseplant care that keeps your leafy companions healthy, flourishing, and alive for many years.

If you’re looking for a unique way to show off your favourite flowers this summer, then why not try this fun, easy, and visually rewarding planting project?

Usher out the old year and bring luck and prosperity into the new one with this list of lucky flowers and plants, especially for Chinese New Year.

Microgreens are the sprouts of leafy herbs and plants that are harvested at an early stage to give a miniature punch of flavour in salads and sandwiches.

If you’re looking for something to do to keep your green fingers busy, or want to start growing vegetables yourself, then you can’t go wrong with growing microgreens.

If you’re looking for an elegant and space saving decoration to enhance your home this Christmas, Dobbies chandelier wreath could offer the perfect, stylish solution.

Dobbies’ Ambassador, Mike Griffiths, is joined by Dobbies’ Horticultural Director, Marcus Eyles, to chat about winter gardening jobs and sustainable Christmas trees.