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The Potted Blog
Notes from Robin on growing in small flats — opinions, mistakes, and what's actually worked.
- Plant Problems
How to Get a Thicker Trunk on an Olive Tree
A thin olive trunk doesn't need harder pruning. Here's what actually makes an olive tree thicken, what slows it down and how to grow a more substantial tree in a pot.
LIGHT 3 of 3SPACE Patios, courtyards and balconiesDIFFICULTY moderate✓ TESTEDREAD 7 min - Seasonal
The Leaves Are Falling. Don't Automatically Clear Them Away
Fallen leaves need clearing from some places and can stay in others. Here's where to rake, where to leave them, what to do in pots and how to make leaf mould in a bin bag.
LIGHT 3 of 3SPACE Patios, courtyards, balconies and small gardensDIFFICULTY easy✓ TESTEDREAD 7 min - Plant Problems
Yarrow Is a Brilliant Garden Plant. So Why Is It Taking Over Your Lawn?
Yarrow stays green through drought, flowers for wildlife and is deliberately grown in meadows. In a fine lawn, it can spread relentlessly. Here's how to decide whether to keep it or remove it.
LIGHT 3 of 3SPACE Small lawns and gardensDIFFICULTY easy✓ TESTEDREAD 6 min - Getting Started
Your New-Build Garden Doesn't Need Fixing Before You Can Grow
Compacted soil, thin turf and poor drainage are familiar new-build problems. Before you excavate the lot, work out what needs fixing and what you can simply grow above.
LIGHT 3 of 3SPACE Small gardens and new-build plotsDIFFICULTY easy✓ TESTEDREAD 8 min - Seasonal
Why Is Your Lawn Suddenly Full of Weeds?
Drought has left many lawns thin just as weeds are becoming conspicuous. Here's what the common ones mean, how to remove them, and why filling the gaps matters most.
LIGHT 3 of 3SPACE Small lawns and gardensDIFFICULTY easy✓ TESTEDREAD 7 min - Houseplants
Your Houseplants Aren't Unhappy. They're Short of Light
Falling autumn light can look like a watering, feeding or pot problem. Here's how to recognise low-light symptoms and give houseplants more of what they actually need.
LIGHT 1 of 3SPACE IndoorsDIFFICULTY easy✓ TESTEDREAD 7 min - Seasonal
The Bulbs to Plant Now, and the Ones That Should Wait
Daffodils, crocus and hyacinths can go in now. Tulips can wait. What to plant this September, and the bulbs with a genuine deadline.
LIGHT 3 of 3SPACE Balconies, patios and small gardensDIFFICULTY easy✓ TESTEDREAD 7 min - Houseplants
Don't Repot Your Houseplants This Autumn. You Can Do This Instead
The bigger pot feels like an upgrade. For a plant that's slowing down for winter, it usually isn't. Why repotting is a spring job, and the exceptions that genuinely can't wait.
LIGHT 2 of 3SPACE IndoorsDIFFICULTY easy✓ TESTEDREAD 6 min - Houseplants
Before You Bring Your Houseplants Back Indoors, Check Them for This
A summer outside does houseplants good. It can also give them passengers. What to look for on leaves, stems and compost before anything comes back inside.
LIGHT 2 of 3SPACE Indoors and patioDIFFICULTY easy✓ TESTEDREAD 7 min - Seasonal
How to Overwinter Tender Plants When You're Short on Space
Pelargoniums, fuchsias and dahlias need protection from frost. Here's how to overwinter tender plants without a greenhouse or much spare room.
LIGHT 2 of 3SPACE Balcony, patio or a single spare windowsillDIFFICULTY easy✓ TESTEDREAD 7 min - Seasonal
How to Repair Your Lawn After the Drought
Your lawn looked finished in August. Some of it probably wasn't. How to tell dormant grass from genuinely dead areas before you spend a weekend fixing something that was going to recover anyway.
LIGHT 1 of 3SPACE Any lawn, from small back gardens to larger plotsDIFFICULTY easy✓ TESTEDREAD 7 min - Wildlife
Should You Be Feeding Garden Birds This September?
Bird-feeding advice changed in 2026. Here's what you should, and shouldn't, put out for garden birds this September.
LIGHT 2 of 3SPACE Balcony, windowsill or gardenDIFFICULTY easy✓ TESTEDREAD 7 min
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