Garden photography competition – winners are announced!

It was a very difficult decision, and we’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who entered. However. There can only be three winners… drum roll please…

Congratulations to Sarah who came first place with her charming rural garden snap!

We posed five questions to those who entered; Sarah’s answers were inspiring and provided great tips for those keen gardeners out there.

What do you love most about your garden?

 I enjoy the variation of all the different plants throughout the seasons and the different wildlife species that the various plants bring to the garden.

How do you maintain your garden?

On a daily basis, little and often is key – it is where I go to find peace and tranquillity after a day at work.

Are there any seasonal hints and tips you’d recommend?

Regular deadheading in the summer to prolong the flowers and colour and then leaf clearing and maintenance during the winter months.

Nick from Kent took second place, sharing his picturesque photo of his family garden.

Nick shared ideas for those who can sometimes struggle to find time to get outside in the garden, while still maintaining a space for all the family to relax in.

What do you love most about your garden?

It’s an outside sanctuary when back from a busy day at work, and now our little son, Sammy can explore nature for the first time in a safe environment. He grows as the garden grows.

How do you maintain your garden?

With great difficulty given we have very little time. However, aside from the grass cutting once a week, we have gone for a lot of shrubs, perennials and trees, along with putting a heavy layer of bark down. This all helps reduce weeds.

Are there any seasonal hints and tips you’d recommend?

Keep your outside furniture out from early summer to as late as you can. That means a bit of weathering yes, but means you can grab every moment of sun as it comes out, without worry or the hassle of having to get all the chairs and tables out each time.

The final winner, in third place was Karen from Cornwall, sharing with us her father’s vibrant garden.

It was lovely to hear how gardening can bring people together. Karen provided great tips on maintaining flowers and growing veg.

What do you love most about your garden?

The photograph is of my 87 year old Dad's garden and I love it because it is all about him. He spends a lot of time in it planting various flowers, from bulbs. I have been able to see how much pleasure he gets from gardening and it has kept him young. It is a garden to relax in and take pride in all his work. Dad is able to produce tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers in the green house. We have runner beans, strawberries and radishes to the rear garden. The garden also has a cherry tree. Dad has now inspired me to start a horticultural course.

How do you maintain your garden?

Dad informs me that he maintains his garden by tending to it daily. The garden is mowed by a relative who lives on his own. The garden then brings both of them together. They enjoy a pasty in the garden every 3 weeks when the lawn needs cutting. Dad maintains the greenhouse by washing it inside and out in March. Dad reports he then leaves fresh soil in the greenhouse to rest in preparation for his tomatoes plants, cucumber plants etc. The tomato plants are planted 2 feet apart. 

Are there any seasonal hints and tips you'd recommend?

Dry off bulbs in autumn onto a tarpaulin and place in hessian bags for next year. These can be kept dry and safe in the shed.  Plant tulips in either December or January.

A big thank you to everyone who shared their photos with us, it was a pleasure to see how everyone’s garden differs, and read hints and tips on how you keep your gardens in tip-top shape.