Top tips, gardening news, Plant of the Week and a XXXXXXX competition
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SAVE! IF you are down on your knees gardening, you need protection. John Lewis is selling a Burgon & Ball kneeler for £21.99 or you could get a Briers “Tropicana” Ultra Kneeler for £12.99 from newgardener.co.uk.
WIN! VONHAUS is giving away an artificial grass brush worth £119 and a pressure washer worth £139.99 to one lucky Sun Gardening reader.
To enter, visit thesun.co.uk/grassbrush, or write to Sun Grass Brush competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone.
- UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. April 11, 2026. T&Cs apply.
LEARN! Q) I AM preparing my lawn and I keep seeing ads for top dressing. What is it? Do I need it?
Sue Mench, Bristol
A) The RHS says “top dressing is adding loam, sand and well-rotted organic matter to correct surface irregularities and improve the texture of difficult soils” with the aim of boosting your lawn.
But if you can scarify and aerate your lawn properly, a 1cm layer of top dressing won’t turn it into a green oasis.
If you’ve got the cash, it’s a nice icing on the cake, but not necessary.
Plus the premix bags can be expensive and you need a lot even just to cover a small lawn.
THIS WEEK’S JOB! PLANT main-crop potatoes, and create hanging baskets.
Get slug defences ready, deadhead daffodils and plant potted fruit trees and fruit bushes.
CHELSEA GNOMES SHOW! FOLLOWING our report that Chelsea Flower Show will host a sex-toy garden, I can also reveal that, happily, it’s ending its ban on garden gnomes.
In fact, the RHS is inviting celebrities at the show to decorate gnomes, which will then be auctioned off to raise funds for its Campaign for School Gardening.
Also at the show, which runs from May 19 to 23, will be a garden part-designed by King Charles.
The RHS and King’s Foundation Curious Garden will contain delphiniums, one of the king’s favourite plants. He is a patron of the Delphinium Society and grows many of them.
This exhibit is also part-designed by David Beckham. Its seven raised plant beds will be a nod to his England and Man United shirt number.
PLANT OF THE WEEK! Aubrieta gracilis Kitte Blue. For 20 per cent off, visit thompson-morgan.com/sunoffers. T&Cs apply
LONDON CALLING! GET your green fingers recognised in The London Gardens Society annual competition.
People living in the capital who have a lovely garden or a great display of containers, window boxes or hanging baskets are urged to enter.
The contest also recognises displays on roofs and balconies.
As well as residents, it’s also open to hospitals, pubs and fire stations. See thelondongardenssociety.org.uk.
- HARROGATE Spring Fair, from April 23 to 26 at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre, will have show gardens, talks and trade stands. See flower show.org.uk/spring-show.