Philip Swindells - Articles

 (110)

Philip Swindells has over 40 years gardening experience. A former botanical garden curator and an international horticultural consultant, he has worked extensively in the UK, North America, the Middle East and Australia. The Author of more than 50 gardening books, he has been awarded a Quill and Trowel Award by the Garden Writers' Association of America. He is also a former UK Garden Writer of the Year.

Sort By: Date | Popularity

Maintaining Water Quality in a Garden Pond
The management of water and the maintenance of its quality is the most crucial element in successful water gardening. A garden pond is an almost self-contained ecosystem which only interacts with the atmosphere for the exchange of gases such as oxygen and Read
By: Philip Swindells | 09/04/2006 | Gardening

How to Grow the Sacred Lotus or Nelumbo
The Lotus or Nelumbo are amongst the most beautiful and best known plants for the garden pond. They are not frost-hardy and only grow well outdoors in tropical and sub-tropical regions. In temperate areas, even where there is no winter frost, they Read
By: Philip Swindells | 09/04/2006 | Gardening

Coping With Algae in the Garden Pond
Algae presents one of the greatest potential problems for the gardener with a pond. There are many different species of algae, but from a practical pond management point of view they can be conveniently divided into two groups: suspended and filamentous. Read
By: Philip Swindells | 09/04/2006 | Gardening

Choosing Fish for the Garden Pond
Once a new garden pond has been planted and the waterlilies and other aquatic plants have been established for four or five weeks, ornamental fish can be introduced. There is no minimum number of fish necessary for a pond, although without any fish at all Read
By: Philip Swindells | 09/04/2006 | Gardening

Creating a Balanced Garden Pond
The ideal garden pond is one that has a natural and harmonious balance. In the traditional well-planted pond with its modest complement of fish, a balanced ecosystem is a realistic and long-lasting proposition. However, it is essential that every componen Read
By: Philip Swindells | 07/04/2006 | Gardening

Garden Pond Construction
The construction of a garden pond demands considerable care and attention, but is well within the capabilities of most practical gardeners. There are a number of different methods of construction, each having virtues from both a practical and aesthetic po Read
By: Philip Swindells | 07/04/2006 | Gardening

Making a Garden Pond With a Pond Liner
A pond liner is a flexible waterproof membrane that covers the floor and the sides of a pond excavation. There are several different kinds to choose from. Polyethylene is useful when sandwiched between two layers of soil, while PVC, composition and rubber Read
By: Philip Swindells | 07/04/2006 | Gardening

Planting a Garden Pond
Waterlilies and other aquatic plants can be planted successfully at any time from early spring into the summer. It is preferable to plant in early spring as then it is possible to achieve a good display during the succeeding summer. All aquatic plants enj Read
By: Philip Swindells | 07/04/2006 | Gardening

Waterlilies
Waterlilies are considered by most gardeners to be the most important plants in the garden pond. Certainly from the point of view of a floral display they are essential, but they also contribute to the general well-being of the pond environment. Their flo Read
By: Philip Swindells | 07/04/2006 | Gardening

Raising Herbs From Seed Indoors
Most popular herbs can be easily raised from seed sown indoors during early spring. A greenhouse, although beneficial, is not essential. A sunny window ledge is all that is needed. Read
By: Philip Swindells | 19/03/2006 | Gardening