Empty seed packets. Tools that snap in half: As it hits 'financial difficulty', how gardening queen bee Sarah Raven's £27m empire is wilting fast
For as the Daily Mail's Richard Eden revealed yesterday, life for Sarah Raven, the 62-year-old queen bee of the gardening world, is not exactly a bed of roses right now.
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The Independent
8 hours ago
- The Independent
Annuals are the forgotten native plants. Here are 7 worth adding to the garden
As home gardeners become more educated about the benefits of native plants (supporting native insects, birds and wildlife, and the environment as a whole), the focus has mainly been on trees, shrubs and perennials. Native annuals have somehow gotten lost in the shuffle, likely because most of them aren't readily available at the garden center. And most of the annuals (and tender perennials treated as annuals) that ARE sold in local nurseries are introduced species from faraway places. As such, they don't provide much benefit to the local ecosystem. Native insects have evolved along with native plants, so they recognize them as food. Filling a garden with exotic plants essentially creates a food desert, which can have dire consequences that range from fewer insect pollinators and birds to diminishing food crops and, eventually, livestock. We know that using native plants of all types can help prevent a plethora of environmental problems. They're also easier to care for because they're naturally adapted to local conditions and are generally drought-tolerant. Unfortunately, most home gardeners don't know about or have access to native annuals. I hope that changes. The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, based in Austin, Texas, has a wonderful online plant database that allows users to search native plants by state, lifecycle, bloom time and other criteria. (It's at Consider asking your local nursery to stock them. Here are some favorite native annuals. 7 Native annuals worth adding to the garden Partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), which is native from Massachusetts south to northern Florida and west to Minnesota, eastern Nebraska, Oklahoma and eastern Texas, is sadly underused. The lovely 1-to-3-foot-tall plant, which produces clusters of 1-inch-wide yellow flowers on tall, slender stems, thrives in both sun and part shade. A member of the legume family, it also releases nitrogen into the soil, which provides a natural and free fertilizer for itself and the other plants in the bed. American basket flower (Plectocephalus americanus) has a native range that spans west from Missouri to Kansas, then south to Louisiana, Texas and into Mexico. The plant, which boasts 4-inch, honey-scented, lavender-to-pinkish-purple flowers with creamy centers, thrives in full sun to part shade. Forked Bluecurls (Trichostema dichotomum) are delicate flowers that remind me a bit of Dutch irises. Growing to just over 2 feet tall, the late-summer bloomer is native to Michigan, Missouri and Texas east to the Atlantic coast, from Maine to Florida. A better-known U.S. native is the California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), which, as its name implies, is native to California and Baja California. It grows up to 2 feet tall, sending up thin stems that each hold a single yellow-orange flower. Many sunflowers are North American natives, and some of those are perennials. But the Helianthus annus species, known as common or annual sunflower, is a native annual. Originating in Manitoba, Canada, and Minnesota, south to Texas and west from Oregon to Baja California, Mexico, the multi-branched, bushy plant becomes covered in yellow flowers with maroon centers in summer. Indian blanket flower (Gaillardia pulchella) is another U.S. native annual that I've seen at the nursery. They're not native to my home state of New York, however, but rather native from western South Dakota to Kansas and Louisiana and west to Colorado and Arizona. The 2-foot-tall plants put forth daisy-like, red-petaled flowers with yellow tips. Impatiens capensis (Orange jewelweed) should not be confused with the widely available Impatiens walleriana, which comes to us from eastern Africa, or Impatiens hawkeri (New Guinea Impatiens), which is native to the Solomon Islands and New Guinea. Instead, this North American beauty has a native range that covers Saskatchewan to Newfoundland, Canada, then extends south to Georgia, west to Oklahoma and northward to Missouri. Great for shady spots, its speckled orange flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. ___ Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice. ___
The Guardian
10 hours ago
- The Guardian
Why do I still see my siblings as the people they were in childhood?
I am spending a lot of time at my late mother's house, sorting things out, wondering why she had so much asafoetida and thinking about the past. Every time I'm there, my sister asks me to water the garden, and I never do. Then she says: 'Please, just do the window boxes, otherwise the plants will die,' and I still don't. 'I may come and take the potted plants away, or you could take some, if you want to kill them in your own house?', she says, and still I ignore her, because I don't know anything about gardening. So it follows that, being my sibling, she doesn't either. No amount of evidence to the contrary – her own, frankly magnificent garden – can convince me otherwise. This is a two-way street. She is a fashion designer and exquisite draughtsperson – which I, also, after many decades, have yet to wrap my head around – but she can't drive, and if ever she is a passenger when I'm driving, she is on red alert, pointing out things – mainly other cars, pedestrians, trees – as if, without her intervention, I would plough straight into them. Our brother is a skilled decorator and, when he uses words such as 'primer' and 'dust sheet', I can't help looking at him as if a cat is talking. He is a photographer by profession, and, even if we point the same phone at the same object, he creates images that are unfathomably deeper and more pleasing than mine. I look on this not so much as a knowledge base he has that I don't, and more like an act of hocus-pocus. My other brother is a maths teacher, my other sister is a physicist, and I cannot describe how fanciful I find it that they may really be doing these jobs. Obviously, I have to pretend to believe it. I don't even know whether you get wired in childhood to think all knowledge is equally distributed because otherwise it isn't fair, or that every fine difference in skillset is just a question of whoever is younger catching up. But no amount of adulthood can overturn it. Anyway, I couldn't help but notice that, after it rained, the garden looked amazing. It's possible my sister is right on this one thing. Zoe Williams is a Guardian columnist
Telegraph
10 hours ago
- Telegraph
The best garden kneelers for comfort and support, tested by a gardener and injury specialist
The products or services listed have been independently tested by our journalists. We will earn a commission from the affiliate links in this article. It's important to kneel down when rooting around in your garden or pulling up weeds by hand as this minimises your risk of developing back pain (the most common gardening injury). But kneeling can quickly become uncomfortable or cause other injuries without correct protection. Using a long-handled weeding tool can help in some instances, but when you need to get close to the plants you're tending, a good garden kneeler is the way to go. Garden kneelers may seem similar at first glance, but as with garden hoses and leaf blowers, the differences soon become apparent once you start trying them out. Prices range from £15 to £60 and leading brands such as Burgon and Ball, Sarah Raven and Lakeland Active offer a wide range of designs. You'll even find some that double as seats which have metal frames to help elderly gardeners or those with limited mobility to get up and down. To help you make the best choice, this article is updated regularly. Best garden kneelers: At a glance JUMP TO REVIEWS How to choose the best garden kneelers I'm a gardening expert and former soft-tissue injury specialist, so I know first hand how important it is to take care of your body when tending to your flower beds and veg patches. Choosing the best garden kneeler can limit direct injuries like scratches and bruises, and inflammatory conditions that develop from kneeling on hard surfaces, such as prepatellar bursitis. Start by considering how you usually garden. If you have problems with mobility, look for a kneeler with a metal frame to support you as you lower onto the kneeling pad. They also flip over to become a seat, which great for a quick rest, though they are less portable. If you tend to move around your garden a lot then use a lightweight kneeling pad which has a carrying handle for easy transport. You can also try knee pads that strap around your legs to leave your hands free to carry secateurs and other tools. Larger but heavier kneelers let you reposition yourself without dislodging the pad while smaller, more portable kneelers are good for quick jobs but offer less padding. Consider materials, too. Hard-wearing textiles like canvas and leather are more expensive but for rough surfaces like gravel, paving or brick, they are a necessary investment to ensure longevity. If you're only going to use the kneeler on soil or grass, then a softer, cheaper material will suffice. How we test garden kneelers I took an armful of kneelers to my garden and allotment to test them out, firstly on a bark chip surface, where I carried out some much-needed weeding and dead heading, then on paving slabs, and finally on gravel. I even scratched the kneelers along the ground to test the durability of the fabric. Gardening can test the fitness and endurance of even the sprightliest of us, and transporting a wheelbarrow full of tools for every job can get tiring quickly. So, I wanted the kneelers I recommended to strike a good balance between being easy to carry around and comfortable. I judged everything from set-up to handle design (and even seat design if a kneeler was multi purpose). I was also looking for kneelers that were waterproof and would stay put on muddy ground if needed, useful in all seasons, clean easily and crucially appeared as though they would stand the test of time. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best gardening product. No manufacturer ever sees Telegraph Recommended reviews before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. All opinions are based on independent expert opinion and our hands-on testing. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. The best garden kneelers of 2025 1. Best Buy Garden Kneeler: Genus Gardening Kneeler As one of the more expensive kneeling pads on this list, I was hoping for greatness and happily, I was not disappointed. It's also the thickest pad I tested, offering protection for long days in the garden. It is made from hard-wearing polyester fabric that feels comfortable on bare knees and is tough enough for all garden surfaces. It's also waterproof, so you can use the kneeler in wet conditions without ruining your trousers. Helpfully, the cover is also removable, which makes it easy to maintain; either sponge clean or brush away small amounts of dirt, or hand wash the cover in soapy water if it is really mucky. This pad is big enough that you can place your hand onto it too, negating the need for gardening gloves, which you'd want if you put your hand in the soil to balance yourself. This also takes some pressure off your back. It's heavy duty but still light and easy to carry with two handles, so you can grab it and go straight onto the next task. Key specifications 2. Best Value Garden Kneeler: Burgon and Ball Kneelo Garden Kneeler Available in 18 different colours and patterns, this Burgon and Ball Kneelo kneeler will add a little fun to your garden shed. A layer of thicker foam is sandwiched between two layers of soft memory foam, a combination that protects your knees when on rough surfaces and feels comfortable for long periods. The outer layer is made from neoprene, which felt breathable and soft when I had bare knees, and it dried quickly and was easy to clean. Lined neoprene isn't the most hard-wearing fabric though, so this kneeler will have a longer lifespan if only used on softer surfaces such as bare soil or grass, even if it's more than padded enough for use elsewhere. This kneeler is similar to the Spear and Jackson Kew Gardens Collection Kneeling Pad below, but is slightly wider, softer and lighter. This is unlikely to make a huge difference to your experience, but the Burgon and Ball is better if you like to kneel with the tops of your feet flat on the ground, putting more weight on your shins than knees. It also will need moving less frequently, giving you room to shift your position on the mat to reach different parts of your garden beds. Key specifications Design: Kneeling pad Size: L 52cm, W 30.5cm, D 6cm Material: Neoprene cover, EVA and memory foam filling Special features: Wide range of colours and patterns 3. Best Gardening Knee Pads: Burgon and Ball Kneelo Knee Pads These knee pads are a refreshing alternative to the traditional gardening kneeler. Designed for active gardeners who are constantly on the move, these pads secure comfortably to your leg, letting you go anywhere without concern for potential knee pain or injuries. The Velcro straps mean the fit is adjustable, with one positioned above the knee and one below, leaving the back of your knee clear of any extra fabric. The pads are thick and contain cushioning memory foam, similar to that of the Kneelo Garden Kneeler, and are covered with neoprene, which is waterproof to protect your skin and trousers from getting wet. Wash them with a sponge and some soapy water; I found they could withstand some scrubbing with a soft brush too. I will admit to feeling slightly self-conscious wearing these pads at first on my allotment, but I soon started enjoying my newfound freedom. If you're never in the same place for too long, these knee pads are the best choice for you. Available in 10 different colours ranging from bright yellow to a soft grey, there is something to suit every gardener, though be warned they can get hot in warm weather. Key specifications 3. Best Garden Kneeler for Comfort and Style: Sarah Raven Kneeler This kneeling pad uses firm but comfortable foam covered in waxed cotton with a leather carrying handle and pouch. The handle is big enough to loop it over your arm, leaving your hands free to carry gardening tools. The pouch also comes in handy if you have a lot to carry as there's extra space for secateurs or gardening gloves. This kneeler is quite narrow at just 21cm wide, so it would suit if you're someone who puts weight on your knees rather than placing your shins flat. It provides good cushioning while the waxed cotton cover wipes down easily and offers a level of water proofing. I noticed scratches and scuffs though, and while it doesn't affect overall use it can look unsightly. If this is likely to bother you, the Niwaki, Genus and Sophie Conran kneelers are all made with scratch-proof fabric. This one offers more protection for your knees than the Sophie Conran design, and is softer than the Niwaki and Genus kneelers, so it's a case of prioritising your preferences before you make a purchase. Otherwise, the quality of the Sarah Raven Kneeler is exceptional, and with its aesthetically pleasing design, it would make an excellent gift too. Key specifications 4. Best Garden Kneeler for Serious Gardeners: Niwaki Kneeler This wide, firm garden kneeler is excellent for tough surfaces in the garden. It has five centimetres of relatively hard foam, covered by a thick and durable layer of canvas. It's a no-nonsense design that will protect your knees, but as the foam is quite hard it might not suit some people's taste. It would favour heavier gardeners or anyone who doesn't want soft cushioning. One benefit is that rather than sinking into the padding, it makes standing up a little easier. The other is that firmer kneelers like this one offer some stability on uneven ground, though you may find you can't spend as long on your knees. I particularly liked its width, too. At 29cm there's ample space for your shins and hands to push yourself up, and it remains lightweight despite its size. The fun, bright red handle is even large enough to carry looped over your arm. Key specifications Design: Kneeling pad Size: L 48.5cm, W 28.9cm, D 5.4cm Material: 16oz coated canvas cover, spongy inner Special features: It floats 5. Best Garden Kneeler for Beginners: Sophie Conran Kneeler This classy little kneeler is easy to carry, lightweight and offers a decent amount of cushioning for a low price. Its thick cotton cover is coated with PVC, making it easy to clean and surprisingly durable. The fabric is waterproof and can be quickly wiped clean after use, too. There's no compromising on looks, protection or comfort here. The carrying handle is large enough to loop over your arm. And while the padding is relatively thin, it feels comfortable, even on stony ground. My only gripe is that it's quite small. This makes storing it easy but you'll have to move it regularly if you are shifting position. As an affordable all-rounder, this kneeler would make a lovely gift and is a great choice for new gardeners looking to add some eye candy to their garden shed. Key specifications Design: Kneeling pad Size: L 44cm, W 23cm, D 5cm Material: PVC coated cotton cover, padded inner Special features: Leather tag 6. Best Kneeling Pad for Comfort: The Kew Gardens Collection Patterned Cushion Kneeler from Spear and Jackson Score: 8/10 We like: The soft, deep cushioning and different colours Like a good pair of gardening gloves, this padded kneeler will help protect your knees from sharp objects on the ground and provide comfort while pruning and tending. The cover is made from lined neoprene, making it waterproof and easy to clean, though I noticed it can snag and catch on sharp objects. I tested a fair few of this type of kneeler and this is one of the deepest, providing excellent cushioning for your knees. The Spear and Jackson Kneeler has quite a small pad size, which is pinched in the middle, so you'll likely need to adjust it as you move around for optimum support. The trade off is that it is easier to store. It has an ergonomic carrying handle, though the thick padding around it means it's a bit of a challenge to carry additional tools like a gardening fork in the same hand. It's available in eight different colours, so at least you should be able to match it to the rest of your kit. Key specifications Design: Kneeling pad Size: L 47cm, W 28cm, D 5.3cm Material: Neoprene cover and memory foam filling Special features: Available in eight different colours 7. Best Garden Kneeler with Handles: Draper 2-in-1 Folding Garden Kneeler This kneeler offers a solution for gardeners with limited mobility, as its metal frame provides handles to help you lower yourself down and give you support when standing again. And if you flip it over it becomes a seat, too. It's not padded, mind, and at just 32cm high, it's fairly low and likely won't feel that comfortable for long, especially if you are tall. Large sunken holes on the seat pad aren't great in muddy conditions either, as they can be difficult to clean. With that said, the pad on the Draper kneeler is much wider than the one on the similarly designed VonHaus (below), which is comfortable and gives you more flexibility for its use. While some slightly unappealing plastic buttons adorn the pad, I didn't notice them during testing. Overall, the kneeling pad feels sturdy and comfortable. It is lighter than other folding garden kneelers I tested, easier to fold away and set up and has a greater weight limit of 19.7 stone. It's just a shame the seat isn't a tad more inviting. Key specifications Design: Folding garden kneeler and seat Size: L 24cm, W 12cm, D 4.8cm, H 40cm Material: Metal frame and dense foam pad Special features: Easy to fold 8. Best Garden Kneeler with Seat: VonHaus Garden Kneeler Seat and Tool Set This clever kneeler is a good choice for any gardeners who struggle to go from standing to kneeling and vice versa. With handles that double as legs for a seat and foam padding on both sides, it is versatile and supportive, and should help you to garden for longer. There's even a nifty tool pouch on the side attached with a Velcro loop making it adjustable for accessibility at all times, whether you're seated or kneeling, and it comes with a set of tools to boot. The metal frame feels sturdy and easily takes your weight as you lower yourself onto it (although the 15 stone weight limit is lower than the Draper above and it's a heavier frame overall). It is a little clunky to fold down and requires you to pull in a handle while folding in the legs on either side. With this type of kneeler it can be difficult to work on the ground, however. As it is slightly elevated, it means you have to lean forward more which can put pressure on your lower back. Additionally, the pad itself is quite narrow, at only 15.5cm wide, which can feel a bit uncomfortable if you need room for your shin as well as your knee. If it suits your gardening style, however, it's a sensible buy. Key specifications Design: Folding garden kneeler and seat Size: L 59.5cm, W 27cm, H 49cm Material: Metal frame and dense foam pad Special features: Comes with tool pouch and three tools 9. Best for Seniors: Crocus Folding Garden Kneeler This garden kneeler is rather similar to the VonHaus folding design, though I found its smooth coated metal handles slightly easier to clean. There's no tools holder, but it feels sturdy and well-built; to set it up, simply pull the legs out until they click and turn it upside down to turn it into to a seat. The overall height and padding on both sides makes this device comfortable to use whether as a kneeler or a seat. The weight limit is 15 stone, which will accommodate most gardeners. Disassembly felt a bit awkward, as you have to pull in a bar next to the seat while folding in one leg and then repeat on the other side. Again it's the same mechanism featured on the VonHaus, but this one seems a tad smoother. It is not as easy to carry as a kneeling pad; the handles add weight and bulk, so I'd only opt for this design if you want to benefit from the additional support and the seat. I'd recommend using a wheelbarrow to transport tools and the kneeler around the garden. Key specifications 10. Best Kneeler for Small Gardens: Lakeland Active Thistlewood Memory Foam Garden Kneeler This small and pretty garden kneeler offers excellent comfort over long periods. It should tidy away neatly and is available in six different colours and patterns, adding a little pop to your potting shed. As a relatively firm kneeling pad, this will give you good protection from uneven and hard surfaces, helping to absorb the feel of stones and other bits on the ground. This kneeler would suit working in tight spaces but bear in mind you will need to continually shift it underneath you as you move. This is not uncommon, but the smaller the pad, the more you will need to adjust. A comfortable carrying handle makes it particularly portable. In all, this kneeler would be a good choice if you have a small garden and limited storage space. Key specifications Design: Kneeling pad Size: L 49cm, W 30cm, D 5cm Material: Neoprene cover and memory foam pad Special features: Available in six different colours and patterns 11. Best Garden Kneeler for Muddy Gardens: Senua Kneeling Pad £11.99 Buy now Price at Amazon This heavy duty no-frills garden kneeler is both budget and knee friendly. Made from foam, it is tough, durable and waterproof with a lightweight feel and carry handle that make it suitably portable. You can choose between black and blue colourways, too. It has nearly four centimetres of padding and it is particularly firm, so will easily cushion your knees against rocks and other hard and uneven areas in your garden. The support is such that it shouldn't flatten underneath you, even if you're a heavier build. I even found it comfortable to sit on when I needed to give my knees some respite. However, as the hardest kneeler on this list, it certainly won't feel as comfortable if you are using it for longer periods of time. It's not the one to choose for sink-in comfort, but if you want a hard-wearing kneeler that you can hose down once you're done, look no further. It's an excellent alternative to the often trickier-to-maintain fabric covered designs. Key specifications Design: Kneeling pad Size: L 45cm, W 28cm, D 4cm Material: Dense foam Special features: Easy to clean Garden kneeler FAQs What is the best type of garden kneeler for comfort and support? The best type of garden kneeler for you depends on your levels of mobility, writes gardener and former injury specialist, Becky Searle. With handled kneelers, they are always a few inches above the ground, and this can make reaching towards it more uncomfortable. If you just want to protect your knees while gardening, choose a cushioned kneeling pad or knee pads. Are all garden kneelers waterproof and easy to clean? No, not all garden kneelers are waterproof, but most are easy to clean. Garden kneelers with handles have more parts to clean, and textured fabric is more difficult to wipe than smooth fabrics; coated fabrics are easier to maintain than uncoated ones. Many garden kneelers are covered in neoprene, which is easy to clean but can snag on sharp objects such as thorns, unlike coated or waxed cotton, leather or canvas. Are garden kneelers with handles easy to use for getting up? Getting up from a kneeling position can be a challenge even for younger gardeners after a prolonged period, so having handles to push yourself up is extremely useful. The handles either side on this type of kneeler help you to distribute your weight evenly across both sides of your body, helping you to stand.
