If I wanted to give a garden privacy this summer, I’d use a hedge bed like B&Q’s Bopha Rectangular Wood Trough (£54) to add instant height and structure to my borders.

There are plenty of garden screening ideas to help zone your space and gain privacy from nosy neighbours, and one of the easiest (and most natural ways) is by making the most of your plants, in particular hedges.

Having spotted B&Q’s hedge beds on a recent trip to the store, I saw first-hand how handy these troughs are for crafting your own garden privacy ideas, they can also become a haven for wildlife too.

The Bopha Rectangular Wood Trough has a capacity of 110L and is ideal for growing edibles and flowers in your garden. Standing at 35cm, they create height and structure to your garden borders and patios.

Many flowers, such as some geraniums, dwarf zinnias and crocuses, don’t reach great heights, so container planting is an excellent way to ensure your eye is drawn to them, whilst adding extra height and structure to the space.

Now, this won’t exactly offer loads of privacy, but you can also add taller-growing plants to the trough thanks to its 40cm depth, such as agapanthus, delphiniums and verbena, which offer privacy through their height, as well as stunning bursts of colour.

The trough itself has drainage holes in the base, which allow excess water to drain away, preventing the soil from becoming waterlogged, although container plants do benefit from being watered more in a heatwave. You will, however, need to apply a suitable oil finish (such as the Osmo Garden Furniture Oil, £30.62, Amazon) periodically to maintain the trough’s colour and weather resistance.

As well as adding extra height to your garden, the trough can also be used to carve out zones in your garden. This easy garden layout idea really couldn’t be any simpler. Simply arrange your troughs to create zones, such as a seating area or BBQ space. Think of them as flowering screens.

These planters are also great for supporting local birds. Once blooming, the trough offers a sheltered spot off the ground that birds can take respite in.

‘I recently purchased the Verve Bopha 110L trough, and I'm very impressed. At 80cm wide, it provides plenty of space for a variety of plants. The build quality feels very durable; the wood is thick and feels like it will hold up well against the elements. Aesthetically, the brown finish is lovely-it has a natural, premium look that fits perfectly in my garden. Overall, a high-quality item that feels like it’s built to last,’ says one review.

‘Really pleased with the planters, they are solidly built and sturdy and just the right size to fit perfectly on the patio. The stained wood is attractive and blends well with the perennial flowers I've planted in it to give that extra bit of colour in winter,’ says another.

Add privacy to a garden

While a hedge bed will add privacy along fences or around seating areas when the plants have established themselves, if you are looking for a more instant fix, here are a few alternative patio privacy ideas.

If you want to use natural planting to create privacy in a garden, these wooden troughs are the stylish planters to help you do it.

Garden experts are recommending gardeners leave out ‘pollinator pitstops’ this summer to encourage bees, butterflies, birds and other wildlife into urban gardens.

This year, garden experts at B&Q want to remind you that it’s possible to have a thriving wildlife garden even if you have a small garden or balcony. In fact, the beauty of making your own pollinator pitstop is that it will fit any garden.

On a recent trip to B&Q’s flagship sustainability store in Cheltenham, I was lucky enough to attend a pollinator pitstop workshop in the store’s sustainability garden. Here’s everything I learned about what they are, why every garden can benefit from one and how to create one yourself.

What you need

What is a pollinator pitstop?

In the workshop hosted by Jamie Walton, founder of Nettles & Petals, I learned that a pollinator pitstop is a very easy way to attract bees to a garden.

All you need is a planter, some pollinator-friendly plants and a small dish of water filled with pebbles. This gives your local wildlife a ‘pitstop’ where they can stop off for a drink of water during hot summer days. And the pebbles? I hear your question. These provide an area for bees to perch, so they don’t get trapped in your water dish. It’s very similar to a bee hydration station, which is one of the easiest ways to help bees in hot weather.

‘People often assume you need a large garden to support wildlife, but that's simply not the case. A pollinator pit stop is a space designed to provide pollinating insects with the food, water and shelter they need to thrive. It can be as simple as a few nectar-rich plants in pots, a shallow water source, and a small area left a little wilder. Collectively, those small actions can have a big impact,’ Jamie said.

To create his pollinator pitstop, Jamie used purple thyme, ivy and lavender in his pot. He filled the pot with peat-free compost (£7, B&Q) and explained the pitstop was best placed in a sunny spot after completion. While thyme and lavender are excellent at feeding pollinators in the spring and summer months, it is the autumn berries that ivy produces that mean you can attract and feed your garden wildlife for longer.

‘One of the biggest mistakes I see is gardens that peak in July and then offer very little for the rest of the year. Pollinators need support beyond summer, so think about what is flowering across the seasons. Crocus and Pulmonaria are brilliant in early spring when insects are emerging, while Sedum and Asters help provide a late-season food source. If you can create a succession of flowers throughout the year, you'll make a much bigger impact and attract regular visitors,’ he said.

And other wildlife experts agree this is a brilliant hack that offers loads of benefits to a small garden. In fact, why not get the whole family involved? Making a pollinator pitstop is a great weekend activity for kids, too.

‘I think a pollinator pitstop is a lovely idea, and supporting pollinators is crucial. They’re an especially great idea when your garden space is limited, as they provide a small space for bees and birds to refuel before continuing on their journeys,' comments James Ewens, wildlife expert at Green Feathers. 'Think of a pollinator pitstop as the wildlife equivalent to a cafe on the canal.'

‘It’s always worth being mindful, though. Water needs to be regularly replenished so it isn’t stagnant and unhygienic. Make sure water is clean and regularly topped up, and ensure it’s shallow to make it insect-friendly. Some birds may use the water, too, but they'll generally prefer a slightly larger bird bath nearby that’s more accessible. Overall, though, it's a simple, accessible way to support local wildlife and encourage more pollinators into the garden.’

Is this a wildlife-friendly idea you’ll be trying out this summer?

If the sudden heavy downpours of the past week have put your garden at risk of flooding, B&Q is selling Quick Dam (£40) - a flood barrier that activates when wet to divert flood water away from your home.

It’s weeks like this one, when we’re all reminded of the merits of floodproofing a garden, and if the sudden bursts of heavy rain have left your garden a boggy soup, then it is certainly worth looking into new drainage garden systems, such as installing a French drain, to help relieve the strain.

However, if you need a temporary fix, this is where a Quick Dam comes in handy. It doesn’t require any sand to get started, and will swell up to 10ft in length in just 10 minutes, making it a fast and effective barrier against floodwater. Here’s everything you need to know.

Thanks to climate change, periods of drought and sudden heavy downpour are becoming more common in the UK. According to the Met Office, warmer air (resulting from climate change) results in heavier rain, which means summer rain will become heavier and more intense as temperatures rise.

Ahead of this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Flood Re, whose garden aimed to bring awareness to the five million homes in the UK at risk of flooding, warned that homeowners were ‘sleepwalking’ their way into a flooding crisis.

Warning that the risk of surface water flooding is increasing (flooding that is caused when drains become overwhelmed), stating that paving over gardens with non-permeable materials is exacerbating the problem.

If you want to floodproof your house effectively, it might be time to say goodbye to hard landscaping. But in the meantime, a temporary solution such as a Quick Dam can be a great line of defence.

Quick Dams are water-activated flood barriers that use super-absorbent polymers that swell into a dense, heavy gel when in contact with water. This means you get a heavy, solid dam that can help divert floodwater and block it from accessing your home. They’re well-placed in front of the back and front doors to stop water from coming in.

Please note, they are NOT suitable for use with saltwater or coastal flooding, as the product does not activate properly when it comes into contact with the product. Quick dams are made of safe, non-toxic materials, which means they can be disposed of in your general waste.

Quick Dams are flexible, conforming to the space you need, and they can also be moved easily. It has a dual lobe design, too, to prevent rolling out of position, and creates a strong stacking base.

‘Whilst it appears a tad on the expensive side, the main thing is that it is easy to set up, and most importantly does the job. We had awful issues with water entering the garage during heavy rainfall - No longer!!!’ says one review on B&Q’s website.

Shop similar flood barriers

While a Quick Dam won’t solve the problem of a flooded garden, it can help if heavy rain arrives before you have a chance to put preventative measures in place.

If you'd like to spend the next Bank Holiday weekend in your garden, catching some sun and perhaps even dusting off your BBQ, then you need to consider where you'll be sitting. If your current garden furniture set can't be rescued by a deep clean, then I'm here with good news: I've spotted so many bargain garden furniture sets, all at B&Q, believe it or not. I was browsing in a store the other day and truly couldn't believe my eyes. But one style in particular caught my eye, as its green colourway brings a refined vibe to your outside space.

The Giza Green Metal 4 Seater Coffee set is a bargain at £550 for 4 pieces — one 2-seater sofa, 2 armchairs and a coffee table. And it isn't just its design that's made it a contender for the best garden furniture, it's equally as practical since its cushions have removable covers for easy upkeep, plus the chairs swivel for added comfort.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, there's also the fact that it comes wrapped in a 5-year guarantee for peace of mind.

Not sure how to style this set? If you've got the space, style it all together — even better, place it surrounding a fire pit and style its table to the side of the set, so it's still within reach.

If you haven't got the luxury of the necessary wriggle room for the whole set, then it's a good job that it's flexible. Place its swivel chairs in one corner, for enjoying your morning coffee in the sunshine. Pair it with an outdoor side table if you think you'll need it. Then, let the 2-seater sofa and coffee table take centre stage in the corner of your garden that you usually use to entertain. That's technically 2 for 1...

As far as garden accessories go, this set would work perfectly styled with the right outdoor rug. Go for something neutral like this jute design from B&Q.

The scatter cushions in the photo aren't included, but this might just be a good thing. Go for these green scallop edge cushions for added luxury, or choose this boucle option to inject a new texture into the scene.

While this set is new to B&Q, so it doesn't have hundreds of reviews to back it up, it does boast a 4.9-star rating from 9 happy recent reviewers.

'Was looking for a set for my new patio for a while, it wasn't the style or design I was looking for, but I sat on it randomly in the shop, and it was a lot more comfy than a lot of way more expensive sets I had tried,' says one shopper.

Not just for your garden, one reviewer wrote: 'absolutely delighted with this sofa set. It’s being used in our sunroom but it’s ideal to take outside too. The quality is great, it comes in a huge box and was put together without any issues.'

Alternative sets from B&Q

I love sitting out in the garden as soon as it's warm enough to perch outside in a fleece, coffee in hand. But when the sun goes on a summer evening, my north-facing garden is the last place I want to be, or at least that was the case until I added the beautiful La Hacienda Trentham Clay Chiminea for £140 at B&Q to my garden.

If you've never heard of a chiminea, they're essentially a small free-standing chimney you can use to heat a patio or even cook food over, depending on the style you have. I grew up with a chiminea in the garden of my family home, so I've always been a fan of this outdoor heating idea. However, over the last 10 years, chimineas appeared to fall out of fashion, with many favouring a Love Island-style fire pit instead.

As much as I love the look of a fire pit, one is out of the question in my tiny London-based garden. But when I spotted not one but two beautiful chimineas at B&Q's spring and summer 2026 showcase, I knew this was the ideal solution to keeping my garden warm. Sorry, firepits, there's a new stylish outdoor heating solution in town.

The main difference between a chiminea and a fire pit is that a chiminea controls the direction of any smoke upwards and out of the chimney, something you can't do with a fire pit. This was a big bonus for me, as I really didn't want to be that annoying neighbour. I also preferred that there be only a small opening in the front of the chiminea that you could light it from, so all flames are contained inside the clay structure.

Now, the other bonus is the aesthetic appeal. The best firepits and even the best patio heaters aren't the most aesthetically pleasing items during the day when they're not in action. A chiminea, on the other hand, can be a beautiful statement piece to complete your outdoor living room ideas, and I think this is what's behind their current resurgence.

The beautiful green turquoise Clay Chiminea I chose for my garden from B&Q had already drawn many compliments from the Ideal Home team before I'd even set it up to test in my garden.

My particular chiminea arrived in two pieces with a stand, so it is up and ready to go in seconds. It is relatively tall at 82.2cm and wide at 38cm, so like most other chiminea styles, it is best styled in a corner or to the side of a seating area, as a traditional fireplace would be. I positioned mine halfway down my garden to help zone the small seating area, positioning it safely away from any plants.

Mine is just the perfect size for my garden, but if your space is on the snugger size, I'd recommend going for the slimmer Molela Clay Chiminea for £75 at B&Q, which is 35cm wide. I've only had the opportunity to light my chiminea a couple of times, thanks to the rain, but I've been impressed by the heat that radiates out of it.

I'm planning to use it all summer long with kiln-dried firewood, available for £10 on Amazon, to help minimise any smoke it produces. But, I would advise investing in a chiminea cover like this £20 one from B&Q, as I learned during the recent downpour, it can easily turn into an accidental bucket.

There are so many different styles of chimineas out there to suit every style of garden. Here are just a few of the others that have caught my eye.

Have I convinced you that chimineas are this years stylish alternative to the fire pit?

As we head into summer, we’re all going to spend a lot more time out in the gardens. And with long evenings, this outdoor enjoyment continues well into the evening. Unfortunately, dusk is not as warm as day, which is why I’m planning to snap up B&Q’s clever new tabletop heater.

To enjoy your garden in the evening, it’s always wise to invest in one of the best patio heaters or even reassess your fire pit ideas. But if you’re short on space, these heaters can sometimes look a little clunky, and this is where you may benefit from a table-top fire.

B&Q’s new La Hacienda Olivia Bio-ethanol Outdoor Tabletop fire (£35) is both elegant and compact, allowing you to enjoy the ambience of a fire without needing a large pit.

Having spotted B&Q’s new tiny heater, I have to say I was impressed. The Olivia Tabletop Heater is fuelled by smokeless biofuel, which means you can enjoy your fire without smoke, soot or ash. Just remember that biofuel isn’t included, you can also pick up La Hacienda biofuel at B&Q for just £11.

But what impressed me the most about this garden heating idea is just how small it is. Perfect for tiny gardens, the Olivia Heater will sit comfortably on your garden table, emitting just one flame when lit. It uses just 230ml of fuel and burns for 1.6 hours at a time. But despite its small size, reviews do praise its warmth.

‘Brilliant gives you that real fire feeling of warmth and comfort. Also safe if used carefully, as made with sturdy products. The fuel that is made by the same brand is also the best in my experience, no funny smells and no fumes at all, so safe to use indoors as an alternative to expensive central heating atm,’ said one customer.

It’s also decorative, with a stylish and contemporary base, and a sleek glass dome to allow 360-degree viewing of the flame. The base itself is made from glass-reinforced concrete, so you can rest assured it can withstand heat.

‘Tabletop fires are a great addition to smaller gardens and patios. These intimate spaces often can’t accommodate heating options like firepits and chimineas, but our range of tabletop fires is a compact solution to bring warmth and ambience to your outdoor space. As well as being practical, they’re a decorative and on‑trend way to accessorise your space, adding a great finishing touch to bistro sets and coffee sets,’ commented Rory Parkes, B&Q’s Outdoor Expert.

‘They can be moved around easily, and use bioethanol fuel instead of wood, which means you don’t have the smoke, soot, ash or odours of a fire pit or chiminea. Thanks to their stylish, design‑led appeal, they also make a thoughtful and affordable gifting option for garden lovers and new homeowners alike.

‘Our new range of tabletop fires starts at £35, making them an affordable addition to any space – and as they’re suitable for indoor use, you can benefit from them all year round!’

If you want to enjoy your garden long after the sun has set, a tabletop fire such as this one can be a game-changer.

Last year, I became the proud owner of my first garden. Already hung on one of the garden walls was a hook for a hanging basket. However, as a beginner gardener battling with the realities of what you can actually plant in a north-west facing garden, I had no idea how to put together a shade-friendly hanging basket.

I didn't fully understand how to plant up a hanging basket, let alone how to navigate the thriller, filler and spiller rules when choosing the best plants for my hanging basket or even what plants would thrive in my garden. Fortunately, my job means I’m often able to pick the brains of talented experts to solve my garden or interior problems.

In this case, the garden experts at B&Q came to my rescue at their spring and summer press showcase, where they not only helped me choose the right plants for my shade-friendly garden basket but also demonstrated how to plant it up.

These are all the tips and home truths I gleaned that I’ll be using when I’m next planting up a hanging basket for my north west garden.

1. Avoid full sun plants

I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but I’m sure I’m not the only person who has blithely been choosing full sun plants for their north-west facing garden, hoping they’ll be fine.

When asked what plants I’d like to grow in my hanging basket, I declared my high hopes of growing strawberries. Which B&Q’s horticulture Buyer, Duncan Mclean, politely ignored as he directed me to a selection of partial-shade-friendly plants.

'When planting a hanging basket for a shadier aspect, it’s important to focus on plants that won’t struggle without direct sunlight,' he explained.

The four shade-friendly plants he recommended for my summer hanging basket were:

• Spider plant - Thriller
• Crocodile fern - Filler
• Fushia (upright) - Filler
• Ivy - Spiller

'Other reliable options for shaded baskets include begonia, busy lizzie, bacopa and campanula, alongside foliage such as heuchera, hosta and hardy ferns, which all cope well with lower light levels,' he adds.

2. Consider ‘houseplants’

You’ll have clocked that two of the plants I just named are actually traditionally grown indoors. It turns out that if you live in a slightly warmer micro-climate, as I do in London, you can happily grow some houseplants outdoors in summer.

'North or north-west facing gardens in London offer a cooler, more shaded environment, but with the benefit of slightly milder city temperatures,' explains Duncan. 'This makes them well suited to a range of shade-tolerant and foliage-focused plants that can still deliver colour, texture, and structure in a hanging basket.'

'Crocodile fern (available at B&Q) thrives in indirect light and brings interesting texture with its distinctive foliage, but as a tender houseplant, it’s best suited to seasonal outdoor displays and should be brought indoors if temperatures drop,' he warns.

3. Prioritise contrasting foliage

I’d been worried that choosing partial shade would sentence me to a boring mix of same-y (unpretty) plants. However, according to Duncan, the trick is to lean in and focus on using a mix of contrasting foliage to create a striking look.

'Prioritising contrasting foliage, different leaf shapes, and incorporating trailing elements will help create visual interest,' he explains.

The final mix of different shades and textures of green with the pops of colour from the fuchsia looked very chic (if I do say so myself). This is not your average pub garden hanging basket.

4. Don't forget to add drainage

'Ensuring good drainage and regular feeding will also support healthy growth, as shaded baskets can retain more moisture,' explained Duncan, who poked three holes in the lining of the £13 B&Q rattan hanging basket before adding compost.

Hanging baskets famously dry out quicker than containers because they hold less compost, but drainage holes are still essential to stop it flooding when watered. However, to help get the balance right, Duncan also mixed in some Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Gel, which you can pick up at B&Q or at Amazon, to help the compost hold more water.

5. Follow the rule of three

The rule of planting in odd numbers or in threes sometimes goes under the radar, but it goes hand in hand with the classic hanging basket thriller, filler, spiller rule. It’s a foolproof rule that just makes hanging baskets and containers look so much better.

In my hanging basket, apart from the 1 statement spider plant, there are three of all the other plants. The fern and fuchsia are alternately planted, with the ivy between them on the outer edge to create little groups of three.

Add to basket

I was lucky enough to take the made-up hanging basket home with me to put Duncan's tips to the test and it's brightened up the brick wall at the back of my house. I can't wait to see how it grows, but for now I just have to remember to water it...

As we welcome sunshine back into our lives with the arrival of spring, everyone’s attention is turning to their garden. Furnishing it in time for al fresco season is priority number one. And B&Q customers have been going wild over the newly dropped GoodHome Atar rattan-effect outdoor corner sofa set – and that’s because it also turns into a daybed!

Year after year, B&Q has some of the best garden furniture on offer – and at budget-friendly prices, which is why it’s a go-to for many, myself included. And while last year, customers were swooning over the swivel rattan-effect garden furniture sets, this year, it seems to be all about this innovative £800 corner sofa/daybed.

I have personally never come across a design quite like this – and I’ve seen it all when it comes to garden furniture ideas. Although Habitat's Malta day bed is the closest to this that I've seen. But I’m fully on board with the clever mechanism that allows the daybed part to be neatly folded away underneath the sofa seat when not in use, and which can be pulled out when you want to lounge and relax in comfort.

Even though it only just launched, the corner sofa set is already enjoying much popularity from customers with 50 units sold in the last two days (at the time of writing) and four 5-star reviews under its belt.

One reviewer wrote, ‘I am over the moon with it, such great quality and super comfy, really great value for money.’

The only thing that the reviewers warn about is the size of the product on arrival – apparently, it arrives part assembled and it’s very large. So much so that several customers weren’t able to fit it through the front door.

Another existing customer said, ‘Be careful with measurements as I was unable to get mine through the front door (products come part assembled). I had to use my neighbour’s side gate and lift it over their garden. The section with the daybed is one whole piece therefore use that as measurements to check if it will fit through your front door. Again it’s a cracking product.’

I’m not always the biggest fan of faux rattan, at least not the traditional look of it. But this design’s take on faux rattan looks stylish and contemporary and even I wouldn’t mind having it in my garden (if I had one), especially since it comes with a built-in daybed! And it even comes with a coordinating coffee table.

Outdoor daybed alternatives

B&Q has just launched their own egg barbecue, and at £500, it’s £995 cheaper than the cult Big Green Egg.

A kamado-style BBQ is one of the best BBQs you can buy. They’re beloved by chefs due to the superior flavour they create compared to a typical charcoal barbecue. If you’re the sort of person who takes barbecuing seriously, you don’t need me to explain why these styles of grill are so popular.

Yet there’s no denying that these BBQs can be pricey. So, I’m always looking for affordable kamado-style BBQs so you can up your cooking skills without breaking the bank. B&Q’s GoodHome Sagami Orange Charcoal Egg BBQ is the latest to impress us. Here’s why.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen several brands try to replicate the success of the Big Green Egg BBQ. From Aldi’s budget kamado BBQ that cost just £299.99 when it landed in the middle aisle last summer to Habitat’s tiny table-top kamado BBQ, which is a great starter BBQ at just £120.

If you need something larger, B&Q’s orange egg is an excellent alternative. With the power to grill, smoke, bake or sear, it’s the perfect addition to any outdoor kitchen, even promising consistent cooking results in cold and windy weather (so you can use it all year round).

It has an integrated thermometer and cast-iron vent to allow for temperature control, while its stainless steel air vents and cooking grid help ensure even cooking. On each side of the orange egg, you will find two foldable bamboo side tables for prep space, bamboo handles and four easy-roll castors to help move it into place.

It comes with a five-year warranty, and B&Q states it has been built to last for summers to come. While we haven’t tested the B&Q orange egg ourselves, this style of BBQ has received a big thumbs up from Ideal Home’s expert reviewers. The main things to know about egg BBQs are that they’re incredibly versatile and worth the investment if you take cooking seriously.

I've also rounded up the egg BBQs we have tested and can vouch for.

However, I do think the B&Q orange egg is worth seriously looking at. It’s an excellent size, affordable compared to other models and has many of the same features as our best-rated kamado-style BBQs.

The weather is starting to warm up, and we're catching glimpses of sun through the clouds, which means it's time to get your patio ready for summer. If you are in the market for a new outdoor furniture set, I've spotted the ultimate boho style set, the GoodHome Omalos Matt Beige Rattan effect 4 Seater Coffee set, priced at £500 at B&Q.

It might still feel early to be investing in your outdoor space, but trust me, now is the time to jump if you want to snap up the best garden furniture at a good price. At the top of my summer to-buy list is a new garden furniture set to replace my 6-year-old sofa set, so this is exactly what I'm doing.

I now know exactly what I want this time around. I'm looking for something strong with removable and washable covers, a generous guarantee and comfortable cushions. This coffee set, with its boho vibe and combination of sofa and two swivel armchairs, more than fits the bill.

However, if you're also a fan, I'd recommend acting fast as the two-seater version sold out super fast last year, and the four-piece set is already proving very popular. I predict this set will likely be sold out by the end of March (if not earlier)

Wrapped in a 5-year guarantee, this steel set is comfortable, stylish and affordable thanks to its £500 price tag. It requires assembly, but it can be delivered straight to your front door if you buy soon. The best part is that you can remove its cushions for cleaning in your washing machine, making maintenance a breeze.

,Imagine this gorgeous set styled on your decking, sitting on a fancy outdoor rug, with colourful outdoor scatter cushions and some fancy outdoor lighting on its small table. It's giving bougie on a £500 budget, and its bathtub-style chairs will bring comfort to your patio, with their deep back and seat cushions providing all-day support.

A good garden furniture set will last you for at least 5 years, if not more — so it's worth buying something with a timeless feel. Boho garden ideas have been an enduring trend for the last decade, so I'm confident this set will not date quickly.

However, B&Q isn't the only brand knocking it out of the park with their boho-looking garden furniture this year. Here are a few other pieces I'm also considering.

Alternatives

Take this as your sign to get your garden spring-ready now, ahead of the clocks springing back at the end of the month.

B&Q have partnered with the charity Shelter and artist and homelessness activist David Tovery to shine a light on homeless children in England this Christmas - with £1 from every real Christmas tree bought now until Sunday (7 December) going straight to the charity.

If you’ve been looking for a reason to opt for a real tree instead of one of the best artificial Christmas trees, let it be this one. The partnership highlights that there will be 172,420 homeless children in England this Christmas, and the donation will go a small way to helping.

To highlight the issue and importance of the subject, David Tovey has created 172 temporary Christmas trees to represent the growing number of children who don’t have a place to call home.

During this time of year, it can be exciting to browse the best gift guides and attempt to nail some of the hottest Christmas trends, but for many families, this is not the case.

Data from Shelter has revealed that 172,420 Children will be spending Christmas in temporary accommodation this year, with child homelessness on the rise.

Drawing on his own lived experience of growing up in temporary accommodation, David Tovey has created a forest of 172 ‘Temporary Trees’ to represent each child spending this Christmas homeless.

The collection consists of five different designs, which tell a story about families trying to celebrate Christmas when living in temporary accommodation. For example, ‘The Gift That Matters Tree’ depicts the lengths David’s parents would go to create festive joy for their children, despite being homeless at the time.

‘We didn’t have much money, but somehow Mum and Dad always managed to get us presents. One year, we came downstairs, and there was no Christmas tree, but I had a pig-shaped money box. That was it - no tree, just the pig,’ said David.

These trees will be on display at B&Q stores around the UK, and alongside the artwork, £1 of every real Christmas tree sold will be donated to Shelter until 7 December this year. As well as the £1 donation, B&Q will also match customer donations made in-store through Pennies.

‘At B&Q, we believe everyone deserves a safe and secure place to call home, especially during the festive period. Sadly, this isn’t the reality for the 172,420 children currently in temporary accommodation in England. That’s why our ongoing partnership with Shelter is so important and reflects our commitment to helping create better homes and better lives for everyone,’ Joanna Gluzman, Director of Responsible Business, B&Q said.

Shop real trees at B&Q:

Since 2017, B&Q and Shelter have raised over £6 million to support vital services for families in need. So, if you are purchasing a real tree this year, you should consider B&Q’s range.

If you’re putting up your real Christmas tree at the start of December, then there is one important thing you must not forget - a tree stand! And I’ve found one that has a built-in water well that will keep your tree hydrated throughout the whole festive period - the Krinner Green Metal & plastic Foot pump Christmas tree stand (£44 at B&Q).

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the most exciting or glamorous piece of festive decor, but a tree stand is an essential one if you’ve decided to opt for a real tree over one of the best artificial Christmas trees.

Without a tree stand, and therefore nothing to hold your real tree in place, you can’t exactly get started on your Christmas decorating ideas, and B&Q’s Krinner Green tree stand is one of the best available options right now. Here’s everything you need to know.

The Krinner Green tree stand was recommended to me by B&Q’s Lead Outdoor Buyer, Mark Sage, who said: ‘To ensure a tree lasts all festive season, it is crucial to ensure enough water is provided. Useful tools like the Krinner tree stand have a built-in water well that can keep a tree hydrated for a substantial period of time.’

'This stand features an easy-to-use foot pump and a clever clamping device that guarantees your tree is set up firm and straight in moments, making it both simple and secure.'

Suitable for Christmas trees that stand up to 2.3m in height (7ft 4in), this stand has a three-litre water tank to ensure your tree is hydrated and healthy throughout the festive season. It even has a water-stop indicator that shows whether the stand is fully filled, allowing you to monitor when it needs a top-up.

A tree that isn’t watered will dry out and drop needles. Speaking from experience, I remember a real tree from childhood that dropped its needles, and we were still finding them in March - so this is definitely a problem to avoid! As well as keeping the tree hydrated, you must never position a real tree near a heat source, as this can also cause it to dry out, droop and drop needles.

As well as its clever water well, the Krinner Green tree stand also has a clamping device to ensure your tree stays firm and straight, which means it can adapt to your tree’s size and shape.

Plus, this stand is well-reviewed, too, with customers praising its practical design.

‘Excellent tree stand that allows you to keep the tree watered. Bought to replace a 15-year-old version of the same product,’ said one.

‘It has been a Christmas tradition for me and my partner to argue while trying to put up the Christmas tree each year. Having purchased this stand, the tree went up in less than a minute. This purchase was well worth the money to get rid of a Christmas tradition we did not need,’ said another.

The tree stand is not available for home delivery, but you can Click + Collect in as little as 15 minutes. However, if you don’t have a B&Q store close to you, I’ve tracked down some more highly-rated alternatives.

Did you remember to pick up a tree stand? Or is it an item you’d forgotten about?

It’s a dream come true for gardeners who love Christmas: seed advent calendars are now more mainstream than ever, and I couldn’t be more impressed with the one I just got my hands on.

B&Q have just released their Verve Seed Advent Calendar, and it’s filled with vegetable, herb and flower seeds. It’s totally beginner-friendly, with growing tips, soil tablets, and even a few surprise pieces of kit towards the end.

The best part? It’s only £15, which is an absolute steal considering everything that's inside. If you’re on the hunt for a gift besides a Christmas houseplant for a green thumb, or just want to treat yourself to a brilliant starter kit ahead of 2026, this one’s for you.

From the outside, the Verve Seed Advent Calendar looks very much like the traditional chocolate versions we know and love: 24 windows backed with a nostalgic scene of snow-covered holly and, of course, Santa.

He isn’t carrying a sack of presents this time, though – instead, he’s holding a crate of freshly-harvested vegetables in front of a greenhouse, a nod to what lies behind each of the doors.

I had the pleasure of speaking to B&Q’s head of horticulture, Mark Sage, a couple of weeks ago, and he ran me through what’s inside. A small packet of seeds waits behind each of the windows, and I think they’re the perfect size – especially for beginner gardeners who won’t have the time (or space) to sow a full pack before the seeds expire. There’s even a QR code that customers can scan to access growing tips for each variety.

So, what kind of seeds are inside? For vegetables, there’s everything from classic lettuce, onions and courgettes, and even more exciting types, like pumpkins and sweetcorn. Coriander, basil and parsley are among the herb seeds, while sweet peas, sunflowers and cosmos are some of the flower seeds you’ll find behind the doors.

What really wowed me, though, was what’s inside the hidden 25th door. It’s actually on the bottom side of the advent calendar, where you’ll slide out a complete grow house, two soil tablets and a collection of plant labels on Christmas day. Talk about saving the best till last!

If you don’t have a heated propagator, or anything like it, this grow house is simple but handy. It includes 24 sections, and it’s a great size for a windowsill. I think it's a brilliant way to round off the calendar, because it gives your seeds a home.

£2 from every purchase is donated to Shelter, too, which I think is a really nice touch.

Alternative seed advent calendars

At just £15, B&Q's seed advent calendar is a no-brainer for gardening enthusiasts.

Is tartan having a moment? It’s a question I’ve asked myself a couple of times over the past few weeks when looking at both fashion and interiors, and the short answer? Yep, tartan prints are having a comeback this autumn.

It may seem like a surprising home decor trend, but tartan decorating ideas have existed for decades. Tartan and plaid print have always been a timeless pattern, with tartan in particular having a huge cultural significance for many.

What we're seeing now is a surge in popularity across homes and the runways in the timeless print. And experts have revealed how you can modernise tartan within your own home this autumn.

Why is tartan trending?

London Fashion Week called it: punk’s not dead. We saw designers like Burberry weave tartan into different silhouettes and vibrant colours to create collections that look modern and funky. As with most trends, what we see in the fashion world is soon reflected at home.

Over the past month, Klarna has reported a 198% increase in purchases for tartan duvet covers, while tartan rugs and tartan blankets have seen 25% and 156% increases in purchases, respectively.

And brands are including more and more tartan in their collections. In fact, it’s B&Q’s tartan wallpaper (£16) that first caught my attention. While embracing the typical heritage print, using tartan wallpaper is a bold design choice.

‘Tartan has long been a strong staple in fashion, especially in the autumn and winter months, but when translated into interiors it’s constantly evolving,’ says Molly Brown, designer at Blinds 2go.

‘From experimenting with sharper lines, subtle texture shifts, and more nuanced colourways than traditional wool plaids, there are many ways to get all the character of tartan, but in fabrics more suited to light control, durability, and everyday use.

‘In other words, tartan is no longer a classic pattern for country retreats or cottages. As we lean into maximalism and layering in interiors, tartan is resurfacing not as a kitsch nod to tradition, but as a graphic statement that feels both bold and sophisticated.’

How to style tartan

As tartan and plaid prints are associated with cosiness and the autumn and winter months, you want to embrace this when styling them. Think cosy throws and soft furnishings.

‘Tartan is the perfect pattern for a statement furniture piece, like a sofa or chair, as it’s sophisticated and timeless, whilst also being extremely eye-catching. The bold pattern draws the eye instantly, creating an interesting focal point in your living room,’ says Ethan Fox, interior design expert at Furniture World.

‘Similarly, it can be incorporated through accessories and accent pieces, like curtains or soft furnishings. Tartan curtains are a more subtle way to incorporate the pattern if you’re not quite ready to invest in a full tartan sofa. Similarly, tartan cushions and blankets can be used to elevate a simple sofa and introduce a versatile colour palette to a room without it feeling outdated.’

While tartan is the obvious choice when embracing the patterned furniture trend, you can go bolder. Take B&Q for example, whose tartan wallpaper takes this trend to the next level - but hey, punk’s not dead, right?

Colourful garden furniture has been all the rage this summer, and there is one set I currently can't stop thinking about, and that is the Sweeek 4-seater steel garden sofa set at B&Q.

A four-piece set for under £110 in this on-trend colourway is just part of why it caught my attention. But the other reason I sat up and took note of this jazzy outdoor set up is that it is a dead ringer for one of my other favourite garden furniture sets, Habitat’s Cali 4 Seater Metal Patio Set, priced at £150, but £40 cheaper.

Both B&Q and Habitat are heavyweights when it comes to providing some of the best garden furniture at an affordable price, and if you want to add a splash of colour to your garden, I’d recommend either of those sets.

These sets indeed look incredibly similar, but it’s the small details that make a difference. Colourful garden furniture - especially terracotta - has been a big trend for some time now, and Sweeek’s stunning terracotta shade will give your patio an instant sun-kissed look, ideal if you're on the lookout for some Mediterranean garden ideas.

The Sweeek garden sofa set features a coffee table with a fluted glass finish, a smart design feature that makes the set look more expensive than its £109 price tag.

This elegant set comes with a two-seater sofa, two single chairs and stylish coffee table. The brand boasts it is lightweight, comfortable and easy to maintain. The reviews are impressive, too.

'Great garden furniture, light and comfortable, quite easy to assemble for 2 people, and the colour is great... the legs are adjustable, it looks sturdy. I'm delighted,’ says one.

‘Very nice colour, comfortable, easy to assemble for two people! I am delighted with my purchase!’ says another.

While this set is slightly cheaper than Habitat’s, Habitat’s Cali set has been popular for good reason. Drenched in a burnt orange colourway, this four-seater set is made from steel with fabric seats.

‘Such a gorgeous set and looks so much more expensive in real life. The colour is beautiful and the fabric feels nice and strong. Bit tricky to build, but I got the hang of it after the first chair - not as complicated as I first thought or as some of the comments allude to. Looks so great in our garden - would highly recommend!’ says one review.

A few reviews do mention the set can be difficult to put together, with one stating you need ‘exceptional strength’, so I’d recommend doing this job with a partner rather than on your own.

The Sweeek garden furniture set is a stunning and cheaper alternative to Habitat’s Cali set. But they're both stylish and functional. Which one would you choose?

When is a charcoal BBQ ready to cook on? It’s a common query among charcoal BBQ owners, and I found myself wondering the same thing earlier this summer.

You can have one of the best charcoal BBQs on the market, but if your coals aren’t hot enough, you’ll find it pretty difficult to cook a quality meal. Flames can be misleading, and whether or not the charcoal should be white depends on the type you’re using.

To help you determine when your charcoal is ready on a BBQ, I checked in with a panel of BBQ experts and chefs.

There are a few things you need to know before buying a charcoal BBQ, but one of them is that the most common types of charcoal are lump charcoal and briquettes. If you’re wondering when a charcoal BBQ is ready to cook on, it’ll come down to the type.

Briquettes usually produce a tell-tale layer of white ash when they’re ready to be cooked on (well, above).

‘The charcoal is ready when it’s mostly covered in grey or white ash,’ says Luca Mastrantoni, Head Chef at Ekstedt at the Yard. ‘That means it’s hot and burning evenly.’

You’ll need to watch out for a few other signs that your charcoal is ready, too.

‘You should see a red glow under the coals, and there shouldn’t be big flames or thick smoke anymore,’ Luca explains. ‘If you can hold your hand above the grill (about five inches) for 4–5 seconds before it gets too hot, it’s ready.

If you’re using lumpwood charcoal, though, it can be a little trickier to tell if your charcoal is ready. For one thing, that signature white ash signal doesn’t apply.

‘When using all-natural lumpwood charcoal, you don’t have to wait until your charcoal turns white before cooking on it,’ says Ben Forte from Kamado Joe. ‘That used to be the case when using briquettes, as it was treated with very harsh chemicals, which you had to burn off before use. But you know better than to use that!’

Big K Chilla-Grilla Restaurant Grade Charcoal is Amazon's Choice for lumpwood charcoal.

So, how do you tell when lumpwood charcoal is ready to be cooked on?

Well, like briquettes, lump charcoal will usually stop flaming when it’s ready to be cooked on.

‘The charcoal will smoke a lot and will have large orange flames when it is initially burning,’ explains Jack Godik, Sucre’s Executive Chef. ‘If this is happening, it’s not ready yet. When there’s no more smoke and the flames have died down, you’re probably nearly there.’

There’s also a heat test you can perform (with care) to determine if your charcoal is ready for grilling.

‘It varies depending on how I am using it or what I am cooking, but a good rule of thumb for me is: can I hold my hand above it for two seconds before having to move it?’ says Anthony 'Murf' Murphy, co-founder of The Beefy Boys. ‘If the answer's yes, then that's perfect steak cooking temperature.’

You’ll need to make sure you know how to light a charcoal BBQ properly to get the most out of your BBQ.

‘The quickest and best way to achieve this is to invest in a charcoal starter,’ says Anthony. ‘They are quick, clean, and efficient, and you'll be ready to BBQ in half the time.’

I usually have luck with Weber's Lighter Cubes, which you can buy from Amazon.

Happy grilling!

If you have a small garden, then you need to stop what you’re doing and listen to me as the Keter Patio Storage Bench (£169.99 at B&Q) is perfect for maximising both storage and space.

When thinking about the best garden furniture, I am not alone in considering pretty styles and colours, without giving too much thought to storage space. But if you have a tiny garden, you’ll already know the importance of making the most out of space, and the Keter patio bench does exactly that.

Combining a traditional wood-style garden bench with a storage trunk, you can maximise your space without sacrificing your style.

Keter is a brand well-versed in garden storage, and their handy storage benches should be on everyone’s radar, especially if you’ve been wondering where to buy garden furniture. These multi-functional benches are ideal for families and owners of small gardens looking to maximise space.

The patio bench is described as being ‘ideal’ for storing tools, equipment, outdoor furniture cushions, garden games and accessories. It has a huge 227L capacity, making it a great choice if you’re lacking in shed storage space. The trunk is also lockable for added security to keep little fingers out.

The bench is made from durable, weather-resistant plastic and has been designed with a wooden-effect. This gives it an authentic look, but also ensures the trunk stays dry and ventilated, without risking your belongings becoming damp.

You don’t have to worry about scrimping on style either, as this small garden storage idea looks great. The trunk is well integrated with the bench, so it’s not glaringly obvious that you’re sitting on a storage bench. It’s also available in cream and green so it will blend with your garden colour scheme. The green colourway (£90) is a Specialbuy at B&Q, so if you like what you see, remember when it’s gone, it’s gone.

You can also add outdoor cushions to increase the comfort and style of the bench. B&Q recommends the GoodHome Tiga Sand Outdoor Bench Cushion (£25), which is a gorgeous neutral shade.

As well as the patio bench, I also spotted the Keter Signature Brown Walnut effect Resin 133x61cm Garden storage bench box 227L (£145). It’s a little cheaper and has the same capacity as the patio bench, and I like its wood-stained effect, which gives the bench a rustic look, despite its plastic material. It’s weather-resistant and UV protected, too, so you can rest assured the stunning walnut colour will stay.

I’m not the only one impressed, and there are a lot of positive reviews praising Keter’s benches.

‘Bought to replace an existing outdoor Keter storage box which lasted over 15 years of kids, dogs & parties. Easy to assemble. Strong ABS construction. Looks good in place. Not too big, but has plenty of below seat storage. Overall very good quality,’ says one.

‘A great buy, for a plastic bench it's actually quite sturdy & feels pretty solid, it will easily seat 3 people, useful underneath storage, it obviously comes flat packed & took us about an hour to build which wasn't an issue,’ says another.

If you’ve been struggling to combine storage and your garden seating ideas, look no further as I think this storage bench is a great option. It’s stylish, durable and means you can tuck clutter away with ease.

You probably don’t need me to tell you that it’s hot. It's sticky and sweaty, and, if I’m totally honest, inside is no better. Thankfully, B&Q’s new GoodHome 8" 24W Remote Controlled Table Fan, £39.99 has helped me cool down my home fast over the weekend - and it seems as though I’m not the only one obsessing over it, as it’s selling out fast.

The best fans come in so many shapes and forms, but I must admit that I have a soft spot for the best desk fans. They’re more compact, they’re super portable (but still powerful), and they’re generally a lot more affordable. And at £39, B&Q's new fan is one of the cheapest of the lot.

Coming in a grey or black colourway, B&Q’s own-brand GoodHome 8" 24W Remote Controlled Table Fan is strikingly similar in appearance to the Meaco Sefte 8" Portable Fan and the viral Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo. But at half the price, it’s a more affordable option that’s also readily available. After all, you can reserve your fan via Click+Collect and pick it up from your nearest store in less than 15 minutes.

And I highly suggest you do. I’ve been using this fan all weekend, and I couldn’t recommend it more, especially as the only fan I currently have in my house is the Shark TurboBlade Multi-Directional Cooling Fan.

And while I love this fan and swear by it to keep my bedroom cool, it’s too big to be moved around the house. So, I keep it in the bedroom and use the B&Q fan to carry from my living room to my home office and even my dining room.

For such an affordable table fan, it still has oodles of features to take advantage of. It has three modes - Normal, Comfort, and Sleep - as well as 12 fan speed settings, a mood light setting, and an oscillating and tilt function.

Personally, I’ve found the oscillating function to be a lifesaver in my hot house, as I find that opting for an oscillating fan over a still fan always makes a room feel cooler. In fact, it’s whirring away next to me at my desk, and despite the 30-degree heat outside and the sweltering temperatures inside my house, I feel as cool as a cucumber.

As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a remote control so you don’t even have to get off the sofa to change the setting. So, it really does have everything you need.

If noise is something you’re concerned about, you’ll also be happy to know that this bad boy is pretty quiet. For such a budget fan, I really did think it would sound loud, clunky and irritating, but as someone who needs complete silence to get my work done, I can tell you that it’s whisper-quiet and unobtrusive.

But with temperatures set to get hotter over the next few days or so, I really don’t expect this B&Q fan to stick around for long, especially with so many impressive features on offer. It’s already become one of the brand’s bestselling fans over the weekend, and I predict more and more people will be snapping it up.

So, will you be picking up this bargain fan before the heatwave ends?!

I don’t know about you, but pretty garden water butts are the surprising garden feature I didn’t know I wanted until the Ideal Home team spotted one at B&Q recently.

Any gardener will know how important a installing a water butt is for providing a fresh, free water source to help your garden flourish - as especially as the weather heats up and the possibility of hosepipe bans start rearing their heads.

However it’s fair to see that great big plastic water butts can be a little ugly. While there are things you can do to make a water butt more attractive, these pretty water butts require no additional effort.

These styles have clever planting space in the top so you can increase the physical appeal of butt and add some extra planting space to your garden at the same time.

As a home journalist, one of the best parts of the job is getting to view the upcoming releases of our favourite brands. It was at B&Q’s summer preview where we spotted the Amesbury water butt, which sparked my interest in pretty water butts - I never knew how much I wanted one until now.

The Amesbury water butt is not currently available to buy at B&Q, however I have seen an Amesbury Water Butt for £83 at Wicks. However, B&Q has two other alternatives that nail the pretty water butt or decorative water butt trend.

The Rainwater tank Water butt (£169 at B&Q) is both practical and stylish. It comes as a two-in-one set that includes an insert that can be inserted into the form of the pot so you can showcase your favourite flowers and plants. The clever feature means that not only does your garden have extra growing space, but your water butt will look less bulky.

Not only is this tank pretty, but it’s incredibly functional, too, holding 240 litres of water. The plastic is highly durable and frost-resistant, meaning you won’t have lost substance to style.

Similarly the Rainwater Tank Water Butt Plastic Container Garden Storage Barrel (£146.29 at B&Q) can hold 210L water whilst looking like a stunning terracotta pot. It’s also an integrated planter, meaning you can add plants, flowers and herbs for visual appeal and is made from weatherproof materials. If you’re not a fan of bulky, plastic butts, this one is perfect for enhancing your Mediterranean garden ideas.

I’m a little enamoured with the pretty water butt trend, but if you want to go even futher with upgrading your water harvesting ideas you can try making a rain pot out of a large terracotta pot and rain chain.

However, for now I'm giving my DIY skills a break and picking up one of these water butt turned planters for my outdoor space.

If you’re in the market for stylish garden furniture, then B&Q should be up for your consideration. The GoodHome Elos Modular Coffee set (£380), in particular, was quick to capture the Ideal Home team’s attention when we spotted it at B&Q’s most recent press show.

Attending press shows of our favourite home brands is the best way to spot the best garden furniture before it hits the shelves. This year, B&Q has not disappointed, producing high-quality garden furniture at an affordable price.

Originally £475, this four-seater modular coffee set is currently reduced by £95 to £380, and with rave reviews online, it seems to be worth every penny. But with B&Q’s summer sale only on until 19 June, you’ll have to act fast if you want to get your hands on one.

Modular sofas have been a defining seating trend this year due to their versatility and flexible design, so it comes as no surprise that we’re seeing this style emerge within garden furniture ideas.

The GoodHome modular coffee set comes with two chairs, a table and a two-seater sofa, and you can make the most of its modular style by customising it to your space. The set can be enjoyed as a large ‘L’ shaped sofa, create a cosy day bed, as two sofas or use the chairs to create a hosting space centred around the coffee table.

Made from rattan-effect material, the set is easy to maintain, being both weather-proof and water-resistant. Not only that, but rattan garden furniture has a timeless look, making it a great choice for any garden.

The coffee set even comes with a handy storage solution whereby the chairs easily slot in behind the sofa for easy storage. I’d say this is a stand-out feature for the set, highlighting its thoughtful and handy design.

I’m not the only one who’s been left impressed as the GoodHome Elos modular coffee set has also received some great reviews.

‘Really nice sturdy set. Cushions are nice and thick, making it much more comfortable than our old set. Love the storage feature of being able to put the single seats inside the double if we don’t need them and want the extra space,’ said one.

‘I was nervous spending this much on garden furniture. But it suits my needs. My patio isn’t big, but I can move this around in different configurations to suit. I love it and so does my cat lol,’ said another.

If you’re looking for a practical yet stylish garden furniture set then I don’t think you have to look any further. This modular coffee set is versatile, easy to store and looks great, making it a solid choice for your garden or patio.

Shop the B&Q sale

If this set is not quite to your liking, don't worry, B&Q have a huge sale right now and these are a few of the best discounted furniture sets.

What do you think about the GoodHome Elos Modular Coffee Set? Would you agree it looks more expensive than its price tag?

Shoppers have been flocking to The Range to nab their £25 lemon trees, but I’ve found an even cheaper alternative. At just £18.99, B&Q's Citrus Fruit Lemon Potted Plant .

It’s probably not gone unnoticed, but Mediterranean garden ideas are booming in popularity right now, and adding a lemon tree to your garden is an easy way to nail the trend.

If you don’t want to go to the effort of growing a lemon tree from seed, buying a potted tree is an easier option and will allow you to enjoy fresh lemons this summer.

Announcing the sale of lemon and orange trees on social media, The Range’s fruit trees have been a popular choice for shoppers this year. But noticing the lemon tree was no longer available for sale online, I tracked down this £18.99 B&Q lemon tree, which is even cheaper than The Range’s

The Citrus Fruit Lemon Potted Plant is ideal for conservatories and sheltered summer patios. It produces large, thick-skinned lemons, and between April and June, it has beautiful scented white flowers.

Lemon trees are generally considered to be the best indoor trees because of their love of warm temperatures, but you can move them outside during hot summer days.

'Lemon trees love the sunshine, so it's crucial that you place your shop-bought tree next to a window that receives plenty of sunlight - ideally a south-facing window. It's also important to avoid areas near radiators or draughty spots so that the tree doesn't dry out,’ Sophie King, Ideal Home’s Garden Editor advises when you first bring your lemon tree home.

To keep your lemon tree happy, B&Q recommends watering freely during the summer and feeding it once a month during spring and summer with good-quality plant feed (such as this Citrus Focus fertiliser from Amazon). It will take a year for the tree to establish, but by next summer, you could be enjoying beautiful home-grown fruit.

Shop lemon trees

If you’ve been hoping to add some Mediterranean sunshine to your home and garden, B&Q’s lemon tree is a great, affordable buy. I know I’ve been tempted to pick it up, have you?

If you’re wondering how to create the perfect environment for outdoor hosting, zoning a garden can be a great way to define areas for entertainment.

Whether you’re wondering how to plan a garden or are simply looking for ways to zone an area for socialisation, you’ll want to take a leaf or two out of Odette and Rob Warmley’s book. They’ve just been crowned the winners of B&Q’s Gardener of the Year competition, having already trumped the Best Garden for Entertainment category.

‘At B&Q, we celebrate gardens of all shapes and sizes, and Odette and Rob’s Garden is one-of-a-kind with its innovative and creative use of different entertaining zones,’ says Mairi Devlin, head of outdoor at B&Q. ‘We loved the use of colour throughout the garden and the unique personal touches inspired by their life and travels which all add to the ambience of the space.’

Odette and Rob live in Bournemouth, and they’ve been working on their garden since 2008. What started as a plain, unimaginative space has evolved into a vibrant space for entertainment, and one technique had a massive part to play: zoning.

Two entertainment zones define the garden: an outdoor kitchen area, which Odette and Rob have named the ‘chapel’, and a seating area for guests to spend time in.

We’ve seen how popular alfresco dining has been this year, and there are plenty of outdoor kitchen ideas to browse through if you’re looking for inspiration. More and more homeowners are choosing to see their gardens as an extension of their homes, treating them just like another room in the house.

Odette and Rob have gone to town with the concept of using the garden as an additional room in the home. The outdoor kitchen area is surrounded by a brick wall and features a doorway, acting as a room (or 'chapel') in its own right. It even opens up as a bar area at the side, and with the fantastic use of overhead climbing plants and hooks to hang tankards, we'll be taking notes next time we're looking for garden bar ideas.

What really stood out to judges was how Odette and Rob zoned these areas. Two archways provide entrances to the spaces, and the brick borders are lined with container plants which are bursting with blooms. The spectrum of colours blew the judges (and us!) away.

The judges labelled the garden a ‘place of joy’, and looking at the bold use of colour and personal touches from Odette and Rob's travels around the world, we can see why.

They also loved the way upcycled and repurposed materials were used to create the structures and walls that framed the areas.

'We are so proud to have been crowned 2024 B&Q Gardener of the Year, and for all of our hard work on the garden to have been recognised in such an amazing way,' Odette said. 'We can’t wait to share the news with all our family, neighbours and friends. We envisage many more parties taking place in the near future!'

Odette and Rob's garden is a bright lesson in garden zoning for entertainment, and we'll be looking to their example next time we need some garden layout inspiration.

Get the look

We all have those items that we keep hanging around the house that we have no use for but don't know how to get rid of responsibly. Plastic plant pots are the perfect example, but home improvement and gardening retailer B&Q has come to the rescue with its new plastic plant pot recycling stations.

We always encourage repurposing garden and household tools for upcycling ideas for the garden (or anywhere else in your home) first - for example, using your plant pots as a kitchen utensil holder. But sometimes the best thing you can do is recycle them, and it’s a far better option than simply throwing something away.

B&Q’s new recycling stations are launching in more than 100 of its stores across the country where you’re able to simply drop off your no-longer-needed plastic plant pots. What's more, the brand will then turn those collected planters into new ones, made exclusively with recycled plastic.

B&Q launches plastic plant pot recycling stations

B&Q has been our go-to when needing supplies for all our difficult and easy DIY projects. But the retailer also has a large gardening section which we love to peruse. And now those sustainability-conscious will be able to purchase planters made from recycled plastic plant pots collected from customers via its recycling stations.

Available in most B&Q stores, the Blacksmith Black Plastic Round Planter sells for £4. The pot is weather-resistant and produced within the UK in keeping with the retailer’s sustainability mission.

‘As a business we want to make a positive difference through tangible actions,’ says Samantha Dyer, head of quality and sustainability at B&Q. ‘These new recycling stations will allow us to repurpose something that would normally be discarded and help us in our goal to make more sustainable choices easier and more convenient for our customers.’

'Customers can return damaged, broken or whole plastic plant pots to be recycled via the collection stations. As long as the pots are plastic and not filled - we know there may be a little soil remaining - then they can be recycled,' she explains.

This is also not the first time that B&Q has taken sustainability to heart as the brand is also one of the founding members of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which champions responsible forest management through timber certification. And the retailer offers a whole plethora of other products such as plant pots made from recycled plastic. These are some of our favourites, which are not, however, made in-house from the donated plastic plant pots in stores.

However, if you don't have a B&Q store near you, don't worry as there are other ways in which you can recycle your plastic plant pots. Firstly, some garden centres such as Dobbies provide plastic pot recycling bins across 69 of their stores in collaboration with planter brand elho.

Alternatively, some councils offer recycling of plastic plant pots, tubs and trays as part of their kerbside collections - all apart from black planters which contain a pigment that make undetectable to the sorting machine. But to ensure your council is one of those that offer the service, you'll need to check with them directly or use the Recycle Now postcode checking tool.

So if you have any unwanted plastic plants pots taking up space in your shed or at home, then this is what you can do with them instead.

A beautiful bespoke-looking home is what we all want. But if you're on a small budget it comes with a catch, you're going to need to attempt a spot of DIY to achieve it. DIY projects can be offputting; they are hard, time-consuming and messy, or are they? We've discovered some handy kits and pieces of equipment at B&Q that promise to take the tricky edge of any project. 

As part of their You Can Do It campaign B&Q is encouraging everyone to give DIY a try this month. We might all gravitate to the safe ground that is the colour-matching paint desk, however, if you venture beyond that there is a whole host of services and kits to help bring an easy DIY project to life. 

You can borrow a particular tool, have pieces of wood cut down to size, or pick up a kit with everything you need for panelling / painting / wallpapering. If you're short on time you can even take advantage of the 1-hour click and collect service. Add everything you need to an online order, and you can collect it in-store within an hour. 

If you need a little extra encouragement to start DIY-ing we've selected our nine top picks from B&Q that will make your next home project easier.

Your first DIY project might not always be perfect, but the most important thing is that you give it a go. All you need is a bit of time the right pieces of kit to create a home that is uniquely yours. You can do it.

We’re always on the lookout for ingenious small garden ideas - who’s got space to waste these days? And we just found our next source of gardening inspiration thanks to B&Q and its Gardener of the Year competition. 

Running for its third year awarding one lucky gardening enthusiast, this year Bristol-based Matthew Symonds nabbed the crown with his tiny but perfectly designed 5.6m x 6.5m garden, also winning the Best Versatile Garden category. 

This tiny garden is a masterclass in how zoning and multi-levels can create the impression of so much more space. Not an inch goes to waste in Matthew’s garden with every corner carefully thought out and considered. Most features even serve more than one purpose. 

The little urban oasis is perfectly sectioned and split into two levels as building upwards when one lacks space is a crafty way of gaining some extra square metres. Each level comes with its own entertaining area (yes, there are two different garden seating ideas to take advantage of in this tiny space!), with the lower level seating enclosed by a variety of potted plants creating an intimate feel. A pond with the perfect water feature idea awaiting can be found right next to the garden bench.

Meanwhile, the upper level is fitted with a small green house, which opens up at the bottom to reveal a bike storage. On the opposite side, a water butt doubles as a display for a potted lily plant and a hidden air-source heat pump is covered with a shelf of potted plants. 

And can we remind you it’s only 5.6m x 6.5m?!

‘I hope that my garden can show people that gardening doesn’t require a large, sunny, open, green space,’ Matthew says. ‘Instead, with some smart thinking and a lot of love, any space on any budget can become your own paradise.’ 

‘Working full time means most of my gardening is done at weekends, but it is never a chore. Tending to my plants is my escape from life's stress and it allows me to immerse myself in my love of plants, which is why I am so grateful to be recognised for doing something I love.’ 

But it didn’t always look like this. When Matthew moved in nearly 20 years ago, what he found was a concrete square covered in weeds. The garden has been his project ever since, which he still views as a work in progress, despite winning B&Q’s Gardener of the Year and being a clear master of garden designs for a small garden.

It’s the considered, multi-functional approach that impressed this year’s judges including celebrity maître d’ Fred Sirieix - who is already planning on applying some of Matthew’s hacks into his own garden - B&Q Outdoor Category Director, Steve Guy, and award-winning garden designers, Matt Childs and Humaira Ikram. 

It also ultimately won Matthew the prize of £10,000 and a £2,500 B&Q gift card. He plans on spending his winnings on more plants to add to his existing selection which includes hazel bamboo, as well as a trip to Japan and India to be inspired by the local garden designs. 

Now we need to decide which of these tricks we should replicate first.

Landscaping a garden can be a pricey business, but if you simply want a budget refresh of your outdoor space, then why not look at some free garden ideas? That's exactly what this homeowner did, along with making a few savvy purchases when it came to supplies and taking on the work herself, which meant she could transform her garden without spending a fortune.

Kerry Bevan, from Doncaster, turned her mud pit of a garden into a relaxing place to sit, and the results are incredible. A few rain showers had turned the outdoor space into a muddy mess, so the mum of three decided to take matters into her own hands. 

'The idea behind the project was simple – I wanted somewhere nice to spend time in the garden,' she says. 'Plus, it’s my husband's 40th in the summer and we wanted to invite friends and family over for a BBQ to celebrate.'

Before

As you can see, the far end of the garden had turned into a 'slip-and-slide area' that couldn't be used, so the couple had their work cut out for them. 

‘We worked on the garden during the weekends as we work full time,' Kerry told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk. 'The majority of the work was done over about four weekends, then we carried out the odd touch-up afterwards.'

It wasn't all smooth sailing though, with the weather proving a problem. ‘The rain was a challenge when we first started,' Kerry recalls. 'The garden was full of mud and we spent most of our time trying not to slide all over it. Then the cement mixer broke after laying around three slabs, so the rest of the cement was mixed by hand!'

After

Despite the rain and broken equipment, the couple ploughed on and transformed the area with a stylish roped-off patio idea and garden seating area that they can now enjoy. ‘I originally wanted a pergola over the patio area and my husband, Neil, drew up some plans,' says Kerry. 'After talking about it, he suggested the post and rope version, so the space would feel more open. We bought 18 metres of rope from B&Q at £2.49 per metre and I dyed it in the washing machine with black Dylon!'

Next, the couple marked out the area where they wanted the patio and dug out the remaining grass, along with holes in which to sink the fence posts into, before concreting them in place. ‘We added a timber frame to create the edge of the patio before compacting the soil and levelling it,' says Kerry. 'Membrane was laid to keep the weeds out and hardcore was added and compacted.

‘The slabs came next,' she continues. 'We laid and cemented them, filling the gaps with pebbles to keep the slabs in place.'

Turning the patio into even more of a feature is the stencilled design that you can see on the slabs, something that the couple created themselves. 'Neil made the stencil from an offcut of plywood from B&Q that he bought for £4,' says Kerry. 'If we'd bought a stencil that size it would have cost us around £30 from online retailers! 

‘He went for a design that was easy enough to cut out with the jigsaw and that would fill the majority of the slab,' she continues. 'Then he drew out the 60cm x 60cm square on paper, drew the design on a quarter then transferred this onto the plywood to match the size of the slab.'

To the side of the patio is a planted border, with a bench, that Kerry's dad made for her. ‘It turns into a picnic table and I painted it to match the garden,' she says.

‘We laid the reclaimed turf around the patio area and seeded in between to help cover any patches,' Kerry recalls. 'Finally, we planted a variety of plants and trees in the corner to add some colour and help to disguise an unused area. A lot of the flowers were from Asda, where we got three trays for £5. Other plants came from a local garden centre and cost between £8 and £12.'

The flowers aren't the only saving the couple made. 'The paving slabs came from my parent’s garden as they no longer wanted them,' says Kerry. 'The turf was also from their garden as they wanted a change and decided to replace their grass with slate and gravel.'  

At £35 a tonne, the couple bought two tonnes of hardcore from local company Adwick Aggregates. ‘We also got all the decorative pebbles that sit around the slabs from there at £4 for a 25kg bag, as well as the sand and cement used to lay the slabs,' says Kerry.

‘The fence posts used for the patio area were also from B&Q at £21.65 and we cut them into two. Then I bought the hanging solar lights from B&M for £20, along with the rattan-effect edging that we used around the plants for £7.99 a pack.'

It's easy to see the amount of work that the couple have put into their garden and the benefits now that they're able to use the space. So, do they have any advice for anyone taking on a similar project? 

'If we were to do this again, we'd hire a cement mixer and wacker plate,' says Kerry. 'When we were compacting the ground under the slabs we used a sledgehammer with a plate of wood attached. It was a good workout for the arms but a lot of hard work!’