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The UK’s biggest annual National Gardening Week is happening from April 28th to May 4th.
We’ve come up with tips and activities for you and the family to try. Budding green thumbs and enthusiasts are welcome! And if you haven’t quite decided yet, this guide might give you that nudge to get out into the garden.
Here’s what you need to know.
What Is National Gardening Week?
National Gardening Week started in 2011. The aim is to get more people across the UK into their gardens. It was the idea of Sue Biggs, then Director-General of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
The first event was launched in April 2012—the same year as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Since then, everyone has been encouraged to give gardening a go.
RHS offer various services and events, including workshops and community initiatives. This year’s focus is on supporting new and beginner gardeners, but all levels are welcome. The charity is expected to provide support and resources needed for their success.
Where does it take place?
Events will be held at some of the top RSH gardens, including:
- Harlow Carr
- Linlathen
- Warren House
- Winsley
But you can even host events yourself!
‘Gardening is, apart from having children, the most rewarding thing in life.’
Alan Titchmarsh
How to Celebrate National Gardening Week
There is also National Children’s Gardening Week (May 24th – June 1st), but you can still bring the whole family in. Check out our list of fun activities if you want to make the most of NGW 2025:
Help out the local wildlife
Sometimes we forget that our gardens aren’t ours alone! There’s a whole world of wonderful wildlife out there—why not see what you can do to help?
Put up some bird feeders to welcome guests into your backyard. Or, even better, get the kids to help you build a hedgehog feeding station?
Butterflies like the Peacock, Brimstone, and Red Admiral are common during this period. Planting lavender, butterfly bush, marigolds, and daisies will attract them. You can also create a habitat, such as low shrubs, where they can rest. They’d also love a flat rock in a sunny spot and bask in the sun.
Pick up some litter
Remember, National Gardening Week is about more than just your prize daffodils. You could always help out the green spaces around you as well.
Grabbing a bag for life and heading out with a few friends to tick off your good deed for NGW also sounds like a good plan!
Open your garden for viewing
We mentioned earlier that you could invite people to share your garden space. After all, one of the best parts of gardening is sharing, be it something you’ve grown or something you’ve learned. Set up a small charity bucket to raise some money while you’re at it.
Sell something you’ve grown
If you’ve got an allotment or vegetable patch, now’s a great time to sell some of your produce. In case you’re just starting, take a look at this guide on setting up your own vegetable patch.
It’s also a good idea to take your homegrown harvest along to a local bake sale, for instance. Better yet, use NGW as an excuse to cook with something you’ve grown in your greenhouse. Even with just a small herb patch, try baking some lavender shortbread.
Plant in your gutters
We wouldn’t normally recommend clogging up gutters, but gutter planting is a fun and easy way to grow plants. It can go like this:
- Get hold of a length of old plastic guttering
- Fill it with seed compost
- Space seeds down the length of the guttering and plant them
- Water and place in a greenhouse
- Keep watering for 3-5 weeks
- Enjoy homegrown salads throughout the year – great for lettuces!
With a whole week dedicated to gardening, there’s plenty of time to make the most of this yearly event. For more ideas, visit the RHS to see how you can get involved.
Maximise Your Space for NGW
Any of these garden rooms can be your gardening sidekick, and chances are you already own at least one of them. Here’s what you can do:
Prepare your shed
Good outdoor storage is key. With a shed, it makes everything easier to find, and you won’t be wasting time looking for what you need. Your tools and equipment are organised, leaving your garden in order too.
Take the time to refresh it for the seasons ahead. Our guide on how to clean a wooden shed can help you with that.
Set up a potting shed
Potting sheds can be as useful as greenhouses for plant care and storage. Our potting shed ideas will walk you through inspirations to get started, so be sure to give them a read!
Garden workshop for DIYs
If you’re into DIY, a hobby workshop is the perfect partner. It’s where you can create raised beds, fix tools, or even build garden furniture.
If this sounds like what you need, set up half of your shed for projects and use the other half for storage. This works if you have a larger shed. Otherwise, maximise the wall space for storage and use the floor for a workbench.
Round-up
We hope this has got you ready to get outside this National Gardening Week. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, now is the time to get stuck in. Don’t forget to bring the kids in on the experience!
Looking for somewhere to store all those bags of potting mix and trowels? Check out our shed selections by clicking the shop button below.
Have questions? Our team is here to help! Give us a call at 01909 768840.
