After six years, nearly 900 posts, and a million views, Dan Cooper at The Frustrated Gardener has learned a thing or two about blogging — and gardening on his small plot by the sea in eastern Kent, England. In his top tips for writing a gardening blog, he offers sound advice not just for gardeners with blogs, but all writers honing and growing their online presence. Here are highlights from his post.
“Be authentic”
There is no shortage of text books available to tell you how to garden the text-book way. They are largely written by people far more knowledgeable than you or I will ever be. People subscribe to blogs to get a different, personal and slightly more informal angle on a subject. My advice is to write about what you know and what you love. If you don’t have first hand experience of a subject, what are you going to offer that isn’t documented elsewhere? . . . Consider what insight you can offer that others cannot — perhaps you have experience growing a certain group of plants, or work or garden in a unique location?
“Be relevant”
I recommend you write what’s relevant to the season or the next few weeks, rather than looking backwards. My observation is that people visit gardening blogs looking for inspiration and information about what to do right now, rather than see what they have missed. My draft folder is chock-a-block with posts that I started and then the moment passed. I leave them there and occasionally resurrect them eleven months later. In the UK we live in a country which is blessed with defined seasons. Use them to guide your posts and your readers will find your writing instantly relevant . . . unless they reside in the Southern Hemisphere, in which case they will enjoy the stark contrast!
“Be adventurous”
I began blogging because I wanted to stretch myself technologically and horticulturally. You will have different reasons for writing a blog, but for it to be interesting over a long period you need to be adventurous. This does not necessarily mean trekking to the top of Kilimanjaro . . . but it does help to seek out new and different subjects for your readers. I have certainly visited gardens and delved into the undergrowth where perhaps I might not have normally, in order to have an interesting anecdote to write about. . . . For example, if you’re visiting a garden and spot one of the gardening team at work, ask them what they are up to and which plants they think are looking their best. Go beyond the guide-book and your followers will lap it up. . . .
And, of course, stay safe. How ever ravishing that orchid on the cliff-edge looks, it’s not worth risking life and limb for. Get a zoom lens instead.
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Thanks for sharing. I would really like to get in to gardening, but have been fairly labeled as a plant killer. Do you have any suggestions for a low maintenance plant for beginner gardeners?
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That’s a tricky one to answer without knowing where you garden and what the conditions are like. Plants are like people, they suit some situations, but not others! As a very general rule, evergreens and plants that grow more slowly are lower maintenance. Unfortunately it’s the more rampant plants that are often given away and shared around and these are not always the best options for a low maintenance garden. If you can give me a little more information then I can probably be more helpful. Dan
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What kind of flower is this?
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It’s Iris histrioides ‘George’, a spring flowering bulb.
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Good one! I love gardening and always wanted to be close to nature!
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Thank you for this post it’s very informative! I want to start an herb garden this year, I have done vegetables in the past but I’m interested in doing infusions and would like to incorporate herbs and spices. I will be looking our for you!
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Thank you so much for sharing, these are great tips for gardeners… especially if you’re a newbie like me 😊
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Thank you for the post. I wish I could grow some of the lovely flowers you can in England.
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I have to restart this year.
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I do love to garden.
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I look forward to following you. We have just started gardening on our 1 acre.
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Good luck with it Jess!
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I am not a gardener, I own lots of houseplants, I love them, they love me, but I feel like your blog will be useful in maintaining the life and growth of my plants, despite them not being in a traditional garden. I like all of your tips, too.
Jess
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Thanks Jess. I grow a lot of houseplants too, and I love them, except when I’m going on holiday and then they stress me out a bit! I’m a bit like a parent leaving their kids behind. Houseplants tend not to get much of a look in on the blog, so I must correct that. Dan
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I can relate to your feelings of stress when on holiday! Hehe.
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I love plants and flowers. I would really love gardening when I am retired. Thanks for sharing.
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I’m a beginner gardener, about to take on a big project for my grandma who lost my grandpa in January. She wants, veggies, fruits, and flowers. It’s difficult to know when a good planting time is because our area can get snow in May or even June. And we have a lot of deer who demolish everything. I’m stressing out about it because I don’t want to spend all this effort and have it not work out.
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Great post! I needed the blog inspo AND the gardening inspo. This is the year!
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With spring finally coming to Ohio, this post is very topical.
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I’m not really a gardener but my mum is and she’s so wrapped up with work that she never has time to work on the garden anymore. I decided that I want to do something nice for her like fixing the garden and so these tips will help so much. Thank you!
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I am currently having my yard redesigned and in dealing with our landscape architect I HAD NO IDEA what is involved in planting and keeping certain trees, shrubs, flowers alive! My hats off to you!
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I too love gardening but no time.
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gardening is my jam!! always looking for more interesting info, thanks for great article!
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Giving my gardening a second chance this year. Last year wasn’t a success. I bought a cactus a few days ago, and I am convinced my home is where plants go to die. I googled ‘how to kill a cactus’ just so I could at least avoid the obvious. I am hoping for a green thumb someday, like my grandparents had.
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I love gardening!! I don’t always claim to know what I’m doing but I have fun, and my kids enjoy it too. There’s something about starting seeds and watching it all from beginning to end. Makes my heart happy. 😊
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Gardening is a constant source of learning, every day there is new beauty to be found and with that comes a little bit of ugly too. Like when the kids rip out carrots that are not ready or a slug eats the core of your lettuce.
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I love nature and plants, I always stayed out in the garden at my parents house… but I am myself a plant killer. I hope it will go better in the future… I will take a closer look!
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I’m a serial plant killer =( Plants just keep on dying in my care! But inspired by your post. 💖
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