if your garden is bigger than a courtyard, but smaller than an acre

How to plant a tree

How to plant a tree – and what to do when a tree is planted wrong

The way you plant a tree makes a huge difference to whether it will survive. A badly planted tree won’t necessarily fail in the first year, according to award winning…

Updated on September 11th, 2022

Posted In: Gardening Know How


No dig herbaceous border

Your year in gardening jobs – what’s new and when it’s better to be traditional

Here are the key gardening jobs for the gardening year, with up to date expert advice on the best way to do them. On the Middlesized Garden I often interview…

Updated on August 14th, 2022

Posted In: Gardening Know How


Window box with cornus, festuca glauca

12 top plants for a brilliant winter container garden display

A winter container garden display can give the garden such a lift. You can enjoy winter pots in the front garden every time you come home. And just a few…

Updated on September 4th, 2023

Posted In: Container Gardening


Begonia sutherlandii

Indoor outdoor plants: 9 garden plants that also thrive as house plants

Indoor outdoor plants are plants you can grow in winter as house plants, then move out onto your terrace or garden when the warmer weather comes. If you don’t have…

Updated on March 21st, 2026

Posted In: Garden Trends & Design


Why your soil is the key to a beautiful garden

I started thinking about garden soil recently when a friend complained to me about her gardener. She’d just had a large bundle of bare root roses delivered. So she asked her…

Updated on February 14th, 2022

Posted In: Gardening Know How


Best trees for small gardens – expert advice and new ideas

When you’re choosing trees for small gardens, always try to find out what they will look like in 5-10 years time. That’s advice from Jamie Butterworth, award-winning garden designer, RHS…

Updated on February 14th, 2022

Posted In: Gardening Know How


Autumn colours in my garden

Better autumn colours in your garden – the three things you need to know

How to make the most of autumn colours in your garden by choosing the right plants and planting them in the right place.

Updated on November 4th, 2022

Posted In: Gardening Know How


Seating areas in a garden

How to design a garden

How to design a garden – brilliant step-by-step tips from award-winning garden designer, Pollyanna Wilkinson. Transform your outdoor space!

Updated on October 30th, 2025

Posted In: Garden Trends & Design


Parterre overlooking Norwich Cathedral

A clever evergreen garden with a touch of grandeur

Tips and ideas from an evergreen garden which looks good all year round. Easy-care ideas for hedges, topiary, evergreen borders and ornaments.

Updated on March 21st, 2026

Posted In: Garden Trends & Design


Colocasia 'Pink China'

The new jungle garden – how to create a lush, contemporary haven

Create an urban jungle garden with layered foliage and bold leaf shapes. Add drama, privacy and a lush feel to small gardens and courtyards

Updated on March 17th, 2026

Posted In: Garden Trends & Design


Grow flowers yourself fromseed

Sowing seeds – expert tips for more flowers and better germination

Sowing seeds in autumn can give you stronger, healthier plants and earlier flowers. But it’s not right for all seeds. Or, indeed, for all gardeners! Some people prefer to take…

Updated on February 2nd, 2026

Posted In: Gardening Know How


Dahlia border at Canterbury Cathedral

Keep dahlias free of earwigs, slugs and snails without chemicals

How to prevent slugs, snails and earwigs from destroying your dahlias without using chemicals. These ways are easier too.

Updated on October 23rd, 2024

Posted In: Gardening Know How