The three best alternatives to box for simple topiary
There are only a few good alternatives to box (English boxwood or Buxus sempervirens) for topiary. But I have just visited a delightful private garden in Kent which shows off…
There are only a few good alternatives to box (English boxwood or Buxus sempervirens) for topiary. But I have just visited a delightful private garden in Kent which shows off…
Autumn gardening, these days, starts with planting next summer’s perennials, trees and shrubs. I’ve interviewed some wonderful head gardeners this year, such as Asa Gregors-Warg at the Beth Chatto Gardens,…
What to do with garden waste – bags, incinerator, composting and garden shredders. Plus tips on choosing and using the best garden shredder.
Alstroemerias are very easy to grow. They flower from May to November in a UK garden and even longer in some other countries. ‘They’ll flower all year round if you…
Coastal garden plants are beautiful, easy-care and very resilient. If your garden is dry or windy and has poor soil, then plants which grow naturally in coastal areas will work…
A herbaceous border is at the heart of most grand gardens. In theory, if you want your borders to look continuously beautiful from May to October, you need skill, space…
Hever Castle is famous for growing roses. It has more than 4,000 of them. So I asked head gardener, Neil Miller for his best tips on growing roses in our…
Hydrangeas are a flower that is both adored and deplored. Naomi Slade has written a beautiful and definitive guide, called Hydrangeas (published by Pavilion Books). She says: ‘They’re so familiar,…
You may not have thought about growing rhododendrons in your garden. They come in brilliant colours, they’re easy care and they love shade. If your soil isn’t right for them,…
There are five important questions you need to ask before buying a climbing plant. Is your climbing plant going to be planted in sun or shade? And don’t forget a…
I’d like to take you on a late spring garden tour, because May is such a beautiful month in the garden. And I have some recommendations for good garden plants…
The real truth about weeding your garden – which methods work best, how to weed without chemicals and which weeding tools to choose.
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How to increase your garden privacy
3 top garden privacy tips – how to make your garden look and feel more private!
10 easy care evergreen pots for year round impact
For the next six months, the evergreen pots in my garden will create almost all the structure and impact. But they need very little care and put up with a…
What colour should I paint my shed?
I have been debating the crucial issue of what colour to paint my shed. Painting your shed transforms your garden. And if I paint my shed, it’ll also last longer….
8 steps to the long thin garden of your dreams
Two years ago Emma and Mel moved to a house in Whitstable with a long thin garden. It’s open during Whitstable Open Gardens every year for the NGS. They came…
Fences for privacy – 9 great ideas for garden screening
Are you making the most of your fences for privacy and screening? Privacy is a big issue for middle-sized gardens, because high hedges and fences block light. But low hedges…
The 8 best perfect-for-privacy garden trees
Do you need trees for privacy? Privacy garden trees can make a big difference to how much you enjoy your garden. Perhaps you have a neighbour’s window over-looking your garden?…
