How to dry chillies – 3 easy ways
I’ve just learned how to dry chillies Italian-style. If you stroll round the ancient hilltop towns of southern Italy in October, you will see strings of chillies drying everywhere. We’re…
RHS Chelsea 2026 has decisively moved away from perfect lawns, large ‘outdoor room’ expanses of new paving, plants that need to be cosseted and a constant battle with soil and…
I’ve just learned how to dry chillies Italian-style. If you stroll round the ancient hilltop towns of southern Italy in October, you will see strings of chillies drying everywhere. We’re…
How do you know when someone is stealing your blog? And what can you do about it? I’ve just had this experience (not for the first time). So have several…
Monty Don’s new book, Down to Earth, has lots of good practical advice, but it isn’t a ‘how to.’ Down to Earth is about Monty’s personal gardening philosophy, and what…
My friend Anna has created her garden with upcycled junk. It’s chic, stylish – and practically everything in it has been swapped or acquired for free. Swapping and recycling saves…
The terrarium is back in fashion. You probably last saw one in the 1970s, gathering dust in Great-aunt Agatha’s musty Victorian interior. Now you might expect to find them in…
How to fit an orchard in the garden – get a big harvest, however tiny your garden. Grow fruit trees successfully in any back yard!
You will love Le Jardin Agapanthe in Normandy, France. Or you will hate it. But it’s not like most other gardens you’ll visit. There are no lawns, borders or views (although…
Garden ideas picked up from holidays abroad have inspired garden designers for years. Every year, there are several award-winning RHS show gardens based on places we visit, from Provence to…
This week I visited the roof garden at John Lewis in Oxford Street, designed by Tony Woods. Tony is a former RHS Young Designer of the Year. He and his…
‘Style your garden’ doesn’t mean exactly the same as ‘design your garden.’ Designing a garden is about choosing a theme, then planning the hard landscaping and planting. Styling is about…
Steven Edney and Louise Dowle’s middle-sized tropical garden, Sweetbriar, is open several times a year for the NGS. Both Steven and Louise are professional gardeners. Steven is the award-winning former…
How to choose the right garden path for your garden. Affordable, stylish garden path ideas, easy DIY advice and photos for inspiration.
The Middlesized Garden is a participant in the Amazon Associates LLC, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk
Contemporary cottage garden style – the power of the 70/30 rule
How to achieve the prettiest contemporary cottage garden style – and why the 70/30 rule will make your planting so much more successful.
How to turn a wide shallow backyard into the perfect garden
How to divide up a wide shallow backyard or garden – turn it into a beautiful outdoor space with just a few clever tips.
The really easy guide to pruning hydrangeas
Confused by contradictory advice on how and when to prune hydrangeas? This post makes it easy to achieve beautiful blooms year after year.
Don’t dig up dahlias for winter! What to do instead….
I don’t dig up dahlias to store them over winter. And before you dig your dahlias up, it’s important to know the pros and cons. Do I have to dig…
The absolutely best way to prune English lavender beautifully
Find out how to prune English lavender to make it look better and last longer. Photos of my lavender from 2013-2023 are proof that it works!
How to plant a border like a pro
How to plant a border brilliantly – design tips and practical advice. How to position shrubs and flowers in the best places, plus other tips.
