Gardens
Britain's best gardens, and advice on how to transform your own with seasonal advice from leading gardeners & Country Life experts.
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Leave the cellophane-wrapped lettuce at the supermarket. It's time to grow your own
Alan Titchmarsh takes us for a tour around his vegetable garden.
By Alan Titchmarsh Published
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Inside the garden of Eton: A rare glimpse into the grounds of the world's most famous school
The gardens of Eton College in Windsor, Berkshire, date back to a request from its founder, King Henry VI. Over 550 years later, a recent re-design by a former pupil has brought new life to these historic gardens, as George Plumptre explains.
By George Plumptre Published
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From Derbyshire to Dunrobin to the Dordogne, Andrea Jones's spectacular winning photographs in the RHS Botanical Photography Awards 2024
Garden photographer Andrea Jones is among the winners at the RHS Botanical Photography Awards, on show at the Saatchi Gallery.
By Toby Keel Published
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The garden at Emmetts Mill, Chobham: Bourne to run
A flat waterside site has been transformed into a garden full of drama with plenty of delightful places to stop and enjoy the view, writes Kathryn Bradley-Hole. Photographs by Eva Nemeth.
By Kathryn Bradley-Hole Published
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The gardens at Dunvegan Castle: Hard landscaping on the Isle of Skye
Despite their exposed position, the gardens of Dunvegan Castle, home of Clan MacLeod for 800 years, have nurtured an important historic collection of species from around the world and are now going from strength to strength, writes Caroline Donald.
By Caroline Donald Published
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If you sow seeds in June, you might just be putting down bird seed... but it's worth the risk if you love fresh summer salads
Our grow-your-own expert Mark Diacono suggests a string of ideas for what you can plant as summer kicks in.
By Mark Diacono Published
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'Bugs don’t care what things look like, they simply want somewhere to live. We try to make it beautiful for the sake of the people': Meet the man who's bringing the buzz back to gardening
The founder of the Grass Roof Company tells Country Life about why a derelict oil refinery contains a greater variety of invertebrates than anywhere else in the country and how we can learn from it.
By James Alexander-Sinclair Published
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The Legacy: David Austin's English roses
Tiffany Daneff pays tribute to David Austin, the man whose name remains synonymous with roses even five years after his death.
By Tiffany Daneff Published
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'There is no end to the beauty of what they have created': The sensational gardens of Selehurst
This garden, which contains the largest Eucalyptus tree in Sussex, has been sensitively restored, replanted and improved since the Great Storm of 1987.
By Charles Quest-Ritson Published
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Half a century ago, one of Britain's greatest ever gardeners planted roses at Mottisfont Abbey — and right now is the perfect time to go and see them
Planted by the legendary horticulturist Graham Stuart Thomas, the 1,000 individual roses at this priory-turned-country house are considered his 'masterpiece' and bloom only once a year.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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Jason Goodwin: I always give the snails a flying chance at new life — but with slugs, I am merciless
It's all very well being At One with Nature, but when they start feasting on your pelargoniums, they've crossed a line says Jason Goodwin.
By Jason Goodwin Published
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Romancing the stone: How one man has taken the craft of dry-stone walling and turned it into an art
Tom Trouton's works at The Newt and elsewhere set him apart as a master of one of our oldest heritage crafts.
By Annie Gatti Published
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Chilcombe House: the garden that's become a 'pilgrimage' and a 'living legacy' to its former owners
When John and Caryl Hubbard first moved to Chilcombe House, they created a garden that impressed and inspired. Now, after their passing, their legacy lives on through a garden that basks in comfortable maturity.
By George Plumptre Published
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Autumn olives: The summer fruit that enriches the soil, your lunch table and your life
A hedge? A crop? A beautiful foliage plant? All this and more come to those who grow Autumn olive, says Mark Diacono.
By Mark Diacono Published
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The creation of Tom Stuart-Smith's showstopping garden at RHS Chelsea 2024
Tom Stuart-Smith returned to Main Avenue at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 with a hazel grove for the National Garden Scheme. Joanna Fortnam took an exclusive look behind the scenes at its creation.
By Country Life Published
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RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024: See all the gold medallists
We take a look at all the gold medallists from the 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. All photographs by Andrew Sydenham for Country Life.
By Toby Keel Published
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Alan Titchmarsh on Chelsea 2024: 'We need controversy to make us think... Just don’t expect me to regard slugs and snails as my friend'
Alan Titchmarsh looks ahead to the 'matchless spectacle' of the 2024 Chelsea Flower Show, the 'Paris catwalk of the British gardening scene.'
By Alan Titchmarsh Published
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'I could buy ready-to-go evergreens and hurry up the process, but I’m not in a hurry' — why gardeners, like plants, should move slowly
Shrubs, grasses, mess and dead leaves are nothing to be feared. We should take a leaf from Piet Oudolf and enjoy watching things grow and decay.
By Tiffany Daneff Published
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'A haunt of ancient peace' — The gardens at Iford Manor and their remarkable history
In a home that can trace its history to the Norman Conquest, owners William and Marianne Cartwright-Hignett have continued the great work begun by Harold Peto in 1899.
By Tiffany Daneff Published
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The poisonous plant that can 'run riot' in your garden, was a favourite of Elizabeth II and is more beautiful than a rose
Lily of the valley has a long history of royal connections, as well as being the ideal flower for expressions of love.
By Alan Titchmarsh Published
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The gardens of High Moss, a Cumbrian paradise just moments from Derwentwater
Non Morris visits the much-loved gardens of High Moss, in Portinscale, Cumbria — home of Peter and Christine Hughes — and finds a historically fascinating Arts-and-Crafts garden which has been imaginatively brought back to life. Photographs by Val Corbett for Country Life.
By Non Morris Published


