Charles Quest-Ritson, quite literally the man who wrote the book on roses, reveals what goes on at France's annual Concours international de roses nouvelles – one of the highlights of…
Expert Gardening Tips
Alan Titchmarsh: It’ll astonish you what you can grow – and grow well – in a garden by the sea
Alan Titchmarsh has always loved coastal gardens, but it wasn't until he ended up with his own a few years ago that he truly appreciated the possibilities.
Ultimate guide to growing roses: What to plant, where to plant it, and why you really don’t need to prune
Charles Quest-Ritson, author of the RHS Encylcopedia of Roses, tells you everything you need to know about growing roses.
The best honeysuckle to grow in your garden – especially if they’re gifts from now-departed friends
Charles Quest-Ritson extols the virtues of delightful honeysuckle.
The incredible tale of the foxglove, from curing to disease to inspiring Van Gogh’s most striking paintings
A tale of skulduggery, poisoning, witches and even marketing men runs through the history of the foxglove, as Ian Morton explains.
Mary Keen: Don’t fear downsizing – the joy of starting a new garden from scratch will make up for what you leave behind
The satisfaction of creating a beautiful garden is all the greater when, thanks to a move of house, you’ve had the joy of starting from scratch with a new space.…
Alan Titchmarsh: A foolproof guide to growing wisteria
Alan Titchmarsh gives advice for growing this most glorious of horticultural spectacles.
The fascinating story behind the world’s most beautiful, blissful avenues of trees
Our fascination with avenues of trees is near-universal to mankind and stretches back four hundred years. Mark Griffiths takes a look.
When will your fruit be ready to pick? A complete guide to fruit in the gardens of Britain
From apples to strawberries, here's when the fruits in your garden will be ready to pick.
15 colour photographs from 1912 showing Gertrude Jekyll’s garden at the height of her fame
Here, we present some extraordinary and rare photographs of Miss Jekyll’s garden at Munstead Wood near Godalming, courtesy of the Country Life Picture Library. The pictures were taken in 1912,…
How to get rid of box moth caterpillars
The box moth, Cydalima perspectalis, and its caterpillars quickly destroy box plants. Here's how to combat these pests.
How to grow the bladdernut, a delightful shrub with the heavenly scent of vanilla custard
An email from a friend spurs Mark Griffiths to take a look at the curiously-named bladdernut, a vigorous and easily-grown shrub that needs just the right touch to really make…
The daftest plant name in English, and how it belongs to a wonderful flower just starting to show its potential
There are a lot of silly names for flowers our there – and Charles Quest-Ritson has a chilling warning for those who use the daftest of the lot.
The robot lawnmower that handles hills, steers around flowerbeds and even charges itself
More and more country house owners are embracing the best that modern technology can bring to their homes – and Viking iMow, made by Stihl, is taking that approach into…
Alan Titchmarsh: Losing a plant to frost isn’t a disaster – it’s an opportunity
Writer and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh talks through the highs and lows of the freezing conditions into which Britain was plunged a few weeks ago.
The delicious salad leaves to try in your garden that keep on giving with ‘cut and grow’
Pulling up entire salad plants seems like madness once you've moved on to 'cut and grow again' as Mark Diacono explains.
The common garden plants that are deadly to dogs and cats – and what to do if they eat one
Many beautiful and common plants in the average English garden can prove fatal to household pets. Peter Green, a veterinary surgeon, gives his advice on some of the most common…
The joy of the greenhouse: Perfect spaces to plant, prune or just potter about
Greenhouses, glasshouses and orangeries were torn down across Britain a few decades ago – thankfully, they're now back on the up and better than ever, says Mark Griffiths.
How to grow a pear tree: What to choose, how to look after it
Steven Desmond explains the mysteries of the pear – and suggests a few varieties who want to take the plunge and grow their own trees.
Curious Questions: Why does freshly-mown grass smell so good?
Nothing says 'Spring is here' better than that wonderful aroma of newly-cut lawn. Martin Fone, author of 'Fifty Curious Questions', explains why it smells so good.…