Japanese knotweed took Britain by storm in the 19th century as a beautiful and highly-prized plant that was hugely fashionable. More recently it's had a very different impact, as Mark…
Expert Gardening Tips
Sarah Raven: ’15 years ago we couldn’t sell a dinner-plate-sized dahlia for love nor money’
The expert plantswoman tells us all about dahlia trends and gives advice for the best colours to use in 2019. Tiffany Daneff reports.
Alan Titchmarsh: How to make your garden a riot of colour in the depths of September and October
At this time of year, most of our gardens have long since said goodbye to their most vibrant colours – but it doesn't have to be that way, as Alan Titchmarsh…
Jason Goodwin: ‘I think about it when I’m on the stepladder, reaching out dangerously far to tweak a ripe fig’
Jason Goodwin tells our readers why he's now decided to give a fig about the ancient fruit that's been growing in his garden for years.
How to enjoy home-grown berries for seven months of the year
Mark Diacono offers us some berry good advice for enjoying our breakfast favourites, whatever the season.
Curious Questions: What is the biggest potato ever grown?
As harvests come in across Britain, we always enjoy pictures of giant vegetables appearing at various shows. But the tale of the biggest of the lot is absolutely fascinating. Martin…
The Loch Ness blackberry: A welcome monster
Charles Quest-Ritson offers his advice on taming this exquisitely flowered fruit.
Alan Titchmarsh: ‘Why on earth haven’t I done this before? There’s an extra spring in my garden’s step’
Alan Tichmarsh explains how the Sissinghurst gardens inspired him to update his own.
Curious Questions: Does throwing a snail stop it from returning to your garden?
The oldest gardeners' remedy for getting rid of snails is also the simplest: throw them as far away as you can. But is it just an old wives' tale? Martin…
What to plant if you’re thinking of putting a willow in your garden
Charles Quest-Ritson offers advice on this incredibly vibrant plant.
A peek behind the scenes at France’s annual rose extravanganza at the Parc de Bagatelle
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…
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,…