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.
Expert Gardening Tips
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Credit: Alamy Alan Titchmarsh: Finally, a chance to nurture and grow some rhododendrons
Alan Titchmarsh had resigned himself to a life without rhododendrons – but now that's all about to change, courtesy of his daughter.
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Forced Rhubarb Victoria and a Terracotta forcer Rhubarb: The pink promise of spring
Mark Diacono extolls the virtues homegrown rhubarb and reveals how to get the best out of your crop.
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Wild Daffodils near Kempley Credit: Alamy Britain's best wild daffodil display? The 'Golden Triangle' of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire
Wild daffodils grow all around Britain, but nowhere more so than the towns of Dymock and Kempley on the western border of Gloucestershire.
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The true rose of St Valentine isn't actually red
In 1971 a Catalan rose-breeder called Pere Dot introduced a little pink Polyantha rose called San Valentin. Charles Quest-Ritson explores.
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Credit: Alamy How to do topiary the easy way: What to plant, how to cut it
Yes, if you want to carve peacocks and swans you'll need to take a course. But if you just want some lovely greenery with a few interesting shapes, Mark Griffiths has all you need to get started.
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Poncirus trifoliata How to grow plants that you really shouldn't be able to grow in England
Take a chance on surprising survivors advises Steven Desmond.
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Six common garden problems, solved by our experts
Unlike buildings and interiors, gardens are continuously changing themselves, regularly creating new conundrums. Country Life’s experts reveal some of the problems that have been vexing them recently – and how they solved them.
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Credit: Garden World Images Alan Titchmarsh: Grevillea, the winter flower which can stop you in your tracks
Alan Titchmarsh recommends an import from Down Under which is capable of making a remarkable splash in a British winter garden.
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Daphne x Houtteana. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo Life, death and daphnes – and the variety that goes in and out of extinction peril
Charles Quest-Ritson muses on daphnes, the lovely winter flowers which seemingly ought to be a lot hardier than they are.
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Wildflowers, perfect ponds and a luxuriant, sheltered garden tucked away in Scotland: Country Life’s top gardening stories of 2017
Between Christmas and New Year, we're taking a look back at some of our most popular stories of the year – today, we look at the gardens that have delighted and inspired.
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Credit: Alamy The day that Woolworths accidentally sold me an endangered species
Charles Quest-Ritson reminisces about the day his bargain purchase of a cyclamen in Woolworths proved to be something rather special.
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The dazzling colours of bamboo – yes, bamboo – which can steal your heart
Bamboo isn't just a hardy, quick-to-grow plant – it can bring terrific splashes of year-round colour to your garden, as Mark Griffiths explains.
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The worst garden pests of all? The ones you invite in with open arms
A couple of weeks ago, Alan Titchmarsh wrote a lovely piece for Country Life about how to get children and grandchildren into gardening. Charles Quest-Ritson has a rather different take on the matter...
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Monty Don: How to stop worrying and learn to love gardening in November
November can be a depressing time for gardeners – but not if you dive in and make the best of it, as Monty Don explains.
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Credit: Alamy Alan Titchmarsh: How to get your kids (or grandchildren) into gardening
Gardener, broadcaster and writer Alan Titchmarsh often gets asked about whether he has passed his green fingers on down the generations. Here's his answer.
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Tropical fruit and palm trees in deepest Surrey? Why they’re going bananas at Wisley
A newly-planted exotic garden at RHS Wisley has torn up the rule book – it's a bold gamble for a garden in Surrey, and one which Steven Desmond traces back through centuries of adventurous English gardeners.
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The autumnal fruit that makes a questionable home-made liqueur
Charles Quest-Ritson explores the sorb apple, an astringent fruit added to apples to make a particular variant of cider.
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Credit: Alamy Musk Roses: Beautiful flowers, and the 'sweetest smell in the air' by far
Mark Griffiths discusses the wonderful qualities of the enigmatic but irresistible musk rose – aka osa moschata.
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Tulips bloom in spring on the garden island of Mainau, Lake Constance, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany Credit: Alamy Stock Photo Alan Titchmarsh on bulbs: Why they're my 'firework' plants – sit back and watch them go
Alan Titchmarsh talks about his love of bulbs, which ones not to bother with, and the difference between a gardener and a farmer.
