Expert Gardening Tips
-
Alan Titchmarsh: 2021 was the slowest-starting Spring of my life — but my garden has given me more pleasure than ever before
Frost, deluges, heatwaves... the weather this year has been nothing short of madness, but Alan Titchmarsh has come through the other side and is enjoying his garden like never before.
By Alan Titchmarsh Published
-
Fuchsia jam, rowan brandy liqueur and the curiosities you can make from an English country garden
Charles Quest-Ritson looks at some of the berries in the typical English garden which you might never even have thought of as edible.
By Charles Quest-Ritson Published
-
Arthur Parkinson: 'Chicken company and chat is underrated. Chickens will accompany you around the garden, happily running to greet you'
Arthur Parkinson shares his tips on keeping both garden and hens happy.
By Arthur Parkinson Published
-
Iford Manor: How to introduce modern touches into a historic garden
Nowhere are Harold Peto’s talents as a gardener and architect more apparent than the gardens and grounds of Iford Manor, so new additions need to respect the spirit of the place.
By Troy Scott-Smith Published
-
Alan Titchmarsh: 'I share my patch with all manner of animals, birds, bees and butterflies, and creepy-crawlies — they have every right to be there, but so do I'
We should stop beating ourselves up and cultivate responsibly for wildlife and the environment, but also enjoy the pleasure of a well-mown lawn.
By Alan Titchmarsh Published
-
Everything you need to know about Foxgloves: Beautiful, useful, poisonous — and a dream for bumblebees and plant-breeders alike
Charles Quest-Ritson celebrates one of the most striking flowers of this time of year, and offers his tips on how to make the most of them.
By Charles Quest-Ritson Published
-
How the 'greatest gardener ever' helped make British roses as we know them today
Charles Quest-Ritson, author of The RHS Encyclopedia of Roses, on Graham Stuart Thomas, how he nurtured British roses, and why now is the time for a proper national collection.
By Charles Quest-Ritson Published
-
How to grow blackberries that are 'consistently plump, reliably sweet and almost laughably juicy'
Blackberries are a gardener's dream, says expert fruit grower Mark Diacono. And while they grow plentifully in the wild, there are vigorous and unfussy domestic varieties than can be even better...
By Mark Diacono Published
-
Arthur Parkinson: 'Dahlias don't just give a garden colour — they give it life'
The gardening writer and broadcaster Arthur Parkinson picks some of his favourite dahlias — and revels in the fact that they can be the stars at Chelsea later this year.
By Country Life Published
-
Best poppies to sow in your garden
Spread a little happiness with a sprinkle of poppy seeds. John Hoyland selects the best poppies to grow at home.
By John Hoyland Published
-
How to make a compost cake
The Land Gardeners — aka Bridget Elworthy and Henrietta Courtauld — share their tips on how to make compost without a compost heap.
By Country Life Published
-
Best strawberries to grow at home, and how to make sure they keep producing fruit all summer
Expert fruit farmer Mark Diacono chooses the best strawberries, picking out varieties which will keep you in fresh strawberries all summer.
By Mark Diacono Published
-
Alan Titchmarsh: The garden blunder that caught me out — and how it's going to cost me than I can admit to my wife
Alan Titchmarsh thought his 'old friends' growing peacefully in their pots would be safe. He was wrong.
By Alan Titchmarsh Published
-
Arthur Parkinson: 'It’s a crime that we have forsaken our wildflower meadows for petrol lawnmowers and Flymos'
The gardener Arthur Parkinson speaks to Country Life about his garden inspirations, keeping chickens and why
By Toby Keel Published
-
What to plant to create a bold, romantic scheme in a classic British garden
Andrew Cannell, Head Gardener at American Museum and Gardens in Bath, shares his recommendations for Bold Romantic plant combinations for a British garden.
By Non Morris Published
-
Japanese Quince: The spectacular red flowers that should be on every gardener's to-grow list
Steven Desmond pours praise on the flowers of genus chaenomeles — also known as japonica, or Japanese quince — and explains how to make sure they thrive in your garden.
By Steven Desmond Published
-
Charles-Quest Ritson: 'Gardens are like people — most of them don’t age well'
Charles Quest-Ritson reminisces on his younger days and laments the passing years — not least our shared tendency with gardens to become 'rather seedy in old age, which is when they need constant attention to stay looking good'.
By Charles Quest-Ritson Published
-
Alan Titchmarsh: 'Their goal is quantity rather than quality; of boastfulness rather than the innate delight in seeing a plant that is loved'
Our columnist takes aim at the plant collectors whose desire to hit bigger numbers overtakes their love of gardening — but he pours praise on the honourable exceptions who manage to balance both impulses.
By Alan Titchmarsh Published
-
Should you mow your lawn?
Monty Don ruffled a few feathers recently when suggesting that we should just let our grass grow as long as it likes. Is he right?
By Tiffany Daneff Published
-
How to grow your own salad: 'Whether it’s a single-leaf salad or a tumble of colours, no salad is better than the one you grow yourself'
Mark Diacono offers his top tips to sow, grow and cut your own salad and shares his favourite varieties.
By Mark Diacono Published
-
The ultimate guide to planting your own orchard: 'Getting it right is easy; sadly, so is getting it wrong'
Mark Diacono has planted dozens of orchards — he shares his wisdom on how to go about it.
By Mark Diacono Published