Bold autumn tints and early plumes of flower make the cotinus, or smoke bush, an indispensable shrub in the garden. Shrub expert Andy McIndoe advises on how to grow them. Photographs by Richard Bloom

Monty Don is to design a garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year, with a special theme that's close to his heart

Clark Lawrence, an American living in the heart of Italy’s pumpkin province, loves growing different cultivars of pumpkins and ornamental gourds for their sweet flavours and fabulous looks. Photographs John Campbell

Carving isn't the only thing you could be doing with your pumpkin this Halloween. Here's a few other suggestions on how not to waste your pumpkin

In the first of his new factual column on the benefits of gardening, Dr Richard Claxton uncovers all the evidence-based ways it can help your physical health. Illustration Vicki Turner

There are several answers to the question 'When should I plant bulbs?' and here we break down the basics

There is a huge variety of winter squash and pumpkins out there, all easy to grow in an allotment or garden if you know how. If you want to grow pumpkins for next year, here's a few of our favourites, plus some extra advice on sowing and planting. Illustration Kerry Lemon

As the garden slips into a new season, head gardener Troy Scott Smith and his team are busy with tasks from hedge cutting and lawn work to bulb planting and sowing seeds. Words Troy Scott Smith, photographs John Campbell

Keep your plants safe through the winter with our pick of the best eco friendly plant covers and products for winter protection.

As the daylight wanes and temperature falls, these autumn flowers will bring welcome flourishes of colour and warmth to your garden

Want to create height and interest in a small garden? You might think you want a tree, but you really need a tree-like shrub – a ‘trub’

Listen to this episode of Talking Gardens, the Gardens Illustrated podcast, featuring Alan Titchmarsh MBE on the gardens, places, people and plants that he would like to include in his dream garden.