Latest From Gardens Illustrated
There's still a lot to do in a famous garden in winter: discover a frosty Sissinghurst and the jobs that keep the gardeners busy
In our final visit of the working year to the gardens of Sissinghurst, head gardener Troy Scott Smith explains how he and his team prepare Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson's stunning garden for the year ahead.
Photographs: John Campbell
The woman who crafts beautiful objects from fallen oak trees with her bare hands
Sculptor Alison Crowther uses centuries-old fallen oaks and other timber to create her distinctive art and furniture.
Words: Camilla Phelps, Photographs: Andrew Montgomery
We need to stop the ecocide by councils, developers and big business, says this community gardener
As a community gardener at the Eden Nature Garden in Clapham, south London, former marine biologist Benny is on a mission to promote ecology within the garden world.
Portrait: Andrew Montgomery
Iconic London landmark the Barbican Conservatory set to be revamped in major restoration project
Barbican Conservatory is set to be revamped by Harris Bugg Studio.
Artifical lights at night do more harm than you realise: here's how to light your garden responsibly
How does artificial lighting in our garden effect wildlife; and what can we do to minimise the negative impacts?
The Christmas treat that's grown in a bog and harvested underwater: discover the surprising story of this festive fruit
Plant ecologist Ken Thompson on the remarkable cranberry plant and it's tricky way of harvesting underwater
Win the top 14 gardening books of the year
Gardens Illustrated 's Editor's choice
The best gardening gifts: top gift ideas for gardeners in 2024
Here's our selection of fantastic gardening gifts in 2024, tailor-made to suit the gardener in your life.
Watch Nigel Slater's exclusive tour around his own small garden and discover why he wouldn't want a bigger one
While Nigel Slater might occasionally dream of a larger garden, the joy he feels cocooned in his tiny basement courtyard has convinced him size isn’t everything.
Illustration: Paul Wearing, Portrait: John Campbell
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Gardens Illustrated Special Edition: A Year of Plants - Order today just £12.99*
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Gardens Illustrated events
Save 20% when you book a series ticket for the Gardens Illustrated Masterclass series
GI Masterclass: Maximising small spaces with designer Stefano Marinaz
GI Masterclass: Rose sculpting and training with head gardener Jenny ‘Niff’ Barnes
GI Masterclass: Planting design insights with designer Tom Stuart-Smith
Latest garden features and design ideas
The best indoor orchids for long-lasting, colourful blooms plus how to to keep them alive and flowering again
Add colour to the winter months with these delicate houseplants that offer exotic, long-lasting flowers, and are easier to look after than you may think.
Words: Matthew Biggs, Photographs: Éva Nemeth
This alcohol-free aperitif has earned itself four awards - and is set to take over your cocktail-making this Christmas
Make strawflower garlands for beautiful natural Christmas decorations this season
Bex Partridge offers this elegant but easy way to decorate your home with strawflowers at Christmas
These plants will make your garden look good over winter
The seedheads of perennials bring drama to the garden in winter and provide food for birds and insects, too. We recommend 11 of the best
The best wood for burning on wood burning stoves and fires
As winter approaches, re-stocking your firewood supplies is on the agenda. We choose the best types of firewood, give advice on stacking logs and how to light a fire. Words Louise Allen, photographs Andrew Montgomery
Stop the needles falling and the droop: here's how to care for your Christmas tree so it's happy for longer
You invest in a Christmas tree and bring it into your home over the festive season. Make sure it's as happy as possible so it last for as long as possible
The woman who crafts beautiful objects from fallen oak trees with her bare hands
Sculptor Alison Crowther uses centuries-old fallen oaks and other timber to create her distinctive art and furniture.
Words: Camilla Phelps, Photographs: Andrew Montgomery
Winter gardening jobs
Just because winter is here, it doesn't mean there's nothing to do in the garden. Rosie Fyles, head gardener at Chiswick House, and head gardener Benjamin Pope explain what winter gardening needs to be done
How to stop squirrels eating your tulip bulbs
Squirrels can ruin tulip displays. We asked a range of experts for their advice on stopping squirrels digging up bulb displays.
How late is too late to plant bulbs?
Ever wondered how long you can wait to plant your spring bulbs? We asked our readers and the experts, and these are the results.
Best garden plants for now
No space for a tree in your garden? Think again – with these 13 expert picks for trees in pots
No space for a tree in your garden? Think again. We asked experts to recommend the best trees to grow in containers. Words: Chris Young, Photos: Jason Ingram & Eleanor Walpole
Great flowers and plants for the garden in December picked by head gardeners
The best December flowers and foliage from winter interest plants chosen for structure, colour and texture in the garden. Photographs Jason Ingram
In praise of the chrysanthemum
Discover exactly how to grow these late-flowering hardy chrysanthemums that will look perfect in your garden. Photographs by Jason Ingram
8 beautiful indoor Christmas plants to buy this year
Indoor plants make wonderful festive decorations, and many can be kept going from year to year. Consider welcoming these eight indoor Christmas plants into your home this winter.
You can grow beautiful bulbs in your house over winter by 'forcing' them - here's how to do it
Forcing bulbs is a way to manipulate spring bulbs so that they flower early, bringing a much-needed burst of colour into the home during the winter months. Try these bulb combinations to learn how to force bulbs yourself. Images by Jason Ingram
How to make large Christmas baubles from the garden using natural materials
These baubles, made from natural materials gathered from the garden, look lovely hanging off the Christmas tree or from the mantelpiece, but are super easy to make by following our simple steps. Photography Jason Ingram. Styling by Kristy Ramage
Houseplants
Can house plants really beat mould? We discover the truth around the claims
The internet is awash with advice on house plants beating mould. But are the claims actually true?
Your common house plant problems - solved
House plant expert Sarah Gerrard-Jones identifies the 10 most common house plant problems and explains how to solve them.
Houseplants | How to look after the blue star fern
Ferns sparked the first houseplant craze and are still a great houseplant choice, especially the unfussy Phlebodium aureum. Illustration Agata Wierzbicka
Gardens Illustrated 's Podcasts
Talking Gardens season 4: John Little
Talking Gardens season 4: Shane Connolly
Talking Gardens Season 4: Butter Wakefield
Talking Gardens Season 4: Charles Dowding
Talking Gardens Season 4: Rosy Hardy
Talking Gardens Season 4: Monty Don
Talking Gardens podcast with Jimi Blake
Listen to this episode of Talking Gardens, the Gardens Illustrated podcast, featuring Jimi Blake on how he dodges bears while botanising and how going to train as a gardener was life-saving for him.
Recipes
HOME COOKED RECIPES WITH NATURAL INGREDIENTS
Damson pastries recipe
Satisfy a sweet tooth over Christmas and learn how to make our twist on these tasty party delicacies originally from South America. Recipes Lia Leendertz. Photographs Jason Ingram. Styling Clare Gardner-Medwin
Mulled sloe and champagne cocktails - a perfect Christmas treat from the hedgerows
Our recipe for a classic Christmas champagne recipe using berries from the garden. Recipe Lia Leendertz, photographs Jason Ingram, styling Clare Gardner-Medwin
Christmas biscuits recipe: a festive treat with hazelnuts
Learn how to make these tasty party delicacies made with foraged nuts. Recipes Lia Leendertz, photographs Jason Ingram, styling Clare Gardner-Medwin
Beetroot crisps with carrot and sumac dip recipe
Learn how to make these tasty beetroot crisps made with fresh produce from the garden. Recipes Lia Leendertz, photographs Jason Ingram, styling Clare Gardner-Medwin
Container Gardening
pots of style for your garden
Give your containers autumn style with the help of designer Jo Thompson's hellebore and euonymus designs
Designer Jo Thompson creates this stylish display using hellebores and euonymus to see you through the colder months
A great planted pot for winter and autumn using succulents with architectural texture
Designer Jo Thompson creates a stylish display to see you through the colder months using aloe and other succulents
You can grow beautiful bulbs in your house over winter by 'forcing' them - here's how to do it
Forcing bulbs is a way to manipulate spring bulbs so that they flower early, bringing a much-needed burst of colour into the home during the winter months. Try these bulb combinations to learn how to force bulbs yourself. Images by Jason Ingram
A warming winter pot for wildlife using Cornus alba and cotoneaster
Designer Jo Thompson offers a stylish display to see you through the colder months. Photographs Jason Ingram
Inspiring Gardens
THE BEST OF THE WORLD'S OUTDOOR SPACES
A zesty tangerine-coloured roof top garden in London designed by Nigel Dunnett
On the edge of one of London’s busiest roundabouts, Nigel Dunnett has created exciting combinations of drought-tolerant plants for a roof garden that is as unexpected as it is joyful. Words: Natasha Goodfellow, Photographs: Alister Thorpe
From boarded up library to gorgeous community garden: this space in London was transformed by a Chelsea gold-winning designer
A new community garden designed by Sarah Price around
an old library turned arts centre in southeast London is a treasured space for local residents
and garden lovers alike.
A zero waste garden: this space was completely transformed, without sending anything to landfill
Designer Miria Harris gave herself the challenge of a no-skip, zero-waste project, giving away, recycling or reusing everything in this back garden before transforming it into a space her client could love.
Words: Zia Allaway, Photographs: Rachel Warne
Weed, slugs, moles and mice: all are welcome at this pioneering natural farm in Devon
Weeds, slugs, birds and mice – all are welcome on Birch Farm in Devon, where Joshua Sparkes seeks to respect the local ecosystem and mimic nature in his innovative approach to growing.
Photographs: Andrew Montgomery
This season in the garden
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GARDENING NOW
Great flowers and plants for the garden in December picked by head gardeners
The best December flowers and foliage from winter interest plants chosen for structure, colour and texture in the garden. Photographs Jason Ingram
Winter flowers: experts' choice of winter flowering plants
Our panel of experts pick the best winter flowering plants to grow over the colder months to ensure bright blooms add colour and interest in your garden
Winter gardening jobs
Just because winter is here, it doesn't mean there's nothing to do in the garden. Rosie Fyles, head gardener at Chiswick House, and head gardener Benjamin Pope explain what winter gardening needs to be done
Think there is nothing to start growing now? It's actually garlic planting season. Here's how to grow it
Garlic is one of the healthiest ways to add flavour to food and is not difficult to grow. Allotmenteer Jojo Tulloh explains how to get started. Photographs Andrew Montgomery
Gardens to visit
which gardens to visit and where
The most inspiring winter garden walks
It may be cold outside but you can still visit beautiful gardens over the winter months. Here's our top picks of UK open gardens to visit for a refreshing winter walk
25 English gardens to visit for classic style and beautiful plants
In this feature designer and garden historian Penelope Hobhouse shares 25 of the best English gardens to visit
21 top Christmas garden light shows and trails
Here are our top picks for the best Christmas light shows and illuminated trails in gardens across the UK, to enjoy with friends and family during this festive season
Garden design
THE BEST OF THE WORLD'S OUTDOOR SPACES
Limited space? You probably still have room for a tree - discover the best trees for small gardens
Many people worry that a tree will overpower a small garden, but as garden designer Sarah Price shows, the key is finding the right place and the right tree
Mid-century style garden furniture is trending, here's why you need these iconic garden furniture pieces
Love mid-century style? You won’t want to miss this brand’s sale across many of its iconic outdoor furniture pieces…
Here's what companion planting means and why it can help plants thrive
Ever wondered how companion planting might help your vegetables and deter pests? Here expert grower Matthew Biggs breaks down the companion planting myths and explains how the system works
What to plant in an edible garden
We talk to vegetable and edible gardening expert Anna Greenland about gardening for flavour. Words Alys Hurn, photographs Jason Ingram
How to make your garden child friendly without ruining it
If you thought children's play areas and a stylish garden don't mix, here's our advice on pleasing the whole family in the garden.
10 ways to improve your garden
Award-winning garden designer Jinny Blom gives us her 10-point plan for improving any garden.
Gardening Advice
WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT
Wondering what no-dig gardening is? Let the expert explain
Generations of gardeners have been told that digging is the best way to prepare soil for planting – but that’s a myth, according to grower Charles Dowding, who practises no dig gardening. Charles explains what no dig is and how it works
A guide to pruning roses
Discover how to prune all types of roses including shrub, climbing and rambling roses in our guide from plant expert John Hoyland. Photographs by Gavin Kingcome.
Ten tips for gardening plastic free
David Ware, head of eco garden centre EdibleCulture, offers up his top tips for how to garden without using plaastic
Gardening Kit
OUR PICK OF THE BEST GARDENING TOOLS AND ACCESSORIES
28 gifts for plant lovers: a 2024 guide
We've collated our ultimate list of great gifts for plant lovers for 2024.
Best eco-friendly Christmas crackers to buy in 2024
Take a planet friendly approach to the festivities with our pick of the best eco-friendly Christmas crackers.
The best gardening books in 2024: leaf through these highly-rated reads
Discover the best gardening books to read in 2024, recommended by a range of horticultural experts for Gardens Illustrated
The best natural Christmas decorations to shop this year
We've found all the most beautiful baubles, wreaths and home décor to browse this year - made with paper, wood, metal and other natural materials.
Best plant gift subscriptions
Give the gift that keeps on giving – a plant subscription! We bring you some of the best options online. Start one today and share the love.
Beautiful outdoor Christmas decoration ideas for a winter wonderland in 2024
Bring the festive spirit to your garden with our selection of the best outdoor Christmas decorations.