Veronica Peerless
commissioning content editor
Veronica Peerless is commissioning content editor at Gardens Illustrated. She is a trained horticulturalist and garden designer and is the author of ‘How not to Kill your Houseplant (DK, 2017).
Recent articles by Veronica Peerless
The best places to see a beautiful blue carpet of bluebells in a wood or garden near you
Wandering in a bluebell wood is a magical experience. Here are our recommendations for where to see bluebells – and other spring delights.
Everything you need to know about growing bluebells
English bluebells are one of the highlights of spring. Here's how to grow them in your own garden – and how to differentiate between English and Spanish bluebells.
It's back! This tiny caterpillar could destroy your hedges: here's how to deal with it
The box caterpillar, or box tree caterpillar, can devastate box plants in a matter of days. Here's how to deal with it.
I got a hori hori knife – and became a gardening ninja: here's what they are and why you need one
A hori hori is a knife many gardeners swear by. But what exactly is it and why is it so great? Veronica Peerless tests Niwaki's hori hori knife and explains what happened.
The best garden design courses to join
Looking for a garden design course? Here's a selection of the UK's leading garden design schools and details of the training they offer.
‘I had a massive garden and the moment I downsized I felt safe’ - How Adam Frost beat burnout
Garden designer and TV presenter Adam Frost on the year that changed his attitude to life, the book that came out of it and what he’s up to next
Don't have room for seed pots and trays? Try this easy way of sowing seeds with these 21 beautiful flowers
Sowing seeds where you want them to flower is an easy, bother-free way to bring colour to your garden. Here, three experts recommend their favourite flowers for growing direct
Everything you need to know about tulip fire
Tulip fire is a fungal disease that can affect tulips. Here's expert advice on how to identify it, and what to do if you find it in your garden
Why Britain's going mad for saunas and how you can enjoy one in your own back garden
Saunas are the latest must-have addition to our outside spaces. Sit back and relax with our pick of the best saunas for your garden.
Rewild yourself and get back in touch with nature at this Somerset garden
Deep in the Somerset countryside, a regenerative farm run on permaculture principles seeks to cultivate and restore the health of people and the planet
Why you should buy snowdrops 'in the green' - plus how to plant them
Planting snowdrops in the green is considered the best way to establish them. Here's advice on why you should buy them, where to buy and how to plant
Pink flowers for the garden that you'll love
From the palest china pink to vibrant magenta, here are 20 pretty pink blooms for your garden in every season.
Alternatives to a Christmas tree
Looking for an alternative to a cut Christmas tree? Here are some attractive conifers that you can grow outdoors in pots all year round, then bring indoors for the festive season
Sustainable Christmas trees: real or fake, what's the best tree to buy?
What is the most eco-friendly Christmas tree option – a real tree, or an artificial one? We investigate the pros and cons of each
How to choose a real Christmas tree
Looking to buy a real Christmas tree this year? Here's our guide on choosing the right species for you – and the three main ways that Christmas trees are grown. Photographs by Christian Barnett
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.
TV gardener Carol Klein on her life to date and what comes next
Gardener, television presenter and author Carol Klein talks about her new book, the books she loves, her current challenges and what she’s up to next
Discover our 2024 Horticultural Heroes: 22 extraordinary people making a difference in gardening
Discover the stories of the extraordinary garden champions who are making a difference to places, people, plants and the planet. Words Molly Blair, Stephanie Mahon, Veronica Peerless and Alice Tuffery, photograph Lisa Linder
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?
Jamaica Kincaid on her love of gardens: ‘When I’m writing, I’m thinking of gardening’
Jamaica Kincaid, the novelist, essayist, teacher, garden writer and gardener, talks about exploring the colonial history of plants
This professional designer transformed his own typically long, narrow town garden into an urban oasis
Landscape architect Matt Evans has turned his typically long, narrow, town garden in Bath into a plantsman’s paradise. Words Veronica Peerless photographs Jason Ingram
The best fence panels you can buy: 8 styles to consider
Frame or surround your garden with these attractive fence panels.
56 beautiful, bee-friendly plants that will make your garden buzz
Create a buzz in your garden by adding the plants that bees love best.
The best portable outdoor lamps
We pick a selection of stylish portable outdoor lights that are perfect for creating a cosy glow in the garden.