Garden design
Inspiration, ideas and everything you need to know about garden design from the gardening experts
Make your own floral advent calendar
Gardens Illustrated has joined together with The Herbarium Project to show you how to make an Advent calendar for Christmas. Words Sonya Patel Ellis and photography Andrew Montgomery
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
How to lay a hedge
Interested in the centuries-old skill of hedge laying? Follow our guide on how to lay a hedge and learn about the traditional ways to lay a hedge. Words Louise Allen, photography Andrew Montgomery, illustration Liam McAuley
How to care for your teak garden furniture
If you already have teak garden furniture, or you are considering buying teak for your outdoor space, here’s how to look after this attractive hardwood
How to design an accessible garden
Garden designer Charlotte Harris shares her experience in practical design, looking at the details that make a garden more accessible
What's new?
Traditional meets contemporary in this modern country garden design for a couple of newbie gardeners
Inspired by the historic house and setting at Park House in Cambridgeshire, landscape architect Robert Myers has woven together traditional and contemporary design elements to create a haven for people, plants and wildlife. Words Zia Allaway, photography Richard Bloom
Chop and drop: watch the easy way to deadhead that helps cut time in the garden
Discover the easy deadheading technique that is being picked up by head gardeners as a way of saving time and helping the soil
Where designers buy their plants – discover the display garden and nursery that inspires the UK’s top placemakers
In just under nine years, the owners of Arvensis Perennials in Wiltshire have created a mature garden that displays their high-quality perennials. Words Jonny Bruce, photographs Richard Bloom
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
Looking for the perfect bulb display? We've got a brilliant planting plan designed by experts for you to download
Garden designer James Alexander-Sinclair’s bold bulb plan for a bulb-filled border offers a spectacular display of flowering bulbs from January to July. Download the plan here. Illustration Hannah McVicar
Front gardens
Ideas, tricks and inspiration for your front garden from the garden design experts
Our favourite welly boot storage solutions for 2024
Keep your muddy boots neatly in a row with our picks of useful welly storage designs
The go-to garden furniture of designers: why Hay Palissade is just so popular
Discover the garden furniture that all the top designers are using and find out where you can buy it
The best trees for front gardens
Choosing the right tree for a front garden can be tricky but there are advantages and countless pleasures that can be had if you choose your tree carefully.
Hard landscaping
Everything you need to know about hard landscaping in the garden
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.
How to grow a sustainable garden
Growing a sustainable garden that stands the test of time is key to a flourishing ecosystem and a garden that lasts, says designer Marian Boswall
Garden water feature ideas: expert tips for using water in the garden
Water brings magic to the garden, says designer Matt Keightley, adding movement and sound to muffle unwelcome noise
Garden design resources
Our hub of all the design resources you need to make your garden into the garden you want
What is soil? You may think you know, but there's a lot going on under your feet
Think of your garden soil as a living organism that needs gentle handling and you will reap the benefits in healthier plants, urges no-dig gardening expert Charles Dowding
Reducing plastic in your garden and allotment
The invention of plastic changed how we gardened forever. Now it is everywhere, here's why we need to deal carefully with our plastic usage and how to get closer to a zero waste garden. llustration Vicki Turner
Here's how to sharpen your garden tools properly to help make sure you're pruning your plants well
Advice on sharpening garden tools, with a step-by-step video on how to sharpen shears. You'll also find all the products you need to get the job done.
Small gardens
Small garden design inspiration, ideas and expert advice. Everything you need to know about designing and planting small gardens
How to make a small suburban garden, and the surrounding street, a truly magical space, with Super Bloom’s Jac Semmler
In the middle of suburbia, Super Bloom’s founder Jac Semmler has created a floral wonderland that spills out on to the street.
Words: Georgina Reid, Photographs: Caitlin Atkinson
A small sloping backyard was given a designer update and is now a beautiful, flower-filled family garden on different levels by Farlam & Chandler
Design duo Farlam & Chandler has transformed a heavily shaded plot into a beautiful, flower-filled family garden
Think you want a small tree? You really need a 'trub' - a tree-like shrub - and we've got 13 expert picks
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’
Soft landscaping
Learn what you need about planting and soft landscaping in the garden from the experts
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
Best grass seed for your garden
We round up the best grass seed mixes for all types of gardens, including seed for hardwearing lawns, fine lawns and difficult dry or shady spots
Sow a border from scratch
Designer Sam Taylor-Hunt shares his design for a vibrant,
perennial, meadow-style scheme you can sow direct from seed, and explains how to create this exciting new type of planting. Illustration by Hannah McVicar
Garden design solutions
Recommended plants and design inspiration for compact plots
How to enjoy an attractive lawn with less effort
Want a lawn, but don't want the effort of maintaining it? Garden designer Jack Wallington shows how you can have the best of both worlds.
Expert tips for designing a meadow
Garden designer James Alexander-Sinclair gives his advice and tips on how to include a meadow in your garden
17 timelessly elegant Victorian greenhouses and porch glasshouses for 2024
Check out our shortlist of the most stylish luxury glasshouses, Victorian-style greenhouses and top-end glasshouses with porches to transform your garden and growing possibilities in 2024