Plants
Plants, how to plant, what to plant
November jobs for the garden: don't forget these key things to do right now
There's always something to do in the garden, even in November. Aaron Bertelsen explains a few key things you can do in the garden right now. Illustration Alice Pattullo
Plants to grow for your gut microbiome to boost your health
Growing your own edible plants is a great way to boost your gut microbiome. Discover expert picks of edimentals that are both beautiful and beneficial.
Words: Sid Hill
Autumn jobs in the garden: Sissinghurst head gardener explains what you should be doing over this season
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
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
Gothic plants for Halloween: these are the plants that could help to spookify your garden
Discover some of the blackest plants, just in time for Halloween
What's new?
The smoke bush has a riot of autumn colour and will look brilliant over the coming season
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
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.
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
The world's most endangered plants: ten of the plants likely to be extinct very soon
The experts at Kew Gardens highlight ten of the world's most at risk plants, from a tiny waterlilly to a golden fuchsia
Autumn
Spiced pumpkin pasties recipe
Autumn is a time for comfort food, and home-made pastry with a sticky filling fits the bill. Here is a recipe for seasonal pumpkin pasties by Jojo Tulloh, illustration by Sarah Young
The weirdest, scariest pumpkins and gourds to grow and how to grow them
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
Gardens can look great in October! Here are the best gardens to visit this month, for beautiful autumn blooms
Head gardener Tom Brown recommends gardens and places to see seasonal plants and flowers at their best
Bulbs
33 of the best spring bulbs to plant in autumn chosen by experts and tips on how to plant them
Five leading garden designers recommend the best spring bulbs to plant in autumn to add colour into the garden after the dull winter months
21 brilliant bulbs to plant that will give you colour in every season
Garden designer Adam Hunt recommends his favourite bulbs for colour almost all year round.
The best bulb suppliers
If you're looking to buy bulbs online or want to to visit a garden nursery in the UK to buy your bulbs for the year ahead, here is a selection of some of the best bulb suppliers both in the UK and Europe.
Flowers
The best fuchsias for your garden
Hardy fuchsias can flower from late spring right through to early autumn. Mat Reese, head gardener at Malverleys in Hampshire, recommends his favourites and gives advice on growing them
The perfect flowers for October
The flowers that are blooming bright this October month are warm and vibrant to help ease the transition to cooler days. Head gardener Tom Brown and nurserywoman Fleur van Zonneveld choose the plants they love. Photographs Jason Ingram and Maayke de Ridder
Pastels in the shade: a late summer pot with a soft colour combination through autumn
From cool pastels and foliage to hot colours, designer Jo Thompson creates three stylish container combinations for autumn. Words Jo Thompson, photographs Jason Ingram
House plants
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?
How to care for and propagate sansevieria
Sansevieria, or the snake plant, is an almost indestructible houseplant that is creeping out of the shadows to take centre stage. Illustration Patrick Morgan
10 of the best bathroom plants
Here are ten low-maintenance plants that will thrive in your bathroom.
Planting ideas
Get inspiration for your garden and discover which plants will work best and where
Why Japanese anemones are the perfect bloom for late-summer and autumn borders
These elegant blooms are perfect for brightening up late-summer and autumn borders, here we explain how to use this colourful flower.
Words: Matthew Reese, Photographs: Jason Ingram
How to go organic in your garden: everything you need to know about protecting your plot
Wondering how to change your ways in the garden and go organic? Gardening organically is not hard to do. We have all the tips with expert advice from Garden Organic
Discover the beautiful National Dahlia Collection and the person who helped save it from disappearing
The National Dahlia Collection has had several homes since its inception in the 1980s, and now, under the care of a dedicated dahlia aficionado, it has been rescued and relocated once more to a new site in Cornwall. Photos Jason Ingram
Pots
Discover how to make this beautiful autumnal pot design idea with tones and textures using Heucherella from expert Jo Thompson
A pot with autumn foliage and colours from designer Jo Thompson perfect for the season
A meadow-inspired pot display from Jo Thompson for late-summer into autumn
From cool pastels and foliage to hot colours, designer Jo Thompson creates a stylish container combination for autumn
Late summer warmth | A late-summer pot arrangement using Molinia caerulea and dahlias
Cottesbrooke’s head gardener Jenny Barnes combines well-established plants with bold foliage and rich colours to create a container display to help summer slide into autumn. Words Jenny Barnes, photographs Richard Bloom
Shrubs
100 beautiful plants and flowers you'll love in your garden recommended by head gardeners and experts
Head gardeners from some of the most spectacular gardens around pick their top beautiful plants and flowers
Winter interest | Top roses for rosehips
A rosehip is the 'fruit’ of the rose, coming after the summer flowers and
offering vibrant colour in the winter garden. Discover the top roses to grow for rosehips and how to care for them to get the best display.
As our climate gets hotter, we may see fewer white plants
Plant ecologist Ken Thompson explains the effect that climate change could have on the colour of your plants
Spring
Bulbs border display: download our designer plan
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
When to plant bulbs - make sure you don't miss the moment to get your bulbs in the ground for a great display next year
There are several answers to the question 'When should I plant bulbs?' and here we break down the basics
Slug-proof veg: 17 plants they won't eat
Struggling with slugs eating your crops? Here are 17 varieties of veg that they won't touch.
Summer
Four key tips to help you grow stunning dahlias in your garden
Horticultural lecturer Louise Danks and rescuer of the National Dahlia Collection explains four key tips to growing dahlias
17 of the best orange flowers for a pop of colour in the garden
We asked a range of plant experts including head gardeners and nursery owners to recommend the best orange plants for the garden. Photography by Jason Ingram.
How to plant dahlia tubers and how to grow and care for these striking flowers for a colourful summer display
Dahlias are a must in the summer and autumn garden. Here's everything you need to know about how to grow dahlias, plant tubers and how to take cuttings.
Trees
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’
The best crab apple trees for colour and form
Kew-trained plant expert Graham Rice recommends 15 of the best crab apple trees for blossom, foliage, fruit and flavour. Photographs Dianna Jazwinski
30 plants that will make your garden look good all year-round
These hard-working plants provide several seasons of interest in your garden through flowers, fruit, foliage, bark and even spring shoots
Winter
19 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
Pond cover: the best ways to protect your pond
Don't let your pond suffer through the winter months. A little pond cover will keep it pristine, cut down on routine maintenance, and keep your fish alive and well throughout the chill
20 great flowers for drying: experts pick the garden flowers that will look perfect when you dry them
Preserve the fleeting summer beauty of your garden by drying flowers to enjoy year round indoors. We’ve asked three expert growers to recommend the best dried flowers to grow