Features and Advice

Nothing beats growing plants from seeds, whether it’s vegetables, annuals or perennials.

When I started working as a professional gardener I had no idea gardening could have such a profound positive effect on mental wellbeing.

One of the easiest vegetables to grow is the humble potato. Buy seed potatoes now and give your crop a head start.

Growing vegetables from seed is much easier than you might think.

Garden birds are an essential addition to the healthy garden. You can help document the garden birds by preparing for the Big Garden Bird Watch.

Evergreens come into their own in winter. Make use of smaller ones in pots and containers to bring colour and interest to your garden.

The colourful red bracts of the poinsettia have become a festive favourite. Here are some tips to keep your plants looking fabulous for weeks on end.

Happy Winter Solstice. Traditionally celebrated on the shortest day of the year, winter solstice falls a few days before Christmas.

The garden birds aren’t just pretty to look at, they are a vital weapon in the gardener’s war on pests.

Geoff Stonebanks shares his festive tips and plants for garden containers.

Create some real drama in your garden with a seasonal planter. Just a handful of plants will establish colour and interest for weeks on end.

Create a truly scrumptious side dish to your festive feast, using red cabbage. Even the most reluctant cabbage fans will love this recipe.

Geoff Stebbings extols the virtues of the Christmas rose – Helleborus niger.

Geoff Stonebanks explores his love of garden hydrangeas.

Make your garden work a bit harder and generate a few natural gifts for friends and family says Jean Vernon.

For instant festive impact poinsettias are the go to plant, but there are lots of creative ways to enjoy them says Jean Vernon.

Martyn Cox guides you through ten of his (almost) foolproof favourite plants for beginner gardeners.

We all know how to secure our homes and protect them from burglary, but what about our gardens? An outside space can be easy to access and provide a sheltered and protected route to our homes.

Harvesting herbs fresh from your own garden is easy, fabulous and provides unlimited flavour potential. Even over winter you can grow herbs outdoors.

Here are five houseplants that are easy to grow and hard to kill, including African violet, begonia, coleus, alocasia and hydrangea.

If you are looking for some small, but great value ideas for the gardener in your life, Jean Vernon suggests some lovely stocking fillers for garden lovers.