Latest From Gardens Illustrated
I made a DIY greenhouse out of old windows and doors - here's how to build one for your garden
Greenhouses made from old windows and doors look cute – but how easy are they to make, and do they do the job?
There's a new hip and kind of weird gardening tool on the market. But what on earth is it for and how do you use it?
A new copper tool promises to be great for planting, weeding and more - but what is it like to use?
Dan Pearson and Carol Klein join the Talking Gardens podcast for new season
Discover the latest guests to appear on the Talking Gardens podcast, Gardens Illustrated's award-winning podcast where garden stars pick their dream gardens
Monty Don enlists dog Ned to design his new Chelsea Flower Show garden
In a world first, a dog is to help design a RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden thanks to Monty Don and his dog Ned
Invasive plants: here's what not to plant, how to avoid a fine and what to do if they're already in your garden
Discover the UK’s worst invasive plant species and how they’re wreaking havoc on native ecosystems and biodiversity.
WIN! 2 tickets to the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show
One lucky reader has the chance to win two tickets to one day of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025
Gardens Illustrated 's Editor's choice
Chelsea 2025 | Tickets, information, dates and what's on
Everything you need to know about RHS Chelsea Flower Show tickets and more for 2025
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
Receive a copy of The Tulip Garden book when you join as a member to Gardens Illustrated today
Receive a copy of The Tulip Garden book when you join as a member to Gardens Illustrated today
Discover a year of homegrown goodness with Gardens Illustrated’s Special Edition
A Year in the Edible Garden – Your essential guide to growing and enjoying fresh produce
Gardens Illustrated events
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Watch new film with Dan Pearson in his own garden
Save 20% when you book a series ticket for the Gardens Illustrated Masterclass series
Latest garden features and design ideas
‘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
I found the perfect stylish shed for even the tiniest garden and it’s super affordable too
Every garden needs storage; and this sweet shed delivers on looks, practicality and affordability. Plus, it's ideal for small gardens...
How Nigel Slater really feels about wildlife in his garden – fox poo, naughty squirrels and noisy parakeets
For Nigel Slater the dream of welcoming wildlife into his garden doesn’t always live up to reality
Is the future of gardens ever tinier fenced-in squares of grass? We can do better for us and biodiversity
The Government plans to build 1.5 million new homes. It could also ensure that developers see the value, not just the cost, of having a garden, says Lucy Conochie
An easy way to bring colour and style to your spring garden with this vibrant flower pot recipe
James Horner, garden maker at Benton End, the one-time home of the artist and plantsman Cedric Morris, suggests this colourful arrangement to celebrate spring
Love peonies? Try these lesser-known, big-bloomed beauties that flower for ages and won’t flop over
Known for their large, showy, goblet-shaped blooms, these small shrubs provide welcome structure in the garden long after their spectacular spring flowering
Stop before you shop: how our plant-buying habits are threatening Britain's native flora, food system and horticulture industry
As climate change allows non-invasive species to thrive, our shopping habits are threatening native plants, insects and ecosystems.
6 secret tricks of garden designers to make your garden look and feel better
Good gardens usually reference a few tried and tested design tricks – here's how to incorporate some of them into your own space.
The New Romantic Garden by Jo Thompson: the modern way to do the classic garden style
In her thoughtful new book, designer Jo Thompson shows how her trademark style can be modernised with a commitment to biodiversity, says Claire Masset
Best garden plants for now
The best peonies for your garden: beautiful blooms that are easy to grow
Nursery owner Claire Austin grows over 100 different herbaceous peonies in her garden and trials field to find the very best
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.
Here's how your new solar panel setup could be more affordable than you thought – with instant savings
There’s an easier way to generate your own clean energy
How to grow peonies
Peonies offer voluptuous blooms to grace your garden from late spring until July. Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall and Claire Austin give tips on how to grow these alluring flowers
The best cosmos to grow
Cosmos are as brilliant in the garden as they are in the vase. Plant expert Graham Rice chooses his favourite cosmos varieties to grow, and gives advice on sowing and growing them. Photographs by Jason Ingram
This long-flowering plant will bring colour to your garden from spring to summer here's how to grow the loveliest
Erysimum, also known as wallflowers, can brighten your garden, bridging the months from spring through to summer. Here, garden writer and plant expert Val Bourne recommends the best Erysimum to grow. Photographs Sharon Pearson
Houseplants
Here's a houseplant you definitely won't kill: how to to care for and propagate sansevieria, or snake plant
Sansevieria, or the snake plant, is an almost indestructible houseplant that is creeping out of the shadows to take centre stage. Illustration Patrick Morgan
How to propagate houseplants - an easy and cheap guide to growing your houseplant collection
Expert house growers Maddie and Alice Bailey explain how to propagate your houseplants using stem cuttings
How to repot your plants - watch our guide to repotting houseplants to make sure your indoor plants are happy
Our simple and easy-to-follow guide on how and when to repot your houseplants from experts Alice and Maddie Bailey from Forest London
Gardens Illustrated 's Podcasts
Recipes
HOME COOKED RECIPES WITH NATURAL INGREDIENTS
Dandelion flower honey
Beth Al Rikabi shares her recipe for dandelion flower honey, a sweet syrup that can be spread on toast, drizzled on pancakes or stirred into a summer gin fizz cocktail
We've found one of the lowest calorie wine on the market - and it's on offer for Mother's Day
Home made Pesto using any green leaves
Home made pesto is delicious stirred through pasta for a quick meal and this easy recipe takes just 10 minutes to make and can be made using any green leaves, such as Swiss card, kale or rocket. Photograph Andrew Montgomery
How to make delicious cherry blossom jam for spring delight
Beth Al Rikabi shares her recipe for cherry blossom jam, which has a delicate, almondy flavour
Container Gardening
pots of style for your garden
An easy way to bring colour and style to your spring garden with this vibrant flower pot recipe
James Horner, garden maker at Benton End, the one-time home of the artist and plantsman Cedric Morris, suggests this colourful arrangement to celebrate spring
Spring beauty in a pot: a stunning plant pot design you can plant up at home from designer Jo Thompson
Award-winning designer Jo Thompson's container-planting series continues with this early spring flower combination using Narcissus and Scilla. Words Jo Thompson, photographs Jason Ingram
A succulent pot houseplant display for winter
Find out how to create this stylish houseplant display using unusual succulents.
Created by head gardener Benjamin William Pope. Photographs Andrew Montgomery
Arthur Parkinson's favourite cut flowers to grow in pots
Arthur Parkinson reveals his 9 top blooms to grow for cut flowers, all of which do well in his creative container gardens. Photographs: Jason Ingram
Inspiring Gardens
THE BEST OF THE WORLD'S OUTDOOR SPACES
I’ve been collecting trees and shrubs for 50 years and these are the best for stunning spring blossom
For more than 50 years, Maurice Foster has been amassing
a collection of woody plants in his garden at White House Farm, which has grown into a precious horticultural resource
Fresh shoots: the new generation of plant nurseries injecting fresh hope into British gardens
Several specialist nurseries have recently closed, but there is hope that a host of enthusiastic newcomers can bring renewed life and vision to the industry.
You have to see this amazing new garden around a romantic castle on the shores of Loch Ness
Designer Tom Stuart-Smith has created two exciting new gardens around a romantic castle on the shores of Loch Ness.
This secret garden of London’s Brutalist icon is open to all 24 hours, and the perfect example of a successful public planting scheme
As a new phase of planting begins, Professor Nigel Dunnett looks at how the iconic public gardens he created at The Barbican Estate in London have evolved over the past decade
This season in the garden
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GARDENING NOW
Gardening jobs for April
As spring gets into full swing, are you on top of your garden? Kitchen garden expert Aaron Bertelsen and head gardener Ben Pope focus on monthly gardening jobs in the kitchen garden and beyond.
What to plant and sow in April in the garden for perfect veg and dazzling displays all year
Discover which flowers and vegetables to plant in April with the help of head gardener Benjamin Pope and kitchen gardener Aaron Bertselsen
These are the flowers you need to make your garden shine this month: the best flowers for April
Fresh, white flowers and arresting foliage feature among expert plantsman Keith Wiley’s choices this month along with a hybrid form of one of his favourite plants.
Do this to your climbing rose now, to make sure it behaves this summer: expert tips from a head gardener
Daunted by pruning a climbing rose? Follow our expert guide on training climbing roses from head gardener Jenny Barnes
Gardens to visit
which gardens to visit and where
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.
A festival for tulips? Here are the festivals around the world celebrating the arrival of the beautiful spring flower
Discover some of the best tulip festivals to visit for a colourful start to spring. From Amsterdam to London, find a festival near you.
Stunning spots for a spring garden visit: gardens to visit that will look lovely in April
Plantsman Keith Wiley recommends the best gardens to visit in April to see plants at their best.
Garden design
THE BEST OF THE WORLD'S OUTDOOR SPACES
Ashamed of your front garden? Fix it up fast with our expert guide and real garden inspiration
Designer Charlotte Harris offers inspiration and advice on making the most of the small awkward space outside your front door
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
You can have a sustainable garden that's also beautiful - here's how to design stylish ecological gardens
Charlotte Harris explains how to design gardens that are ecological and beautiful in her expert guide to sustainable garden design
Discover the biodiverse, brilliant and beautiful garden that features on Monty Don's British Gardens this week
The garden of designer Nigel Dunnett, who worked on the planting at the Olympic Park, is brimming with a harmonious and joyful mix of naturalistic and biodiverse planting.
How to design a garden on a slope: inspiration for your sloping garden
Creating a garden on a sloping site brings a host of challenges, but, says designer Charlotte Harris, with careful planning it is also an opportunity to make a really interesting space.
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
Gardening Advice
WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT
How to build a natural swimming pond in your garden
Discover tips on how to build a natural swimming pool or pond in your garden, from expert designer Will Tomson
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.
Gardening Kit
OUR PICK OF THE BEST GARDENING TOOLS AND ACCESSORIES
Work out what type of soil you have with these great soil testers for the garden
We discover the best soil pH testers for the soil in your garden, from digital and analogue probes to pH strip testing kits
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 peony plant supports and cages for perfectly poised peonies in 2025
Peonies are beautiful, but often top heavy, and prone to drooping. Avoid your peonies sagging by using peony supports which will keep the flowers up and visible for as long as possible
Reviewed: best flower subscription and delivery services for 2025
Don't just surprise them with ONE bunch of flowers. Why not show how much you love them all year long?
The best folding saws for coppicing and pruning jobs this season
Save space when cutting branches and shrubs with our picks of the best folding saws.
Brilliant bird tables for all types of garden birds
Welcome more birds into your garden this winter with a stylish and sturdy bird table.