Latest From Gardens Illustrated
RHS shows to tour in biggest change to the show system in decades
The RHS has announced that in future, several of the RHS Shows will tour to new locations in Gloucestershire, Yorkshire and Norfolk
Soil health | Why healthy soil is good for the climate
Having healthy soil can help the climate. Here the Land Gardeners, Henrietta Courtauld and Bridget Elworthy, explain how to maintain good soil health. Words Kendra Wilson, photographs Claire Takacs
Manoj Malde: "My guilty gardening secret? Not composting"
In his new book, Your Outdoor Room, designer and TV presenter Manoj Malde aims to equip us all with the tools we need to design a garden that truly meets our needs
A pot planting design to try using edibles in a rustic tin bath for colour from now through the summer
Award-winning designer Jo Thompson offers new container-planting inspiration with an idea for flower combinations for late spring
Boost your garden butterfly numbers by up to 93% without lifting a finger
A study has shown that leaving areas of grass to grow long increases butterfly populations by up to 93 per cent.
Crocus announces it will stop making gardens and growing plants for Chelsea Flower Show
Crocus co-director Mark Fane has revealed that Chelsea 2024 will be the last at which the company build show gardens
Gardens Illustrated 's Editor's choice
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.
Chelsea 2024 | Tickets, information, dates and what's on
Everything you need to know about RHS Chelsea Flower Show tickets and more for 2024
Subscribe to Gardens Illustrated and claim your copy of A Year Full of Flowers by Sarah Raven!
A very special Gardens Illustrated subscription offer! Join us today and get 13 issues for £35*
Gardens Illustrated Special Edition: A Year of Plants - Order today just £12.99*
A Gardens Illustrated Special Edition- A Year of Plants- Order today just £12.99*
Gardens Illustrated events
Gardening events and shows for 2024
All the big names in one place. Here's our guide to the gardening calendar's biggest and best gardening events for the year ahead
Somerset and Bath Contemporary Gardens reader tour
Join us on a four-day tour to some of the best new gardens in the South West, in the company of your host, Sissinghurst head gardener Troy Scott Smith
International garden festivals to visit
Horticulture events from around the world including flower shows and festivals.
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.
Latest garden features and design ideas
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Most butterflies had a great year in 2023, but some didn't. Here's what we should be worried about
The UK's butterfly winners and losers of 2023 have been revealed following the announcement of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme
"They're a massive nuisance" - but here is why you need to make friends with slugs and snails anyway
We asked experts and gardeners how they feel about slugs and snails and whether its realistic to ask gardeners to learn to live with them.
Everything you need to know about tulip fire
Tulip fire is a fungal disease that can affect tulips. Here's how to identify it, and what to do if you find it
Which perennial tulips should you grow for a sustainable border?
Many tulips only flower reliably for one season, but there are many different types that are reliably perennial. We asked bulb growing experts and head gardeners for their recommendations.
Are Bergenias the most hated plant? You need to reconsider these low-maintenance easy-going evergreen spring plants
Elephant’s ears, or bergenias are low-maintenance, easy-going evergreen perennials that will brighten up the early spring garden with their colourful blooms. Words Richard Wilford, photographs Jason Ingram
Hampton Court Flower Show 2024: Tickets, information, dates and what's on
Everything you need to know about RHS Hampton Court Flower Show 2024
The flowers that look lovely in the garden in 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. Photographs Jason Ingram
Best garden plants for now
18 of the best cherry blossom trees and how to prune and care for them
Ornamental Japanese cherry blossom trees are one of the delights of spring, with their clouds of pink or white blooms. Garden writer Val Bourne recommends some of her favourites at Batsford Arboretum. Photographs Lynn Keddie
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.
When to plant summer bulbs and the best to choose for a gloriously colourful garden
Spring is the ideal time to plant summer-flowering bulbs. We asked four experts to recommend their favourites
What is the difference between Spanish and English bluebells?
The experts at Westonbirt Arboretum explain how to spot an English bluebell and a Spanish one
What is box caterpillar, and 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.
The best spring flowers to plant
Looking for inspiration for the best spring flowers? Here's our choice of the most beautiful spring flowers to have in a spring-fuelled garden
Houseplants
Your common house plant problems - solved
House plant expert Sarah Gerrard-Jones identifies the 10 most common house plant problems and explains how to solve them.
Houseplants | How to look after the blue star fern
Ferns sparked the first houseplant craze and are still a great houseplant choice, especially the unfussy Phlebodium aureum. Illustration Agata Wierzbicka
Asparagus fern: Everything you need to know about this ideal house plant
Attractive foliage and a near-indestructible nature make the asparagus fern great indoor companions. Illustration Patrick Morgan
Gardens Illustrated 's Podcasts
Talking Gardens podcast with Arit Anderson
Listen to this episode of Talking Gardens, the Gardens Illustrated podcast, featuring Arit Anderson on why she would love a bluebell meadow and the reason she would never allow leaf blowers in her fantasy space.
Talking Gardens podcast with Tasmin Westhorpe
Listen to this episode of Talking Gardens, the Gardens Illustrated podcast, featuring Tamsin Westhorpe on her dream garden and why she thinks gardening is vital for mental health.
Talking Gardens podcast with Isabel Bannerman
Listen to this episode of Talking Gardens, the Gardens Illustrated podcast, featuring Isabel Bannerman on her dream garden and where she would go in a time machine.
Talking Gardens podcast with Arthur Parkinson
Listen to this episode of Talking Gardens, the Gardens Illustrated podcast, featuring Arthur Parkinson on his dream of a walled garden with orangery, and all manner of plants and birds.
Talking Gardens podcast with Piet Oudolf
Listen to this episode of Talking Gardens, the Gardens Illustrated podcast, featuring Piet Oudolf on the projects that have shaped his career and why he has never had time to dream.
Talking Gardens podcast with Errol Reuben Fernandes
Listen to this episode of Talking Gardens, the Gardens Illustrated podcast, featuring Errol Reuben Fernandes on his fantasy garden and why some garden visitors would be banned from his dream space
Talking Gardens podcast with Marian Boswall
Listen to this episode of Talking Gardens, the Gardens Illustrated podcast, featuring Marian Boswall on her fantasy garden and why the first important ingredient would be love.
Talking Gardens podcast with Nigel Slater
Listen to this episode of Talking Gardens, the Gardens Illustrated podcast, featuring Nigel Slater on his fantasy garden and why fairies and soft serve ice-cream would have to be part of it
Listen | From the archives: Beth Chatto talks to Alan Titchmarsh
In her centenary year, we share a past podcast featuring Alan Titchmarsh talking to Beth Chatto in a public conversation, first aired on her 50th anniversary of being at her iconic Beth Chatto's Gardens
Talking Gardens: Chelsea edition with Harry Holding
Listen to this episode of Talking Gardens, the Gardens Illustrated podcast, featuring designer Harry Holding on his garden for RHS Chelsea Flower Show in the All About Plants category
Recipes
HOME COOKED RECIPES WITH NATURAL INGREDIENTS
Recipe | Hearty sausage stew from Julius Roberts
Chef and smallholder Julius Roberts shares his recipe for a hearty and warming stew with sausage and chard.
Golden beetroot soup recipe
Nutritious and full of flavour; nothing beats a bowl of golden beetroot soup on a cold winter's day. Here's the perfect recipe for how to make it. Recipe from Stephanie Hafferty
Parsnip soup recipe with medlar jam
A tasty recipe for parsnip soup that you can cook over an open fire in your garden. Recipe by Cleve West
A delicious apple and tamarind chutney recipe
Preserving and fermenting home-grown fruit and vegetables is a savvy way of extending the season. If you find yourself with a glut of apples, think ahead and pickle yourself the perfect chutney.
Container Gardening
pots of style for your garden
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
How to grow auriculas and the best to plant
A favourite of the 19th-century Florists’ Societies, auriculas continue to attract enthusiastic collectors and are one of specialities of the Suffolk nursery Woottens. Discover how to care for, propagate and 16 of the best auriculas. Words Mary Keen, photos Richard Bloom
How to grow succulents
Succulents are attractive and versatile, low maintenance plants. Plant expert Andy McIndoe advises on how to grow them, plus the best types to try. Photos by Dianna Jazwinski
A colourful container display using chillies
Jenny Barnes walks us through this container display that prolongs the life of fresh chillies and brings colour and shape indoors
Inspiring Gardens
THE BEST OF THE WORLD'S OUTDOOR SPACES
The English country town where everyone goes completely snowdrop mad each February
The annual Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival in Somerset is the place to be for galanthophiles in February.
Words Lucy Bellamy, photographs Jason Ingram
A designer’s own wild family garden by the ocean in Australia, with eco credentials and colourful planting
In southeastern Australia, a family of four horticulturists has created a dreamy new garden by the ocean, with captivating combinations of native and exotic plants. Words Georgina Reid, images Claire Takacs
What to plant in an edible garden
We talk to vegetable and edible gardening expert Anna Greenland about gardening for flavour. Words Alys Hurn, photographs Jason Ingram
Legendary nurserywoman Elizabeth Strangman's garden showcases her signature hellebores and a wealth of beautiful spring plants
After closing her renowned nursery, Elizabeth Strangman has poured her energies into developing her private garden, which showcases a wealth of plants beginning with her signature hellebores. Photographs Nicky Flint
This season in the garden
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GARDENING NOW
What to plant in April in the garden
Discover which flowers and vegetables to plant in April with the help of head gardener Benjamin Pope
The flowers that look lovely in the garden in 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. Photographs Jason Ingram
Gardening jobs for April
As spring gets into full swing, are you on top of your garden? Kitchen garden expert Aaron Bertelsen writes on how a kitchen garden grows
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.
Gardens to visit
which gardens to visit and where
Forde Abbey: the tulip display that gets better each year
The tulip display at Forde Abbey in Somerset gets bigger and better every year, with later-flowering cultivars intermingling effortlessly with annuals, biennials and perennials to enrich the planting in this progressive historic garden. Words Hannah Gardner, photographs Jason Ingram
Feel like you're on the set of Bridgerton with these Regency gardens to visit
With season three of Bridgerton hitting our screens soon, we’ve rounded up some beautiful regency gardens and landscapes to visit to make you feel as though you’re attending an early nineteenth century garden party
The best campsites with beautiful gardens
From Victorian walled gardens to shaded clearings among wildflowers, we recommend the best campsites in the UK with beautiful gardens to get lost in
Garden design
THE BEST OF THE WORLD'S OUTDOOR SPACES
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
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
Garden ideas on a budget
Charlotte Molesworth, best known for the topiary in her garden at Balmoral Cottage, offers her best ideas for garden ideas on a budget. Words Francine Raymond, photographs Rachel Warne
10 ways to improve your garden
Award-winning garden designer Jinny Blom gives us her 10-point plan for improving any garden.
How do garden landscapers and designers work together?
There’s confusion around what a landscape architect, garden designer and hard landscaper really is. Here Claire Vokins from Wilson | Vokins breaks down the connection
10 garden design mistakes and how to avoid them
We asked ten award-winning garden designers to name the most common design issues they see, and how these problems can be solved
Gardening Advice
WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT
What is box caterpillar, and 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.
Should we be worried about tulip fire?
Tulip fire was bad in spring 2023 - so should we be planting them this autumn? Gardens Illustrated asked expert growers for their advice
How to prune wisteria
Wisteria needs to be pruned twice a year to keep it in good shape and to ensure abundant flowers. Here's how to do it. Photographs by Gavin Kingcome.
Gardening Kit
OUR PICK OF THE BEST GARDENING TOOLS AND ACCESSORIES
Monty Don's blue workwear jacket is a classic. Here are the best look-alikes we've found.
Everyone's going mad for Monty Don's stylish navy chore jacket. Get his look with these timeless alternatives, available across a range of price points.
10 raised bed ideas for 2024: the best planters to elevate your garden
Looking for raised bed ideas for your garden? There's a host of designs out there, from options on legs to those that sit directly on the ground. Here's our comprehensive guide to what's on the market.
The best fence panels you can buy: 8 styles to consider
Frame or surround your garden with these attractive fence panels.
100 best gifts for gardeners in 2023
Here's our selection of fantastic gardening gifts in 2024, tailor-made to suit the gardener in your life.
9 of the best garden pods and offices
Planning a big project for 2024? Make the most of your space outside with the all-new wave of stylish garden pods and practical pop-up offices.
The best garden wheelbarrows
There's a big variety of wheelbarrow designs out there, so take a look at our guide to find the best options for you. We've listed plastic, metal and fabric versions too.