John Hoyland
A former nurseryman, John now spends most of his time nurturing his own garden in the foothills of the French Pyrenees. He is Gardens Adviser to Glyndebourne and currently has gardening projects in the UK, Spain and France.
Recent articles by John Hoyland
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.
Lupins: how to grow and where to plant them
Lupins give spires of dazzling colour in late spring and early summer, and are once more gaining in popularity. Plant expert John Hoyland shares his advice on growing lupins and recommends the best.
Dianthus: how to grow and propagate
Plant expert John Hoyland explains how to grow dianthus, where to plant it and when to take dianthus cuttings.
How to grow salvias - the ultimate guide to growing this versatile and colourful flower and the best types to use
These popular, high-impact summer flowers come in a wide range of forms and colours and are designer favourites as well as magnets for bees and butterflies
The Art of Deadheading
Deadheading means that you're garden will always look its best – and will ensure flowers and nectar for longer. Plant experts John Hoyland and Matthew Biggs explain how to do it.
You've heard of the Chelsea Chop – but what is the Hampton Hack?
Plant experts Matthew Biggs and John Hoyland explain how to do the 'Hampton Hack' technique and highlight the plants that benefit from it.
How to grow alliums and when to plant them
Equally at home in a cottage garden or urban courtyard, stunning in pots and borders, the globe-like flowers of ornamental onions add a welcome dash of early summer drama. Nurseryman John Hoyland is your guide to how to grow alliums, when to plant them, and recommends his favourite varieties.
What is the Chelsea Chop – and what plants should you try it on?
Plant experts Matthew Biggs and John Hoyland explain what the Chelsea chop is, how to do it, and which plants to try it on.
Looking for colour in winter? Hellebores are perfect flowers for the season- here's how to plant, care for and sow them
Plant expert John Hoyland gives advice on planting, sowing and growing hellebores. Plus, the best varieties to grow, recommended by some of our favourite plant experts.
The best winter-flowering clematis
Plant expert John Hoyland recommends 14 of the best winter-flowering clematis to grow in your garden. Photographs by Jason Ingram.
Winter flowers: experts' choice of winter flowering plants
Our panel of experts pick the best winter flowering plants to grow over the colder months to ensure bright blooms add colour and interest in your garden
Cyclamen: how to care for and propagate
Cyclamen are a welcome sight in the colder months when little else is in flower. Plant expert John Hoyland recommends his 12 favourite cyclamen and gives advice on how to care for them. Photographs by Jason Ingram.
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.
Beautiful autumn flowers for the garden: nerines and amarines and how to grow them
Nerines and amarines flower in autumn, when many other flowers have faded. Plant expert John Hoyland advises on how to grow them, and recommends the best varieties to grow.
Beautiful pink, orange, red and white poppies for your garden and how to care for them
The scarlet poppy may be one of the most instantly recognisable flowers, but with more than 70 species of Papaver, in a range of shapes and colours, there’s one for every garden. Plant expert John Hoyland picks the best and gives his growing advice
Hollyhocks: how to grow alcea
Hollyhocks are famously tall and pretty, and if you grow them as annuals, they should stay healthy and strong. Planstman John Hoyland is your guide on how to grow hollyhocks, while John and Becky Crowley both recommend their favourite cultivars. Photographs Torie Chugg and Annaïck Guitteny
The summer-loving plant from South Africa that smells lovely and looks great
New forms of these little-known gems with their dainty, tubular flowers and often delicious scent are at last finding their way into nurseries and gardens – and rightly so. Words John Hoyland. Photographs Jason Ingram.
Get inspiration for intriguing bulbs to plant from this bulb-rich garden for spring created by expert growers
With a passion for collecting bulbs and alpine plants Rod and Jane Leeds have created a garden that is brimming with life and colour in spring. Words John Hoyland, photographs Richard Bloom
Wood anemone is a perfect plant for shady corners and spring displays
Wood anemones are well-suited to shady gardens, and the diversity of plants in the wild has provided rich pickings for enthusiasts. Plant expert John Hoyland picks out the best wood anemones, including Anemone nemorosa, for early-spring displays. Photography by Lynn Keddie.
How to prune buddleia
Plantsman John Hoyland shows how to prune buddleia to achieve a well-shaped, prolifically flowering plant. Photographs by Gavin Kingcome
How to prune apple and pear trees
Plant expert John Hoyland takes us through the simple pruning techniques to ensure apple and pear trees give their best harvest. Photography by Gavin Kingcome
The principles of pruning
An essential gardening skill is pruning. Here's the initial principles of cutting back and pruning to maintain healthy-looking, prolifically flowering or beautifully shaped trees, shrubs and perennials. Words John Hoyland, photographs Gavin Kingcombe
Hamamelis: the best witch hazel to grow
Discover the best varieties of Hamamelis, witch hazel, to plant for colourful winter flowers, with expert advice on how to grow and prune this garden shrub. Words John Hoyland
Ten facts you probably didn't know about poppies
The poppy is widely recognised flower with a fascinating history. Here are ten interesting facts about poppies. Main photo by AnnaÏck Guitteny