Garden design solutions
Recommended plants and design inspiration for compact plots
15 stylish fruit cages for keeping your produce protected
A fruit cage is a practical and stylish way to protect your fruit and vegetables. We've selected 15 different fruit cages to keep birds and other pests at bay, so you can choose the right design for your garden.
17 timelessly elegant Victorian greenhouses and porch glasshouses for 2024
Check out our shortlist of the most stylish luxury glasshouses, Victorian-style greenhouses and top-end glasshouses with porches to transform your garden and growing possibilities in 2024
What is soil? You may think you know, but there's a lot going on under your feet
Think of your garden soil as a living organism that needs gentle handling and you will reap the benefits in healthier plants, urges no-dig gardening expert Charles Dowding
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 grow a sustainable garden
Growing a sustainable garden that stands the test of time is key to a flourishing ecosystem and a garden that lasts, says designer Marian Boswall
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
Sunken garden inspiration and how to make one
A sunken garden can provide privacy and a new perspective for planting. Here designer James Alexander-Sinclair lists five key design elements to consider when planning to build your own sunken garden.
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
How to | Revitalise your hedge
Want to avoid ripping out an old hedge that's got leggy and patchy? Here's what designer Sue Townsend did in a garden with wild planting and an old yew hedge
Inspiring natural ponds and swimming pools for your garden dip
Ideas for adding a natural pond or swimming pool to your garden, whatever its size and inspiration for hard landscaping materials
Garden path ideas: how to make a garden path
Paths are not just a means of getting around – they can knit areas of the garden together and are as much a part of the overall design as any other feature. Designers James Alexander-Sinclair, Andrew Wilson and Arne Maynard offer solution
How are gardeners adapting to climate change?
We asked head gardeners at National Trust properties in the UK how climate change was affecting the work they did and how they were planning for the future
Inspiring ways to screen your garden and create boundaries you love
The edges of your garden can offer much-wanted privacy. Designers Annie Guilfoyle and Andrew Wilson explain what you need to know and the different screening options.
Creating a private garden
Tips from designer Ula Maria's award-winning garden, which was transported to her father's small garden plot in Northampton
What is a garden consultant – and should you employ one?
Many horticulture professionals are now offering garden consulting services. Could your garden benefit from their help?
Box caterpillar: 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.
Expert tips for designing a meadow
Garden designer James Alexander-Sinclair gives his advice and tips on how to include a meadow in your garden
Garden paving ideas
When choosing hard landscaping for paths and patios, says Andrew Wilson, it’s important to pick the right material and lay it properly
How to design your garden
Award-winning designer Annie Guilfoyle explains everything you need to know before you start to design your outdoor space
How to plan a dry garden plus plant combinations
Spanish designer Fernando Martos explains why he combines the beauty of Spain's arid landscape with English planting ideas in his dry garden designs. If we're considering climate change, his approach could be a useful one for us to take note of
Tips for planting in a dry climate
In western Spain, a mix of drought-tolerant plants and careful design has allowed this garden to flourish, despite its extreme weather. With hot, dry weather a possible norm for our summers, take note of these tips for designing in a dry climate. Words Noel Kingsbury, photographs Claire Takacs
Saving water in garden design
Harvesting and storing rainwater run-off, as well as recycling household water, can help gardeners cope with drought, writes garden designer Andrew Wilson
Box blight: how to spot and treat box blight
Box blight can weaken box plants and make them look unsightly. Here's how to treat it – and prevent it.