Urban gardens
Amazing gardens from towns and cities
Behind the scenes with Piet Oudolf – here's how he plants his legendary schemes
Ever wondered how Piet Oudolf plans out and plants up one of his extraordinary landscapes? Rebecca McMackin was there to document each step at the creation of his most recent large-scale scheme, at Calder Gardens in Philadelphia.
The nursery that’s changing the face of Australian gardens
Antique Perennials has always been about introducing exciting plants to Australian gardeners, says co-founder Michael Morant, and now has a vibrant display garden to showcase its wares
Inspiring ideas for eye-catching plant pots that bridge the gap between summer and autumn
James Horner creates three eye-catching displays to bridge the gap between the warmth of late summer and the cooler autumn months
This Surrey garden is a beautiful retreat for the whole family
Tabitha Rigden’s multifunctional design for this suburban family garden offers privacy and versatility as well as planting for biodiversity
A New England garden inspired by some of the world’s most influential designers
Designer Adam Woodruff reflects on his personal garden beside a New England harbour shaped by years of travel, study and thoughtful experimentation.
This casting director transformed her small garden in London into a plant-filled sanctuary for reading scripts
When faced with the challenge of this small, steeply sloping garden, Miria Harris took an unconventional approach to elevate it into a calm and nurturing sanctuary
A tiny garden in London, inspired by Kyoto by Japanese designer Haruko Seki
Haruko Seki’s ingenious design makes use of raised containers and subtle planting to create a sense of stillness, balance and light in a tiny city courtyard.
This sunken city garden has been transformed into an exotic leafy paradise
Exotic evergreen texture and form bring multiple perspectives to a shady, low-level urban garden designed by Declan Buckley
How to make a small city garden look huge: this gardener replaced her lawn with a flower-packed paradise
Libby Webb took out the lawn in her Edinburgh garden to create an immersive, plant-packed space that is an inspiration to home gardeners everywhere
This professional designer transformed his own typically long, narrow town garden into an urban oasis
Landscape architect Matt Evans has turned his typically long, narrow, town garden in Bath into a plantsman’s paradise.
Take a sneak peek around this private seaside garden with its own jetty in the UK’s most expensive area
Helen Elks-Smith’s clever design for a garden overlooking Poole Harbour makes the most of its impressive views and is planted to resist the fierce winds
‘I have become obsessed. I’m always trying new things’ - the maverick Essex gardener who does things his own way
In his experimental garden in south Essex, John Little is prioritising habitat over planting, without compromising on aesthetics
Parking space vs front garden? It is actually possible to have both
Off-street parking and an attractively planted front garden needn’t be mutually exclusive – there are lots of designs that combine the two.
You'll never believe what lies beneath this cottage-style garden in London
Designer Graham Lloyd-Brunt was put to the test when challenged to create a cottage-style potager in the city for his clients to grow the flowers and crops they wanted, but directly over a basement swimming pool
A small city garden that looks good 365 days a year with top designer tips for interest in every season
In making a garden for photographer Alister Thorpe, designer Stefano Marinaz was keen to ensure there would be something worth shooting every day of the year
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
Like Mediterranean gardens? Here are 15 Mediterranean garden ideas to inspire you
Looking for Mediterranean garden inspiration for you own space? We round up some of the most remarkable Mediterranean gardens
This tiny city garden was transformed into a marvellous mini woodland glade with nine trees and designer touches
From a small, square, city plot, Stefano Marinaz has created a luscious, multi-textured garden brimming with interest and life.
A zesty tangerine-coloured roof top garden in London designed by Nigel Dunnett
On the edge of one of London’s busiest roundabouts, Nigel Dunnett has created exciting combinations of drought-tolerant plants for a roof garden that is as unexpected as it is joyful. Words: Natasha Goodfellow, Photographs: Alister Thorpe
A zero waste garden: this space was completely transformed, without sending anything to landfill
Designer Miria Harris gave herself the challenge of a no-skip, zero-waste project, giving away, recycling or reusing everything in this back garden before transforming it into a space her client could love.
Words: Zia Allaway, Photographs: Rachel Warne
From boarded up library to gorgeous community garden: this space in London was transformed by a Chelsea gold-winning designer
A new community garden designed by Sarah Price around
an old library turned arts centre in southeast London is a treasured space for local residents
and garden lovers alike.
This tiny, tranquil city sanctuary garden designed by Harry Holding makes the most of its shady situation
For this small London garden, designer Harry Holding has taken inspiration from the lush textures of tropical forests to create an urban woodland oasis.
Words: Natasha Goodfellow, photographs: Alister Thorpe
A small sloping backyard was given a designer update and is now a beautiful, flower-filled family garden on different levels by Farlam & Chandler
Design duo Farlam & Chandler has transformed a heavily shaded plot into a beautiful, flower-filled family garden
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