Practical

Four plant combinations to add colour and drama to your summer borders with inspiration from Malverleys head gardener Mat Reese

Keep your hands warm and protected with our pick of the best gloves for gardening

Brighten up your Christmas table with these natural festive arrangements using evergreens and winter-flowering shrubs. Here's two simple examples to make yourself. Words and styling Bea Andrews

Festive ideas and inspiration for stylish Christmas decorations such as baubles and garlands, easily handmade at home using foraged and natural materials from the garden

Make your own outdoor Christmas lights for the garden this year with one of these enchanting designs.

Off-street parking and an attractively planted front garden needn’t be mutually exclusive – there are lots of designs that combine the two.

Design ideas for a dog-friendly garden from experts at the RHS and Battersea - the dogs and cats home

Looking for a garden design course? Here's a selection of the UK's leading garden design schools and details of the training they offer.

Ideas for homemade plant supports using natural materials, to give plants support and protection during the growing season.

Make your garden an avian haven with our pick of the best bird feeders and tables

Expert advice from Andrew Wilson on how to cope with level changes in the garden, with ideas on including steps and ramps with safety and accessibility in mind

As winter approaches, re-stocking your firewood supplies is on the agenda. We choose the best types of firewood, give advice on stacking logs and how to light a fire. Words Louise Allen, photographs Andrew Montgomery

These baubles, made from natural materials gathered from the garden, look lovely hanging off the Christmas tree or from the mantelpiece, but are super easy to make by following our simple steps. Photography Jason Ingram. Styling by Kristy Ramage

A creative way to add some festive charm into the house this Christmas is decorate picture frames and mirrors with a simple garland.

Ivy is one of the best plants to grow in the garden for year-round interest. This natural Christmas decoration celebrates its architectural berries.

Made with moss, berries and flowers foraged from the garden are simple materials that make a big impact when paired together to make a festive chandelier.

In damp places you'll find branches of trees covered with the most magnificent lichen. At Christmas a branch like this, decorated with baubles and ribbon adds a natural touch.

Looking to buy a real Christmas tree this year? Here's our guide on choosing the right species for you – and the three main ways that Christmas trees are grown. Photographs by Christian Barnett

Just because winter is here, it doesn't mean there's nothing to do in the garden. Rosie Fyles, head gardener at Chiswick House, and head gardener Benjamin Pope explain what winter gardening needs to be done

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

Organic vegetable grower, Charles Dowding chooses his favourite vegetables to grow in the garden or allotment in winter and offers his advice for getting the most from your crop. Photography Andrew Montgomery

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

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