Check your priorities

Crops, pots and anything undercover risks drying out

Dandelion king

The humble dandelion is great for bees, as Val explains

Delphiniums and lupins

Q I love delphiniums and lupins, but seem to have trouble keeping them going. They last for a few years, but then just disappear. I don’t want to give up, so what should I do? Any advice you can give would be most welcome. Maggie Douglas, Shap, Cumbria

Boundaries in bloom

If you want a low-maintenance colourful display in your garden, try climbers, says Tamsin Hope Thomson, as she reveals the best blooms for boundaries to plant now

Bee-box challenge

Bee guardian Val reports on red mason bee box activity

A time for Lilacs

A classic English garden favourite with a sweet, distinctive perfume, the lilac has inspired both poetry and popular song. Anne Swithinbank selects some of the best

Shape up your garden

Plant architectural perennials now to inject borders with drama and structure. Here are some great examples and ideas on where to place them, says Hazel Sillver

Rudbeckia takes top prize

Trials have been an outstanding success, as Peter reveals

Propagating bamboo orchids

Dendrobium or ‘bamboo’ orchids make great indoor plants, and with the right know-how you can propagate your own by following Steve and Val Bradley’s advice

Painting with Perennials

Recreate the soft, romantic ‘chocolate box’ styles of the Victorian era by planting your perennials in a more ‘painterly way’ as suggested by Anne Swithinbank

Liquid feed for free

Nourishing plants with liquid feed is one area where you’ll save a fortune by growing your own treatments, says Bob

Learning To Love Green

Forget the razzle-dazzle of brazen yellows, blazing reds and shocking purples, the colour of sophistication and quiet beauty is green, says Graham Rice

Getting Your Roses Ready

Planting, pruning and feeding are all done now, says Ruth

Back to life…

Val anticipates the joys of newly awakened butterflies

Audacious Artichokes

It’s rare in horticulture that something with strikingly-good architectural looks is also a joy to eat, but artichokes are just that says Camilla Phelps

A day to remember

What a difference a day makes! Toby explains how to capitalise on the extra daylight the spring equinox brings

Getting In The Pink!

There are some great new dianthus to try, says Peter

Perk Up Your Perennials

‘Tis the season of dividing, planting and moving says Ruth

Tough, Adaptable And Lovely... Bergenias

They are good ground-cover, low maintenance, have evergreen leaves, some of which turn to red, and some lovely coloured flowers, says Tamsin Hope Thompson

Houseplant Gift Trends

Tastes change and new varieties last longer, says Peter

Give Dahlias A Head Start

Ruth starts prepping tubers for a long summer of colour

Bulbs To Plant Now!

We’re now seeing the benefits of the bulbs we planted in autumn, but don’t stop there! It’s now time to plant for a fabulous summer says Camilla Phelps

How Can I Get Better Cobs?

A Sowing sweetcorn under cover in mid-April is text-book correct and should have given your plants sufficient time to yield well. This is a frost- tender crop, and shouldn’t be sown outdoors until around mid-May or planted out when likely to be exposed to late frosts. Some cultivars that are treated to ideal conditions will deliver two cobs per plant. However, as with all gardening, there can be pitfalls along the way.

Slugs? Hosta la vista baby!

Hostas are slug magnets aren’t they, so why should we bother growing them at all? Well, there is a bit more to it than that, as Graham Rice explains

Honey traps

Banned chemicals are causing havoc with bees, says Val

Plan for more toms

Follow these simple tomato tips and you’ll be inundated with more tangy fruit than you can handle, promises Bob

Climbing the walls

A troublesome vine gives Toby pause to ponder why what grows up doesn’t always come down quite so easily

Tubers and cuttings

Make more plants for the summer ahead, says Ruth

For Bolder Borders Choose Dahlias

Varied and versatile yet surprisingly easy, colourful dahlias are a must-have flower for the summer garden. Louise Curley unearths the best options for different situations

The Looming Price Of Brexit

Industry leaders talk of added expenses and uncertainty