CATEGORIES
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