The colour purple

If you love purple, plant it now for decadent, bold borders, says Hazel Sillver, as she explains the best combinations when using this stunning colour in your borders

Watering wisdoms

With pot-grown plants often falling foul of inadequate watering, Bob explains how to think smart with hydration

Time to plant spuds

I aimed to make the most of my limited space says Garry

Tremendous toadflax

With their flax-like foliage and spurred flowers resembling small toads, linaria or toadflax are easy-going, colourful, sun-loving plants

Spring lawn care

Steve and Val Bradley explain how to bring your lawn back to life this spring

Cuckoo land

Val takes a close look at cuckoos and cuckoo flowers

Sow some scented bedding

It’s easy to see why Nicotianas are so popular, says Ruth

Houseplants round-up

Ruth rescues and divides a pot-bound asparagus fern

Creating a wildlife pond

Encourage nature with plants and friendly habitats

A pond for every garden

Water features will bring many benefits

Zingy zinnias!

Popular for borders, pots and as cut flowers, zinnias produce vibrant daisy-like flowers. They are also easy to grow and deserve a spot in any garden, says Graham Rice

This week...Heucheras

Colourful heucheras are ideal for ground cover, containers and even cut flowers

Questions and answers

Val answers two commonly asked gardening questions

We're all rooting for ‘St Valery'

Sow this delicious carrot in pots and the soil, says Ruth

How to plan for perennials

Christopher Lloyd explains how to grow your plants next to others that you think will make good neighbours

Spring shrub pruning

Cut back now for neatness and productivity

Focus on... Runner beans

Few crops are as prolific or as pretty as the keen runner bean. Lucy Chamberlain shows you how to cultivate your own kitchen-garden classic for months of flavour

Plugging the floral gap

Ruth selects some plug plants for her summer display

Don't worry, bee happy

Toby reflects on the nesting habits of leafcutter bees and finds he has something in common with his buzzy visitors

Plants to combat ground elder

Anne Swithinbank's masterclass on: Smothering weeds

Many ways with spuds

Whether you go the traditional route or try no-dig beds or bags, there are lots of ways to grow potatoes, says Bob

Edible gold

Easy to grow and floriferous, pot marigolds fill the garden with colour and the house with fresh flowers throughout summer. And they can be sown now, says Hazel Sillver

A busy Easter in the garden

Chocolate eggs can wait, there's work to do, says Ruth

What can I grow under glass?

Anne Swithinbank's masterclass on: greenhouse crops

This week...Cosmos

Cosmos come in a range of colours and sizes to suit every type of garden

Keeping your clematis contented

Christopher Lloyd reveals how to prune your clematis successfully, looking at the three distinct groups

Raging bulls

Val vows to think more kindly of the bud-eating bullfinch

Small garden, big plants

The best small gardens are those where a few large specimens have been carefully placed, so decide on a theme and get planting, says Anne Swithinbank

Focus on... Growing peas

Harvest perfect pods from June to October with Lucy

Light the lampwick

As well as being drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, phlomis – also known as lampwick – provides architectural impact and nectar for bees, says Hazel Sillver