CATEGORIES

The Full Monty

As climate change makes temperatures ever more erratic, Monty reflects on how it could be time for big changes in the way we garden and the plants we grow

We love may

Oh blimey, summer is nearly here: sun on our faces and joy in our hearts. I had snoozed off a little and suddenly realised that everything is growing like crazy and the garden, which for the past few months has been quite well behaved, is now flowering and growing and doing its thing with extreme enthusiasm. I would like to think that the universal distress call of \"May Day, May Day\" was inspired by this moment (it wasn't of course: it comes from the French \"m'aidez\", meaning \"help me\". Anyway, let us all shake off the travails of winter, gird our loins and wander into the garden.

Hassle-free harvests

With sowing and planting kicking into high gear, April is the month when everything speeds up on the plot - so follow Jack Wallington's time-saving, efficiency-boosting tips to get ahead of the game

Growing herbs with the experts

Discover how to grow your best-ever herbs this year with the experts at Aweside Farm as they reveal their tips for growing masses of plants for flavour

Tomatoes whatever the weather

Discover how to grow your best-ever outdoor tomatoes with Jack Wallington's expert guide

Propagation made easy

Get top results from your seed-sowing with the first of our propagation masterclasses from Nick Bailey

Thrifty DIY projects

In the latest of our series, Toby Buckland shows how to make the most of old materials in the garden

Flowering house plants: Less bother more blooms

Beautiful, elegant and surprisingly tough, this selection of indoor plants is high on impact but low on effort

Making a garden: A PLACE FOR PLANTS

Good planting combinations give your plot structure and impact and getting them right is easier than it looks

The high climbers

April is the perfect month to plant a clematis. Monty reveals his favourite varieties and shares his growing tips

Container of the month

Treat both your garden and early pollinators with plants to brighten up an area of dappled shade

"Can you imagine being confronted with a plot like this?"

Steep inclines, exposed conditions and a truly remote location were just some of the challenges overcome by the couple behind this glorious 2022 People's Choice award-winning garden

Tales from Titchmarsh

Horticulture is about the craft of growing plants, says Alan, a fact often ignored by those who laud hands-off gardening

Monty's month

The snowdrops at Longmeadow are at their very best in the first two weeks of February.

Chilli growing guide

Once you have sown your seed (turn to p28) and they have germinated, pot up seedlings into small pots (9cm diameter ones are ideal), using multi-purpose peat-free compost with a little fertiliser added

Give wildlife a home

The results of our annual review of garden wildlife* are in, so what's thriving (and not) in the nation's gardens, and what can you do to make a difference? GW Wildlife Editor, Kate Bradbury, reveals all and shares easy wildlife projects to complete this year

Sustainable flower power

Plastic-wrapped air-freighted bouquets can take a heavy toll on the planet. Celestina Robertson offers a greener approach and explains how to grow your own cut flowers in tune with nature

Turn a new leaf

Britain's wind and sunlight are already powering us into anew era, so how can smart meters help us make the most of our home-grown energy?

FINALIST INSPIRATION The garden has been a really great creative thing for me"

Novice gardener and artist Ian Rayer-Smith has turned a blank canvas into this masterpiece of informal and formal design one of our Gardens of the Year finalists

Making a Garden: A PLACE FOR HOMEGROWN

In this second part of the series, Alan Titchmarsh shares his expert tips on how to bring fruit and veg into the heart of your garden

ADAM FROST'S GARDENING FOR HEALTH

A happy head It's becoming increasingly recognised that gardening can boost our mood when we're feeling down, but why? Adam Frost explores the role gardening can play in improving our mental health

Crucial cutbacks

It's time to finish your winter pruning. Monty shares his advice on the key plants to cut back this month and why this is an important job to get done

The Full Monty

It's all too easy to get lost searching for the 'right' horticultural methods, but the real joy of gardening lies in finding your own way, says Monty

Making a garden: a place to inspire

In the first part of his new design series, Alan Titchmarsh shows how to make a garden that's perfect for you

Adam Frost's gardening for health

Keeping fit Want to start 2023 with a new fitness regime, but don't fancy going to the gym? In the second part of his series, Adam Frost looks at how our gardens can help us keep fit

Your Pruning Month

Follow Frances Tophill's pruning advice to prepare your plot for spring's new growth

Tales from Titchmarsh

With the garden aslumber and Christmas cheer all but a memory, now is the perfect moment for some therapeutic winter chores, says Alan

Your wildlife month

January can be a very difficult month, as days are still short and temperatures can plummet. Natural sources of food are in short supply, making life challenging for birds. Keep feeders clean and topped up with calorie-rich foods such as sunflower hearts.

10 great no-cost garden getaways

Taking a thrifty staycation or short-haul break this year? Then be sure to plan in a visit to one of these fantastic, free-entry gardens

Flowering house plants Blooms with staying power

In the second part of our new series, Sarah Gerrard-Jones unveils a range of great-value house plants that will give you flowers for months on end