CATEGORIES

Ask John Negus

John has been answering reader queries for 49 years

The Right Way To Use A Chainsaw

Using a chainsaw can be safe and simple if you follow the rules.

Ask Anne!

Anne Swithinbank’s masterclass on: Christmas trees

A Merry Little Clematis

This clematis may have a festive name, but its background is more sun-baked. Toby contemplates a Christmas miracle

Bumblebee Medicine

Scientists have found that chemicals in Calluna heather can protect bees against a harmful parasite, says Val

Green Up Your Home With Hero Houseplants

When it comes to indoor growing, the options are endless, and care is easier than you may think. Sally Jenner suggests surefire survivors and more adventurous picks

How To Grow... Winter-Flowering Clematis

These iconic delicate bloomers transform fences, trellises and pergolas with profuse flowers in colder months. Anne explains how to aim even higher with clematis

25 Easy Ways To Be A Better Gardener In 2020

Whether you’re an old hand or a newcomer, make sure you get the most from your plot in the coming year with Graham Clarke’s pointers

How To Ensure Your Christmas Tree Survives The Festivities

Ruth explains how to ensure your tree survives the festivities

How To Grow...Hellebores

Long blooming, low maintenance and pest-free, the Lenten rose is a delightful seasonal mainstay. Anne Swithinbank explains how you can grow these pretty perennials

Surviving The Cold

Most of us think of cacti and succulents as houseplants that can’t survive outside in winter, but Tamsin Westhorpe reveals a few that can – under certain conditions

Get Interest And Colour With Winter Stems

As we head into the coldest season, interest comes courtesy of plants that bare all. Anna Toeman gives a rundown of the stems that really make a statement

Winter Structure With Evergreens

With their glossy leaves, interesting colours, textures and shapes, evergreens are essential at any time of year but never more so than in winter, says Sally Jenner

Divide And Rule With Flowering Hedges

Why settle for a functional fence when you can beautify boundaries – and attract wildlife – with the brilliant blooms of a floriferous hedge, says Graham Clarke

Woodland Whispers

Are chemical messages being pumped out by an ailing ash tree, asks Val, to encourage dormant seeds to grow?

Will There Ever Be A Blue Rose?

Charles Quest-Ritson, author of Royal Horticultural Society’s Encyclopedia of Roses, ponders the question which has taxed rose breeders for years…

How To Grow... Hostas

If you want great groundcover, hostas are ideal. Anne Swithinbank looks at some of the varieties available, from miniatures to giants, and how to deal with slugs and snails

For Fabulous Fragrance Plant A Mahonia

When it comes to scent in the winter garden mahonias are ahead by a nose, but which options are best suited to an average-sized plot? Hazel Sillver can help you to decide

Best Composting Practice

Some products claim to help composting, but basic ways are best, says Tim Rumball

Add Some Colour With Cool Containers

Nothing lifts flagging spirits quite like a perfectly positioned pot that’s filled with evergreens and winter flowers. Hazel Sillver conjurs up some ideas to inspire…

A Question Of Colour

We love the colours of autumn, but why do many native trees fail to deliver intense hues? Toby has the answer

Don't be bamboozled by bamboo

Would you like a bamboo in your garden, but are worried that it might get out of control? Martyn Cox considers the best to choose for your garden

Dahlias and hellebores

Pack away or prepare for flowering, as Ruth explains

Tubers in the tropics

While his exotics are a seasonal hit, there’s still work to be done between the palms as Toby tackles his dahlia tubers

Cheer Up Grey Days With Instant November Colour

Whether you favour fiery flowers, bold berries – or a bit of both – Sally Charrett has cheerful options for a brighter garden in no time, as well as tips to keep the cost down

LOG IN TO MUSHROOMS

If you fancy having a go at growing mushrooms, get yourself a log, says Wendy Pillar, and ensure a steady supply of tasty fungi for years to come

THE GREEN TEAM -DREAM TEAM

Gardening can be a therapeutic and relaxing activity but a charity in Goole, East Yorkshire has taken this to the next level, using horticulture to help people turn their lives around. Emily Collins spoke to The Green Team to find out how they use gardening to give people a second chance.

Growing LIGHTING 101

In this extract from Leslie F Halleck’s book, Plant Parenting, find out how you can use artificial lights to get a head start with seedlings and cuttings

TIME TO TURN OVER AN OLD LEAF

Autumn is marked by dramatic change as the natural world sheds its summer cloak. Make the most of this leafy abundance by collecting what you can to make your own lovely leafmould. Benedict Vanheems will get you raking

A WALLED GARDEN

Gardening writer Janice Hopper heads north of the border to Caithness to take a tour of the Castle of Mey and its beautiful walled garden