The ultimate roof garden 05.17.2013
	Take inspiration from the one of the most exciting garden clubs in the world to spruce up your roof garden.

	The ultimate roof garden 05.17.2013
	Take inspiration from the one of the most exciting garden clubs in the world to spruce up your roof garden

	The perfect plant for... a dark corner 05.17.2013
	Every garden has a dank little area that gets hardly any light. But there are certain plants that will thrive in darkness.

	What to do in the garden this week: re-pot your herbs 05.14.2013
	Helen Yemm's useful garden to-do list. This week: split and re-pot your herbs, and feed agapanthus.

	Thorny problems: do we need to feed plants? 05.13.2013
	Helen Yemm solves readers' gardening problems. This week: fertiliser best practice and replacing roses.

	Thorny problems: do we need to use fertiliser? 05.13.2013
	Helen Yemm solves readers' gardening problems. This week: fertiliser best practice and replacing roses.

	Best of the beans: how to grow beans in your garden 05.08.2013
	Add some delicious and plentiful beans to your veg patch this summer.

	What to do in the garden this week: trim your lawn edge 05.07.2013
	Helen Yemm's gardening tips for the week ahead. This week: create a neat lawn edge and watch out for scarlet lily beetles.

	How to turn your garden into a hedgehog haven 05.07.2013
	It's Hedgehog Awareness Week, so gardeners should do what they can to help these vulnerable animals.

	Thorny problems: why is my yew tree struggling? 05.06.2013
	Helen Yemm solves your gardening problems. This week: saving a yew tree and the latest news on neonicotinoids.

	RHS diary: what to do in the garden in May 05.01.2013
	The RHS's guide to gardening in May, including tips on beating a cold spring.

	Thorny problems: what plants grow well in shade? 04.29.2013
	Helen Yemm tackles readers' gardening problems. This week: growing flax and shade-loving plants.

	Gardening highlights at the Hay Festival 04.28.2013
	The 2013 Telegraph Hay Festival has plenty to offer gardeners, from Monty Don to a talk on the hanging gardens of Babylon.

	Super bowls: how to create a delicious organic salad 04.25.2013
	Guided by her 'rule of five' and some careful seasonal sowing, Sarah Raven turns a humble sideshow salad into the main event.

	What to do in the garden this week: feed fruit plants 04.23.2013
	Top tips for gardeners. This week: feed soft fruit plants and get out your pruning equipment.

	Thorny problems: how can we deter deer from our garden? 04.22.2013
	Helen Yemm solves your gardening woes. This week: a deer invasion and a mystery spring shrub.

	Monty Don on the world's best gardening tools 04.22.2013
	The Gardeners' World presenter on his favourite gardening tools

	Pests to watch out for this spring 04.18.2013
	The start to the growing season has been slow and unpredictable, but warmer temperatures mean pests are back. Here are a few to watch for.

	Slugs: they're back - leaving a trail of slime and devastation 04.18.2013
	It's possible to see the good in many garden pests - but there's absolutely nothing to be said for the slug, says Amanda Craig

	How to make your own compost 04.17.2013
	Ken Thompson looks at the best way to cook your home waste into top quality plant food

	Why box blight isn't the end of your hedge 04.16.2013
	Bunny Guinness used to think that hedges infected with box blight had to be removed, but after some sage advice she has revised her stance.

	What to do in the garden this week: check for slugs 04.16.2013
	This week, keep an eye out for slugs and stir your compost, says Helen Yemm.

	Thorny problems: what's the best plant for a big pot? 04.15.2013
	Helen Yemm answers your gardening questions. This week: a statement plant for a big pot and whether it's safe to plant shamrocks.

	Helen Yemm: why today I garden in pyjamas, not my nightie 04.08.2013
	Helen Yemm has updated her first book of gardening tips - and updated her nightwear for the occasion.

	RHS diary: what to do in the garden in April 04.04.2013
	The Royal Horticultural Society's tips and advice for gardeners in April.

	Nicky Haslam's garden designs: bringing the inside out 05.13.2013
	Designer Nicky Haslam blurs the lines between interior and exterior in his gardens, so visitors can enjoy the best of both worlds.

	Piet Oudolf rocks Glastonbury 05.13.2013
	Tickets to see the headline act of the horticultural world, Piet Oudolf, at Glastonbury have sold like hot cakes.

	Arne Maynard's garden at Allt-y-Bela 05.10.2013
	After 10 years of formality in Lincolnshire, the award-winning garden designer Arne Maynard has taken on a more relaxed project in Monmouthshire

	Make your garden a haven for wildlife 04.30.2013
	It is the birds, bees and butterflies that bring movement and interest to our gardens, so we need to plant with them in mind, says Francine Raymond.

	We all have a little of the garden hermit inside us 04.29.2013
	You think hermits are nothing but relics of gardens past? Think again.

	Trematon Castle: a gorgeous garden in the making 04.29.2013
	Turning the grounds of former Norman castle Trematon into a fine garden took a fair amount of determination.

	Hotbed of ingredients: spicy plants to grow in the garden 04.23.2013
	Ginger, chilli and horseradish from the garden add a fiery kick to your meals.

	When's the right time to start sowing? 04.21.2013
	Gardeners divide into those who don't sow until late April and those who can't wait to start, says Mary Keen.

	Raymond Blanc: 'I was a gardener long before I cooked' 04.19.2013
	Chef Raymond Blanc is launching a competition to design a new heritage garden at his flagship restaurant.

	Competition: win a gardening design course worth £1,600 04.16.2013
	Tell us about your favourite garden and you could win a place on a distance-learning garden design course worth £1,600.

	Thank the Victorians for woodland gardens and alpine plants 04.14.2013
	The Victorians were pioneers in bringing back woodland and alpine plants from their travels abroad, says Stephen Lacey.

	Gardening Against the Odds: the awards ceremony 2013 04.12.2013
	Alan Titchmarsh was among those who gathered for the Gardening Against the Odds awards ceremony last week.

	Gardening Against the Odds awards ceremony: in pics 04.12.2013
	Pictures from this year's Gardening Against the Odds awards ceremony.

	Volunteers needed to count snakeshead fritillaries 04.09.2013
	A nature reserve is asking for volunteers to count rare wildflower the snakeshead fritillary, in order to help its research.

	Give your garden a lift with an arch or pergola 04.09.2013
	There's nothing like a pergola or other arched structure to create fresh perspective in your garden.

	Go potty for primulas 04.04.2013
	Tired of waiting for spring? Create a splash of colour with pots of primulas, says Sarah Raven.

	How to get hens to hatch eggs 03.28.2013
	Want to increase your flock of chickens? Buy some fertile eggs and encourage your hens to hatch them.

	Princess Royal plants last of 6m Diamond Jubilee trees 03.27.2013
	Princesss Royal plants final tree in Diamond Jubilee project that saw more than 12,000 acres of new woodland created.

	Make a beautiful fruit cage for your garden 03.27.2013
	A fruit cage is not only an excellent place to grow fruit, it can provide a beautiful focal point in your garden.

	Using crocks to help containers drain? A potty idea 03.24.2013
	Putting crocks at the bottom of a container can do more damage than good, says Ken Thompson.

	How to make teeny tiny container gardens 03.20.2013
	Short on space? Use cake stands, colanders and even eggshells to create tiny gardens for your home.

	Britons 'invest £80 billion' in gardens 03.18.2013
	Survey finds that average garden has had £1,790 worth of investment, with two-fifths of Britons saying they would not buy a property without a garden.

	The ins and outs of opening your garden to the public 03.15.2013
	There's more to putting on a successful garden event than just mowing the lawn.

	'The Good Life' tapped into our gardening dreams 03.05.2013
	The self-sufficiency ideal instilled in us by 'The Good Life' is a powerful epitaph for Richard Briers, and it continues to strike a chord.

	Three beautiful flower arrangements for your table 03.01.2013
	These simple flower arrangements will make sure your table always looks fantastic.

	RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2013: the Laurent Perrier garden 05.18.2013
	The fabled champagne house's display is partly inspired by the Loire Valley and gardens in the south of France, according its designer Ulf Nordfjell.

	RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2013 : The fringe 'is street fashion to the Flower Show's haute couture' 05.18.2013
	Tim Richardson, founder of the Chelsea Fringe, reveals the inspiration and ethos behind the budding companion festival to the Chelsea Flower Show.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: gardeners' nightmares 05.17.2013
	RHS Chelsea with Bunny Guinness

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: The Telegraph garden takes shape 05.14.2013
	Garden designer Christopher Bradley-Hole surveys the construction of his garden for the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show, which opens this weekend in London.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013 diary: from Koyto to SW3, how the charred wood cladding was created 05.07.2013
	Christopher Bradley-Hole's design for The Telegraph garden features walls clad in charred oak. Joiner Tom Sims explains how he adapted an ancient Japanese technique for blackening the timber to produce a shimmering charcoal effect.

	Birdsong for beginners: the most common bird calls in British gardens 04.24.2013
	Want to brush up on your birdsong? Here are the calls of some of the most common birds in British gardens.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: I will shake up garden ideas, says designer 04.22.2013
	RHS Chelsea garden designer Christopher Bradley-Hole is reaching out of his comfort zone to challenge "sameness" of recent Chelsea show gardens.

	Nurseries forced to dump millions of pounds of plants due to cold weather 04.12.2013
	Gemma Neech from West Kington Nurseries admits that sales of plants have been hit hard by the cold weather and many are simply being thrown away.

	Children help Michelle Obama plant White House vegetable garden 04.05.2013
	First Lady Michelle Obama is assisted by green-fingered students as she plants lettuce and other crops in the White House garden for spring.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: Meet the Telegraph garden designer 03.22.2013
	Designer of this year's Telegraph Chelsea Flower Show Garden, Christopher Bradley-Hole, explains what inspires his creativity.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013 diary: selecting oak for The Telegraph garden 03.22.2013
	Work is under way to source materials for The Telegraph's Chelsea Flower Show 2013 garden and designer Christopher Bradley-Hole has travelled to Herefordshire to select the oak that will be used in the colonnade.

	RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2013: Christopher Bradley-Hole's iconic Telegraph garden from 1997 02.15.2013
	This year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show Telegraph designer Christopher Bradley-Hole reminisces on the Latin Garden he created in 1997, which won the Telegraph's first ever best in show.

	Kew Gardens Orchids festival time-lapse video 02.08.2013
	A time-lapse video shows preparations for the orchid festival at London's Kew Gardens, which runs until March 3.

	Nomadic Romanian beekeepers get EU money and the honey 11.16.2012
	British beekeepers are increasingly frustrated by lack of EU funds.

	Dior Couture autumn/winter 2012: the making of the set 07.13.2012
	A million flowers, a team of nimble fingers working round the clock, and the most breathtakingly beautiful set for a couture show is born.

	RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012: 'It's such a big team effort', says Sarah Price 05.22.2012
	Sarah Price, designer of this year's Telegraph garden at the Chelsea Flower Show pays tribute to all the people who helped her win a gold medal at the event.

	RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012: Cleve West wins Best in Show for second year running 05.22.2012
	An "overwhelmed" Cleve West thanks his team for helping him win Best in Show at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show - a dream that was almost swept away in a warehouse flood just weeks earlier.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2012: The finished Telegraph Garden 05.21.2012
	Sarah's garden for The Telegraph is inspired by her memories of childhood holidays in the English countryside.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2012: Sarah Raven highlights the 'femininity' of the Telegraph Garden 05.21.2012
	The gardener, writer and television presenter Sarah Raven appauds the soft, atmospheric, femininity of the Telegraph Garden.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2012: Sir Derek Jacobi praises the 'simplicity' of the Telegraph Garden 05.21.2012
	Sir Derek Jacobi, the star of I Claudius and Brother Cadfael, says the Telegraph's wild garden is just going to get better and better as it grows.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2012: Julian Fellowes admits to lacking a green thumb 05.21.2012
	The Downton Abbey creator Lord Julian Fellowes confesses to a fondness for a romantic wilderness because "it gives you an excuse not to do any gardening".

	RHS Chelsea 2012: the Laurent-Perrier Bicentenary garden by Arne Maynard 05.18.2012
	Garden designer Arne Maynard is back at Chelsea after a 12-year absence, doing what he does best: elegant planting that also creates structure.

	RHS Chelsea 2012: Sarah Price's Telegraph garden takes shape 05.18.2012
	Chelsea garden designer Sarah Price talks about the trials of creating a show garden, the rare orchid 'Lady's Slipper', found in only one part of Lancashire, and how she's had to learn to be bossy.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2012: How to create a wild flower garden 05.14.2012
	The designer of the Telegraph's Chelsea Flower Show entry for 2012, Sarah Price, offers some tips on the basic components of a meadow garden along the same lines of the one she'll be displaying at this year's show.

	Telegraph designer Sarah Price prepares for Chelsea Flower show 2012 05.11.2012
	It's a battle against the weather for The Telegraph Chelsea Flower Show designer Sarah Price as she assesses which of her wild flowers will be ready on time.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: report from the showground 05.19.2013
	The Telegraph's gardening editor Joanna Fortnam reports from the hive of activity that is the Chelsea Flower Show, ahead of its opening tomorrow.

	William and Kate gnomes signal a first for the Chelsea Flower Show 05.19.2013
	Gnomes are set to appear at the Chelsea Flower Show for the first time ever, having been cast in the shape of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: a closer look at the Telegraph garden 05.18.2013
	Taking inspiration from the Zen gardens of Japan, Christopher Bradley-Hole's Chelsea garden conjures the clearings and enclosures that shape our countryside.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: first glimpses of the show gardens 05.18.2013
	First pictures of the show gardens from this year's Chelsea Flower Show.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: a preview of the gardens 05.18.2013
	Bunny Guinness enjoyed a sneak preview of the Chelsea Flower Show this week. Here, she picks out the show gardens worth making time to see.

	RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2013: the Laurent Perrier garden 05.18.2013
	The fabled champagne house's display is partly inspired by the Loire Valley and gardens in the south of France, according its designer Ulf Nordfjell.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: two-year-old Fringe grows in confidence 05.18.2013
	The Chelsea Fringe offers 150 walks, talks and happenings. Ed Cumming picks the best.

	RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2013 : The fringe 'is street fashion to the Flower Show's haute couture' 05.18.2013
	Tim Richardson, founder of the Chelsea Fringe, reveals the inspiration and ethos behind the budding companion festival to the Chelsea Flower Show.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: Where to eat and drink 05.17.2013
	Tired of bacon sandwiches from a van and over-priced Pimm's? This guide to Chelsea restaurants will let you eat in style away from the chaos of the showground.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: 100 years of plant fever 05.17.2013
	Gardening fashions and the way we shop have changed, but the British passion for plant buying has gone from strength to strength with every Chelsea Flower Show.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: the contenders for best show garden 05.17.2013
	Next week marks the 100th RHS Chelsea Flower Show, where 15 show gardens are set to dazzle. Tim Richardson assesses their chances.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: gardeners' nightmares 05.17.2013
	RHS Chelsea with Bunny Guinness

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: preparations underway 05.17.2013
	Quirky and colourful pictures of preparations for the Chelsea Flower Show.

	My space: Roger Platts, horticulturalist 05.17.2013
	Horticulturalist Roger Platts reveals the glasshouse in his nursery where his Chelsea plants grew.

	Chelsea 2013: Roger Platts, horticulturalist, "my space" 05.17.2013
	Horticulturalist Roger Platts reveals the glasshouse in his nursery where his Chelsea plants grew

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: Prince Harry visits Sentebale garden 05.17.2013
	Prince Harry has made an unexpected visit to his charity Sentebale's garden at the Chelsea Flower Show.

	Chelsea Flower Show: 100 years in pictures 05.17.2013
	Next week marks the Chelsea Flower Show's 100th anniversary. Take a trip back to its earliest years.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: how to get there 05.16.2013
	Directions, public transport information, bike racks and parking restrictions for visitors to the Chelsea Flower Show 2013.

	Beth Chatto: 'It was exciting that they didn't throw me out' 05.16.2013
	Beth Chatto remembers preparing for her first Chelsea Flower Show, in 1976

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: meet the first-time designers 05.16.2013
	In a year with a particular focus on bringing new talent to Chelsea, Ambra Edwards talks to some of the most exciting first-timers.

	Chelsea Flower Show at 100: 'What's amazing is how little it has changed' 05.16.2013
	As Chelsea prepares to mark it's centenary year, Gardening columnist Tim Richardson takes a trip down memory lane in a unique audio slideshow.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: 100 years of royal approval 05.16.2013
	The Chelsea Flower Show has benefited for over a century from the Royal family's love of gardens, says Matthew Dennison.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: rare orchid Lady's Slipper to be shown 05.15.2013
	The rarest orchid in Britain is to go on display at next week's Chelsea Flower Show.

	How garden improvements can boost the value of your property 05.15.2013
	Charlotte Beugge explains why a hot tub could help your home to sell - but a swimming pool might not.

	Prince Harry's Chelsea garden 'symbolises loss of his mother' 05.14.2013
	Prince Harry's garden at the Chelsea Flower Show will reflect the experience of losing his mother, says designer.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: first glimpses of the show gardens 05.18.2013
	First pictures of the show gardens from this year's Chelsea Flower Show.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: preparations underway 05.17.2013
	Quirky and colourful pictures of preparations for the Chelsea Flower Show.

	Chelsea Flower Show: 100 years in pictures 05.17.2013
	Next week marks the Chelsea Flower Show's 100th anniversary. Take a trip back to its earliest years.

	International Garden Photographer of the Year: monochrome winners and finalists 05.16.2013
	Striking pictures from the International Garden Photographer of the Year's monochrome category.

	10 poisonous mushrooms to watch out for in Britain 05.13.2013
	Foragers beware: not all British mushrooms are safe to eat.

	Rory McEwen's botanical art goes on display 05.10.2013
	Pictures from a new exhibition on Rory McEwen, the most influential botanical artist of his generation.

	Spectacular floral designs by Preston Bailey 04.30.2013
	In pictures: Preston Bailey's extravagant floral creations.

	The best gardens to see rhododendrons 04.26.2013
	The best gardens to admire beautiful blooming rhododendrons.

	Spring finally blossoms: in pics 04.26.2013
	Beautiful pictures of trees blossoming around the world, from Japan's cherry blossoms to magnolias in Germany.

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: Plant of the Centenary shortlist 04.26.2013
	To mark Chelsea's centenary, the RHS is trying to find the greatest plant of the past hundred years.

	Chelsea Flower show 2013: Plant of the Centenary shortlist 04.26.2013
	To mark the Chelsea Flower Show centenary, the RHS is trying to find the greatest plant of the past hundred years.

	Preparations for the Harrogate Spring Flower Show 04.24.2013
	Finishing touches being added to hundreds of floral displays and gardens ahead of the annual Harrogate Spring Flower Show, which opens on Thursday, April 25

	Preparations for the Harrogate Spring Flower Show. 04.24.2013
	The finishing touches were being added to hundreds of floral displays and gardens ahead of the annual Harrogate Spring Flower Show, which opens on Thursday, April 25. The show, considered to be the "Chelsea of the North", runs until Sunday, April 28.

	Royal and high society wedding flowers through the ages 04.22.2013
	How have the wedding flowers of society's crème de la crème changed over the decades?

	Chelsea Flower Show 2013: 30 glorious new plants on show 04.15.2013
	30 of the best new plants which will be showcased at this year's Chelsea Flower Show.

	Gardening Against the Odds awards ceremony: in pics 04.12.2013
	Pictures from this year's Gardening Against the Odds awards ceremony.

	Marrakesh's most beautiful gardens 04.10.2013
	Angelica Gray, author of a new book of Marrakesh's gardens, picks 10 of her favourites.

	The best spring flowers and plants to attract bees 04.09.2013
	Want to attract more bees to your garden? These plants will be a magnet in springtime.

	Beautiful royal gardens 04.08.2013
	Breathtaking gardens at properties owned by the Royal family, past and present.

	Dig for victory: vegetable growing during WWII in pics 04.03.2013
	During the Second World War, millions of tons of vegetables were grown in gardens and allotments.

	The best robotic lawnmowers 04.01.2013
	Jean Vernon chooses her favourite automatic lawnmowers.

	The best Easter egg hunts in beautiful gardens 03.28.2013
	Let the children go searching for eggs while you admire the flowers at these Easter garden events.

	Amazing British mazes 03.27.2013
	Take a tour of some of Britain's most impressive mazes. Just don't get lost...

	Top 10: evil plants from films 03.26.2013
	From triffids to carnivorous vines: some of the most villainous vegetation to ever appear on screen.

	London's best secret gardens 03.20.2013
	Skip Kew and head to one of London's lesser-known gardens, all open to the public.

	Gardens roll out new attractions to entice visitors 05.07.2013
	Visitor numbers to gardens sank dramatically last year. Now, owners are offering everything from chilli festivals to open air opera to lure people in.

	The best gardens to see rhododendrons 04.26.2013
	The best gardens to admire beautiful blooming rhododendrons.

	Gorgeous gardens to visit on the Isle of Wight 04.11.2013
	Osborne House is best-known, but the Isle of Wight has more to offer green-fingered visitors.

	Marrakesh's most beautiful gardens 04.10.2013
	Angelica Gray, author of a new book of Marrakesh's gardens, picks 10 of her favourites.

	Beautiful royal gardens 04.08.2013
	Breathtaking gardens at properties owned by the Royal family, past and present.

	UNESCO heritage status sought for Singapore's Botanic Gardens 04.04.2013
	Singapore is campaigning to have its Botanic Gardens declared a UNESCO world heritage site.

	Is Wales the new Sussex for gardeners? 03.30.2013
	Gardening types, lured by rural peace and affordable prices, are heading west.

	Hortillonnages: sail away to Amiens's historic floating gardens 03.28.2013
	The hortillonnages of Amiens are a unique example of the relationship between nature and man.

	Amazing British mazes 03.27.2013
	Take a tour of some of Britain's most impressive mazes. Just don't get lost...

	Dalemain House wins Garden of the Year 2013 03.22.2013
	Dalemain House & Gardens in Cumbria has won the Garden of the Year Award 2013.

	London's best secret gardens 03.20.2013
	Skip Kew and head to one of London's lesser-known gardens, all open to the public.

	Birmingham opens first new park for 130 years 03.15.2013
	The first major new park opens in Birmingham since the Victorian period.

	Heavenly hellebores from the garden of Juliet Davis 03.06.2013
	Amateur gardener Juliet Davis has a garden filled with beautiful hellebores which she breeds herself.

	Dubai Miracle Garden: The world's biggest natural flower garden 02.27.2013
	Dubai claims another accolade by opening the world's biggest natural flower garden.

	Spring arrives at Salutation, a garden inspired by Gertrude Jekyll 02.27.2013
	The Salutation's grounds, created by the architect Edward Lutyens and inspired by Gertrude Jekyll, are a delight of delicate spring flowers.

	'War of the roses' erupts amongst floral committee 02.22.2013
	A "war of the roses" has broken out amongst a floral committee in a sleepy Devon town.

	Civil war of the roses erupts amongst floral committee 02.22.2013
	A "war of the roses" has broken out amongst a floral committee in a sleepy Devon town - culminating in the police being called over a greenhouse stand-off.

	Twelve wonderful writers' gardens to visit 02.19.2013
	Some of the most fascinating writers' gardens in Britain open to the public.

	Beautiful camellias at the Chiswick House Camellia Festival 02.18.2013
	Take a look at the astonishing camellias on show at the Chiswick House Camellia Festival.

	The best places to see snowdrops in 2013 02.18.2013
	Where to admire snowdrops in 2013, with one-off events and longer festivities.

	Competition: win a Sir Peter Blake camellia picture 02.15.2013
	To celebrate the Chiswick House Camellia Festival 2013, one lucky Telegraph reader can win a signed print of a Sir Peter Blake camellia watercolour.

	Chelsea Flower Show: the modernist garden that changed everything 02.15.2013
	The designer of the Telegraph's groundbreaking 1997 Chelsea Flower Show garden is back.

	National Botanic Garden of Wales allows pet dogs for first time 02.14.2013
	National Botanic Garden of Wales is among a number of gardens trialling opening to dogs.

	Orchids at Kew Gardens: an extravaganza of tropical colour 02.07.2013
	A huge display of colourful exotic orchids on show at Kew Gardens.

	The National Trust's gardens need to move with the times 02.06.2013
	The National Trust suffers from trying to preserve its gardens in a timewarp, says Tim Richardson.

	Hampton Court Flower Show 2012: The gardens in pictures 07.05.2012
	A look at the efforts in the Show Gardens, World of Gardens, Low Cost High Impact Gardens and Conceptual Gardens categories at Hampton Court Flower Show 2012.

	Hampton Court Flower Show 2012: The Summer Gardens 07.05.2012
	The Summer Garden category at Hampton Court Flower Show 2012.

	Hampton Court Flower Show 2012: Meet the designers 07.03.2012
	Whether inspired by austerity, exotic lands or the July 7 bombings, Hampton Court Flower Show 2012 designers are creating gardens to provoke and enthral.

	The RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2012 in pictures 07.02.2012
	The RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2012 in pictures.

	London 2012 events: this week's best things to do in London, from Greenwich comedy to Traction Festival 07.02.2012
	John O' Ceallaigh selects the best lifestyle, culture and free events taking place in London this week.

	London 2012 events: this week's best things to do in London 07.02.2012
	John O' Ceallaigh selects the best lifestyle, culture and free events taking place in London this week.

	Hampton Court Flower Show 2012: shop 'til you drop with Jean Vernon 07.02.2012
	Jean Vernon lifts the gloom with some garden retail therapy at Hampton Court Flower Show 2012.

	Hampton Court Flower Show 2012: shop 'til you drop 07.02.2012
	Jean Vernon lifts the gloom with some garden retail therapy at Hampton Court Flower Show 2012.

	Hampton Court Flower Show 2012: Highlights for plant-hunters 06.30.2012
	Val Bourne previews the nurseries and the plants she'll be checking out at this year's show.

	Hampton Court Flower Show 2012: New arrivals in the rose hall of fame 06.28.2012
	Don't miss this year's stunners in the Rose Marquee at Hampton Court Flower Show.

	How to get to Hampton Court Flower Show 2012: travel info and site map 06.28.2012
	Plan your visit to Hampton Court Flower Show 2012 with our round-up of travel information, a site map and ticket prices.

	Hampton Court Flower Show 2012: it's heaven for children 06.28.2012
	Unlike Chelsea, its seriously grown-up sister, the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show keeps children happy too, with funky gardens, fairies and face painting.

	Hampton Court Flower Show 2011 in pictures 07.08.2011
	We look at pictures from the winning gardens at the Hampton Court Flower Show 2011

	Hampton Court Flower Show 2011: Find your way around 07.06.2011
	How to find your way and make the most of your day beside the Thames at Hampton Court Flower Show 2011

	Hampton Court Flower Show 2011: The best roses 07.05.2011
	Val Bourne sniffs out the choicest new roses and other plants making their debut at the show

	Hampton Court Flower Show: Bargains to take home 07.04.2011
	Jean Vernon finds the must-haves at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2011

	Three great buys from the Hampton Court Flower Show 2011 07.04.2011
	We suggest three must-have buys for your garden from this year's Hampton Court Flower Show

	Hampton Court Flower Show 2011: Alice in Wonderland in the Rose Marquee 07.04.2011
	The surreal quirkiness of 'Alice in Wonderland' has infiltrated the Rose Marquee at the Hampton Court Flower Show 2011

	Hampton Court Flower Show 2011: Is a sense of meaning vital to a good garden? 07.04.2011
	With the start of Hampton Court Flower Show 2011 Tim Richardson asks whether a sense of meaning is vital to a good garden

	Hampton Court Flower Show 2010: Eats shoots and leaves 07.01.2011
	Telegraph View: The new art of gardening is to weave together the ornamental and the edible.

	Hampton Court Flower Show 2011: Why We Care About Chalk Streams show garden 07.01.2011
	Fiona Stephen's show garden at this year's Hampton Court Flower Show attempts to recreate the magic of a chalk stream

	Hampton Court Flower Show 2011: Vestra Wealth's Gray's Garden show garden 07.01.2011
	Paul Martin's show garden at this year's Hampton Court Flower Show is inspired by modernist designer Eileen Gray

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	Hampton Court Flower Show 2011: Literary landscapes 07.01.2011
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Farewell but not for long! 10.01.2010

Hello all It's been some time since we last updated this blog but it was for a good reason. We have pooled all the best of BBC gardening into one new blog! The BBC Gardening Blog launched at the beginning of October 2010. We hope you'll be as pleased as us to know that our regular bloggers will include Alys Fowler from Gardeners' World, Jim McColl from the Beechgrove Garden, and Bob Flowerdew from Gardeners' Question Time. The time has come to bid farewell to the Gardeners' World blog. Why not head on over to the new gardening blog? We hope to see you there! Saima

January 2010 01.12.2010

As a new gardening year arrives along with the most snow we've seen for 30 years, I've begun to realize that the challenges of being Greenacre's new garden manager are more than simply juggling camera crews and compost.As with all gardens in this weather, Greenacre has been very quiet, in fact there are more fox tracks than human tracks in the snow - though it's nice to be reminded of the life in the garden when all of the plants are hidden by a huge frozen blanket. I am beginning to associate Greenacre with snow as when we started here (11 months ago) it snowed for the first 10 days! Here's hoping it starts to clear soon so we can get back out there working the ground ready for the coming seasons! There's always work to be done here - even in these conditions: cleaning around the greenhouses; tidying the shed; checking over the condition of all the tools as well as, crucially, knocking the snow from laden branches of trees, hedges and other plants. At Greenacre the Chusan palm looked a lot happier once he had been unloaded of snow! Badly affected plants are usually evergreens such as conifers; especially those grown for their column-like shape such as Irish yew, but most plants appreciate having heavy snow shaken off. This is, of course, our first full winter at Greenacre and we are still getting to know our new home and neighbours. We have a resident fox who digs his way in under the fence and in the warmer months spends his nights sitting in different plants (particular favourites were the cosmos and the dahlias); there is also a badger sett not far away and of course the rooks, who most nights circle over the garden when the sun begins to set. Gardeners' World will be back on the 5th March. In the meantime, I'll be busy with the new polytunnel, propagating as many plants as possible from seed to stock the beds and borders here at Greenacre. From fruit and vegetables to perennials and bedding plants hopefully we'll have room for them all!

Decisions, decisions 12.09.2009

Decisions, decisions. At the moment I'm in rather a quandary. I'm contemplating digging up half of my now nicely matured garden and turning it over to a few choice edibles. By choice I mean ones that are right there when you need them, outside the back door that you can pick and as eat fresh as you like. I'm thinking herbs, salads, dwarf beans, carrots, perpetual spinach, tomatoes and then maybe use the fences for some climbing peas and the like. Possibly some fruit in containers such as blueberries and strawberries? So what's the dilemma you may ask? Well I've spent the last seven years pretty much sticking to my master plan and getting this garden looking good. The problem is that the allotment is great for larger crops, but I can't just nip up there for a handful of herbs and salads on an evening can I? It's ten bloomin' miles away. To make my 'new initiative' productive and practical, I know I have to lose many of my much loved plants. There's no real space and I can't pussy foot around in between them, sowing seed here and there. The soil's great, the garden is south facing, but can I bring myself to actually do it? I know gardens never sit still. I have the winter to decide. I have the fear. Watch this space and I'll let you know once I know!

It's time to get a polytunnel 11.30.2009

Although the show is off-air for the winter it's business as usual here. I'm still going up to Greenacre every week marking out the new gardens and getting new plants going for next year. My autumn-sown broad beans are looking good and I potted up the spares that weren't planted out into buckets for forcing in the greenhouse which should give us crops by early May. Truth is though, we don't have enough space in there for everything so I've decided it's time to get a polytunnel. I know that they look like simple structures to put up, at least compared to a greenhouse but believe me they're not. Ned, the location manager at Greenacre didn't believe it, but he does now! There are so many parts - each similar but not interchangeable and really confusing instructions. My only advice is get help, and expect to need it for some time. Anyway, after much dismantling, adjusting, swearing and general fiddling about our tunnel is up. The big advantage of a tunnel over a greenhouse is that size is cheap to buy. Once the cost of the hoops and doors have been covered, you can go as large as you like for very little more. And let's face it, who has ever had a greenhouse or polytunnel that isn't brim-full in its first season? There are a few extras worth putting your hand in your pocket for when buying. Thick polythene with good insulation qualities and a four-year guarantee for starters. Ours is 180 microns thick and what's called 'luminescent' so looks opaque from the outside but the light that passes through bounces around making for better growth. Other extras include double doors at both ends - essential to allow air to blow through the tunnel to cool the insides in summer and stop fungal spores settling on plants in winter. Insulation tape to keep the plastic clear of the metal hoops (without it the heat causes the cover to crack) is a must and (a personal preference for me) an anti-drip coating on the plastic so condensation doesn't fall down the back of your neck while potting up plants. At Greenacre, we're using it for all our cuttings and to house tender pots through winter but I've got big plans for spring, starting off all our summer bedding and annual veg in it. If you're thinking of getting one now, I say go for it. It'll bring spring to your plot six weeks early, guarantee crops of salads right through winter and make growing tender veg like peppers, aubergines and toms a breeze. Just make sure you get an extra pair of hands or two to help you put it up!

Bloggy hell 11.16.2009

I can hardly believe that on my birthday I was harvesting Mexican ground cherries. This wonderful warm autumn brought all sorts of surprise extra harvests. Chillies got a chance to turn properly red, seed collecting has been heaven and I have had plenty of autumn lettuces, far beyond their usual quality. But I know that the minute my birthday comes, the temperature will drop. Many lettuces will make it through to December before botrytis or frost gets them as will the hardier stuff such as oriental mustards, Swiss chard, kales and cabbages. However, as they soldier on their flavour will become more intense as the days become colder. By February many of the oriental mustards, such as Giant Red Mustard, becomes so hot that they blow your head off if you eat them raw. At this point it's best to flash cook them; 60 seconds in boiling water or swirl them round a wok of hot oil, just enough to wilt them. Then off the heat as the chemicals that make them hot quickly become bitter if cooked for too long. Drizzle on some groundnut oil and a little soy, perhaps add a little friendly garlic, some toasted sesame seeds, a handful of noodles and you have lunch! Anyhow, I shouldn't be thinking about noodles as I have a small mountain of ground cherries to de-husk and do something with. These are cousins to the larger more common and slightly more sour-tasting tomatillos which definitely need to be cooked. Ground cherries are good enough to eat raw, but their delicious pineapple taste is almost better in a pie or crumble. You can tell when a ground cherry is ripe because the inside is a lovely pale golden orange and the husks are papery. If the inside is still green it will be very sour. I've been experimenting making clafoutis, which is a kind of egg-cooked custard dish where you can use any fruit you like. It's basically eggs, sugar, milk and a little flour. You line the dish with whatever fruit, in my case ground cherries, and pour over the batter and bake in a hot oven for about 20mins. When it puffs up take it out, pour on a little more sugar and place under the grill. You're aiming for a soufflé consistency which is kind of eggy, so if that's not your thing, stick to crumbles. I have to say I was entirely neglectful of the ground cherries. I planted them out towards the end of May and did little all summer other than bemoan the fact that I had misunderstood what ground cherries were, thinking they were just a synonym of tomatillos. They're not, they are a different species, tomatillos are Physalis ixocarpa and Mexican Ground Cherry is Physalis prunosa. They have furrier leaves and smaller fruit, and I think they probably like slightly warmer weather - not that I didn't get a good harvest, they just seem very small.

Design made easy 11.10.2009

My Design Made Easy programme went out on Friday. It was a compilation of my Gardeners' World strand helping Mark and Suzanne redesign and build their already mature garden by breaking it down into manageable pieces and ending up with something that is ultimately greater than the sum of its parts.That's what I think good design is all about. It was interesting to see all of my visits put together into a single programme. It certainly had a makeover feel to it, but as it was executed over a five month period, it was a realistic and achievable thing to do. And it certainly wasn't all about throwing money into a project for a quick solution. I think that a gardens success is down to knowing where you're heading and making sure it works for whoever ultimately lives with it and maintains it. Call it planning, call it looking ahead, call it design, call it practicality, call it whatever you want, but without it I know that creating a garden can become frustrating. I've always been passionate about design and tried to get across that this planning stage is so important in gardening in order to avoid wasted effort and expense, which in turn can lead to a sense of failure. Playing around with ideas on paper is free, but as soon as you start to buy materials and plants it starts to get a little more serious. I hope that I showed how simple and accessible this process can be whether you're thinking of designing a garden from scratch or simply tweaking one you already have.

Autumn is truly here 11.02.2009

November already! I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering where the summer went. I think that late burst of heat fooled me into thinking we'd rewound the clock back to July. But Halloween arrived this weekend and with it, the first autumn storm that stripped the leaves from the trees so there's no denying that autumn is truly here. In my garden in Devon the dahlias and zinnia are starting to look bedraggled but the nerines, which I planted as bulbs back in March are still holding strong. They're Cadillac-pink when they open, about 18in tall and brilliant planted on top of raised beds or next to a warm wall where the drainage is good. N. bowdenii is the hardiest but the larger 'Zeal Giant' has been a revelation. It's usually grown in a greenhouse but I thought I'd take a chance with it outdoors, in the gravelly sun-soaked border next to my greenhouse. Since September, it's been in flower with larger, taller trumpets than the species, up to 60cm high. I love the colour - a stronger cerise-pink which really glows even amongst the serious competition of tangerine coloured zinnia and the raspberry cactus dahlia 'Matilda Huston'. The key to keeping them through the winter is to keep the bulbs on the dry side, so my plan is to cover the died-down clump with a heavy glass cloche to shed the rain and ensure these floral fireworks make a return next autumn.

Tonight's finale and more to come 10.23.2009

Hi All On tonight's action packed finale Toby will be clearing out the summer bedding, transplanting wallflowers and potting up plants for winter. Earlier this year we visited Dean Peckett at RHS Harlow Carr who had planted a fantastic display of tulips and, despite the rainy day, the wonderful varieties cannot fail to inspire you to get planting your own! Hugh Macalister has a particular passion for the native Rowan or Mountain Ash and, last autumn, we went to see him at Ness Botanics where he showed us the wealth of berry colours available in this wonderful tree. Alys will be joined by Colin Crosbie from the RHS and they'll both be giving the low down on the latest tree and shrub planting techniques and Joe will be demonstrating the best methods for sharpening your garden tools. We'll also be revealing the winner of this year's BBC Gardener of the Year. Now even though the main run of Gardeners' World comes to an end tonight we have some exciting shows coming your way over the coming months. Two to watch out for are Women in Gardening, due to air on 27th November and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, due to be aired on 4th December. Women in Gardening with Carol Klein will be looking back at those special women who defied convention in order to follow their passion for horticulture. Her journey includes interviews with some of our most influential gardening figures of the past 50 years including: Beth Chatto, garden writer and designer, Marina Christopher, pioneering nursery woman, Mary Spiller, the first female presenter on Gardeners' World and Inga Grimsby, who was the first woman to be appointed head of the Royal Horticultural Society between 2006 and 2009. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen tells the story of seven disparate gentlemen, brought together for the first time in 1804 above a bookshop in Piccadilly to form a society dedicated to the one and only thing they all agreed on - a love of horticulture. They were all extreme personalities; a domineering aristocrat, a womanising MP and an accused fraudster to name but a few. As individuals they were far more likely to fall out than collaborate but their love of gardening was so strong that together, against all the odds, they formed a society which was to become the most celebrated in the gardening world - The Royal Horticultural Society. That's all from me for this run, enjoy your winter gardening.

Winter prep 10.16.2009

Hi All On tonight's show Toby will be continuing the winter garden preparations at Greenacre and making an underground subterranean vegetable store. He will also be forward planning and creating an ad hoc winter screen for the apricot he planted last week - this is to protect the flowers from frost when it starts to flower in February/March next year.Joe will be providing tips on how to protect tender tropical plants over the winter and we'll be visiting Carol at Glebe Cottage where she'll be showing off the autumnal glow from the foliage of trees and shrubs. Tonight we'll also be showing a clip of the late pumpkin growing enthusiast, Ralph Upton. Ralph had been growing pumpkins for 45 years and had perfected his gourd and squash growing skills into an art form. He was once nick-named The Pumpkin King - a title that I'm sure you'll agree he truly deserved. We'll be visiting a couple who have transformed their Devonshire plot into a grass and restio plantation and we'll be heading to Audley End in Essex for some more traditional tips on fruit and veg storage over the winter. If you'd like a full list of all the techniques and plants featured on tonight's show, please visit our episode guide and if you're looking to start the winter prep in your garden this weekend, here are several tasks that will help you get ahead of yourself for the fast approaching winter months: Clean greenhouse glass to make sure as much light gets in as possible for all overwintering plants. Shorten long growth on any shrubs which might be blasted by autumn/winter gales (shrub roses are the usual victims). Give the lawn a final cut, not too short, then clean and drain the lawnmower before putting it away. Buy all the materials that you are likely to need for winter protection tasks (fleece, wire, vine eyes, pegs etc.) and keep them on standby. Move doubtfully hardy plants, in pots, near to a frost-free greenhouse, porch or light windowsill so that they can be brought in as soon as frost is forecast. Check that all greenhouse supplementary heating is in working order before you have to use it. Invest in a max/min thermometer if you don't have one already. That's all for now, enjoy your gardening weekend.

I am on the hunt for a pumpkin 10.15.2009

My garden is too small for pumpkins, or put another way, they've fallen off the most desirable vegetables to eat list. I went for everything but reasoning that the best spot for pumpkins would be the loss of globe artichokes, cucumbers, Mexican ground cherries, parsnips, kales, sprouting broccolis . . . I think you begin to get the picture. I do love pumpkins and winter squash and now that I am A PROUD OWNER of an allotment they will dutifully be back on the menu (mainly Crown Prince and Uchi Kuri squash), but this year I hankered after greens more. Still I married an American and last year I ambitiously took on Thanksgiving for far too many people (and the list seems to have grown). This means I must find a pumpkin and a good tasty one at that. The latter is really important as I used a very large pumpkin last year and it was so watery that it took two days to strain to the required consistency for pie (I use the recipe from Sophie Grigson 'Eat your Greens'). I might take a controversial route this year and not make pumpkin pie. Partly because although it's good, I don't think it has anything on a good tarte tatin or for that matter a great chocolate tart. No, pumpkin pie is fun and a good excuse for too much whipped cream but the recipe that has stolen my heart this month can be found here. It stole my heart for two reasons: the writing and the wonderful varied recipes... I love this blog and have to admit that I have spent too many hours lost in this tale. I've brought you in near to the beginning of this story with a suitably (if loosely) garden related entry to wet your appetite. If you are easily won over by fantastic photography, butter dripping recipes and a great yarn of love story block out - it is truly all consuming. As for the actual recipe, well it is perfect with a good strong coffee, better still I've found on the allotment between bouts of digging out couch grass (I made it with winter squash first time round). I would dispute that this is a recipe for bread; it's a cake (a cake that is equally as good with some chocolate chips thrown in). It's very easy to make (hence why it's going into this years thanksgiving menu). If it gets a little stale, cook it like toast and slather butter on it. You can also substitute the hazelnuts for walnuts particularly if you're lucky enough to have fresh ones that the squirrels haven't stolen. Oh for those that came here looking for gardening... Most pumpkins and squashes will need to be brought in farily soon, you don't want them to become frosted. You want to leave them on for as long as possible so that the skins can harden naturally. You can tell when the skin is ready as you won't be able to leave an impression with your thumb nail. Cut the fruit with a piece of stem attached either side to the stalk. You do this because it is very easy to damage the stalk and rot set in quickly. Many winter squash and some pumpkins do better for a period of curing. You need to bring them into a warm (20-25 °C) room for two weeks to concentrate the sugars and then store them somewhere cool (7-10 °C), dry and airy. The smaller witner squash such as Uchi Kuri or Hunter will store for three months or more.

A Fruitful Autumn 10.09.2009

On tonight's show Toby will be recommending his top five soft fruits to plant and, for branches laden with fruit next summer, now is the perfect time to start planting. During late autumn and on into the winter you can also buy and plant fruit trees and bushes bare root which is a cheaper option. Toby will also be planting a blackcurrant bush, making it the first addition to the fruit garden at Greenacre. Carol will be sharing her berry bonanza in the garden and hedgerows at Glebe Cottage and Alys will be planting a winter extravaganza in a pot that will thrive throughout the winter months. For Alys's full recipe, as well as detailed information about growing blackcurrants, a plant list, and all the techniques featured on tonight's show, please visit our episode guide. We'll also be meeting the fifth and final finalist for BBC Gardener of the Year 2009 and you will be able to vote for your favourite when the phone lines open at 9pm tonight. If you'd like to watch extended versions of clips of your favourite finalist and their garden, and would like full details of how to vote, please visit our Gardener of the Year pages. Finally, this weekend why not start preparing for the winter months before the first frost sets in. Here are a few gardening jobs that we'd recommend: Start collecting fallen leaves to make leaf mould. If you can wait a couple of years then store them in a compost bin and they will rot down slowly. For speedier leaf mould, shred them first and then store the leaves in perforated black plastic bags. Empty out summer pots of tender bedding and put the spent plants on the compost heap. There's still time to plant spring bulbs and the recent rainfall will have softened the ground enough for the perfect planting conditions. Finish harvesting tender vegetables before the first frosts arrive. That's all for now, enjoy your gardening weekend.

RHS Autumn Harvest Show 10.08.2009

I have to tell you that I'm currently feeling a little nervous. In spring I made a rash decision and decided that I was going to 'grow to show' for a bit of fun and chose to enter some veggies into the RHS Autumn Harvest show in London.Looking back it was a rather crazy idea and unfortunately for me that time has come round far sooner than expected! The show starts next Tuesday.....HELP ME!!! As long as my mentor, the legendary vegetable ninja Charlie Macey thinks mine aren't too embarrassingly bad I shall be showing my onions, dwarf French beans and stump carrots. They have been lovingly tended in my garden all summer long. Over the summer I visited a few vegetable shows and now know just how stiff the competition is. As well as being great characters my competitors are only what can be termed as obsessive perfectionists. Most of them haven't had a summer holiday for years as they wouldn't leave their plants for more than a day. However I can now see how one can get hooked on this life as there is something magical and beautiful about perfect vegetables - not that I can say I've grown any yet, but I have certainly seen some. It's all being filmed as part of my one hour special which will be aired next year I believe, so please wish me luck - I can assure you I'm going to need every single ounce of it!

A touch of the orient and autumn grasses 10.02.2009

On tonight's show Toby is busy bringing colour to the woodland garden at Greenacre, while Alys is looking at bringing colour and spice indoors this winter, by planting up amaryllis bulbs and chop suey greens. You can find details of the techniques and the inspirational gardens visited, featured in this week's episode guide.Meanwhile fresh from Carol's latest plant review at Glebe Cottage here's a list of some of the top autumn grasses: Anemanthele lessoniana Hakonechloa macra 'Japanese forest grass' Miscanthus sinensis 'Chinese silver grass' Miscanthus sinensis 'Flamingo' Miscanthus sinensis 'Malepartus' Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea 'Transparent' Molinia caerulea subsp. caerulea 'Edith Dudszus' Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Redhead' Tonight we'll be revealing the fourth finalist for BBC Gardener of the Year. Next week, after the final finalist is revealed you'll all be able to start voting for your favourite gardener. That's all for now, enjoy your gardening weekend.

Acers and Azaleas 10.02.2009

There's something so lovely about the scent and feel of the soil at this time of year. It's noticeably warmer than the crisp autumn air - no wonder newly planted trees are so keen to root now. After planting 'Osakazuki' in the new woodland garden at Greenacre I feel as though I have what Oprah Winfrey might call 'some closure'. Years ago, I sowed a tray of seeds collected from the maple with the most fiery autumn colour of all; Acer 'Osakazuki'. After a winter out in the cold they sprouted and the following year I potted up the one with the best colour for turning into a bonsai. I even made my own shallow pot drilling holes in the base of a terracotta drip tray, collected moss to cover the roots to create a Japanese woodland floor-look and spent the next five years pruning, training and preening. But no matter how much I mollycoddled, the tips of the leaves always turned an ugly brown. What could possibly be going wrong? I watered with collected rain and misted regularly - I did everything by the book. After the tree gave up the ghost I interviewed a bonsai grower who said that all acers were brilliant for bonsai. When I told him how difficult my 'Osakazuki' seedling was he said "yes - all acers except that one"! Both the newly planted Azaleas and Acers will produce fiery autumn tints at Greenacre. The foliage colour alone will look wonderful but tumbling amongst late season flowers it will look magnificent. So, to keep with the Oriental theme, Japanese anemones will fill out the soil around their roots. To do this I'll need quite a few, but they are the easiest plant to propagate. We don't even need to take cuttings. The pots of plants brought up from Berryfields have rooted into the soil in our nursery beds and the roots if left undisturbed will sprout into new plants in the spring. Brilliant!

Alliums 09.25.2009

My first week filming in the garden, and my first production blog! Claire Johnson, or Dr. Claire as she is affectionately known, is on a course this week, and so I have been parachuted in to fill her rather large wellies. I normally work on the shows, having researched RHS Chelsea, Hampton Court and Tatton for the last two years, and the VT inserts. While it's quite daunting and exciting to work on such a high profile and prestigious show as the Chelsea Flower Show, it is also daunting and exciting to work on the main Gardeners' World programme. Daunting because of its history and pedigree, and exciting because it's the grand-daddy of all gardening television.One of the best things about working on the show this week is that we will be planting one of my favourite genus of flowering bulbs; the ornamental onion or Allium. What superb group they are, giving us such fantastic colour and form from May through to June. Who could imagine Chelsea week without the striking purple globes of Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation' or the fireworks of A. shubertii. Planting alliums in the Prairie border this week at Greenacre, however, required a more modest, almost shy species; Allium cernuum. While it is readily available, it is not as well known as others in its genus, but it is worth growing for its loose nodding umbels of pinky purple flowers. Its native to the North America and grows well in most soils and aspects, and will naturalise when it finds a spot it likes. With its relaxed manner, it will fit nicely into the prairie border, flowering into July. Toby will be planting it alongside Nectaroscordum siculum, which flowers slightly earlier. Closely related to Alliums, Nectaroscordum also have an open head of subtle creamy pink flowers that hang gracefully when open. Toby will be planting them in drifts, following the specific planting theme of the border, for some June interest. For some spring colour and to provide some early Bee grub, Toby will be planting a succession of Alliums in the Bee Border also; A. 'Purple Sensation': appear in summer, showing off rounded heads full of deep violet flowers. These alliums are perfect for a sunny border. It is best to remove the immature seed-heads as the seedlings tend to have paler flowers. (AGM) A. schubertii: real stunner with round flower-heads measuring 30cm (1ft) wide, which resemble the starburst of a firework. The stems that pop out of the inner globe are thought to aid propagation by propelling the seed-heads. Allium cristophii: blockbuster with large purple heads measuring 20cm (8in) wide. These make superb cut flowers and have an almost metallic sheen on the stout stems, which reach knee height. Best placed in the spaces between border perennials to disguise its dying foliage. (AGM). A. sphaerocephalon: small, 2.5cm (1in) wide, pink to reddish-brown drumstick on long wiry stems. The flowers are densely packed and remain in bloom for many weeks. Tonight's programme will also see Joe bringing back some mad colour combinations inspired by Trentham Gardens. Carol enthuses about the gorgeous Rudbeckias and Asters currently filling her Devon garden with colour. And we have a look at contestant number 3 in our Gardener of the year competition. We even have 2 seasonal culinary suggestions to add a little sweetness to your weekend! Growing tips Site and soil preferences Alliums add impact to early summer borders and can be dried for winter decoration. They come in a wonderful range of colours including purple, buttercup yellow, pinks, white and shades of cornflower blue. Alliums are extremely easy to grow, invariably needing a place in full sun right at the front of a border. In the wild, alliums often grow in poor, stony ground and they don't need pampering in the garden. Average soil is fine, but it must be free-draining. Alliums in pots Even gardeners with tiny gardens can grow alliums in containers. Always use a reasonably deep container, especially for larger varieties. Plant at three times the depth of the bulb in well-drained compost (this also applies when planting in the open ground). The container plants will need repotting into fresh compost every year, but you don't need to do any more than this. They shouldn't require extra feeding, either, as long as their foliage is left to die back naturally. This enables them to build up energy for the following year. Like some other bulbs, they're naturally long-lived and survive for years if left undisturbed. With large drumstick alliums, the dying foliage can be disguised behind a few pots of bushy annuals or a clipped box for a more formal look.