CATEGORIES

Pots of joy

Growing in containers is the perfect way to be creative and make the most of every space in your garden, however small. Adam Frost shares his tips on how to grow - almost anything in a pot

2 for 1 Gardens

Join us in celebrating the incredible diversity of the 416 gardens that have joined our 2 for 1 Gardens scheme this year. Visiting a garden is a great way of getting out in nature and gathering gardening inspiration. And there are plenty to choose from, be they national landmarks, hidden gems, fairy-tale castles or horticultural havens. And to get you started, here's our pick of gardens that are new to our scheme this year and perfect for a visit this month.

Making a garden: A PLACE FOR WILDLIFE

Keeping nature at the heart of the garden, Alan Titchmarsh shows how to encourage wildlife in and still have a beautiful outdoor space that you can enjoy, too

Hassle-free harvests

With warmer approaching, spring days and nights May is when seedlings get going and planting outside begins in earnest - follow Jack Wallington's time-saving tips to get growing

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.

Softwood cuttings

Get more plants for free by following Nick Bailey's guide to propagation. This month: softwood cuttings

Flowering house plants Hanging plants

Draped over the edge of shelves or suspended from a curtain pole, trailing plants are ideal for those short on space, says Sarah Gerrard-Jones

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

Thrifty garden style

In the latest of our budget-savvy series, Tom Massey shares design tips that needn't cost the earth

The Top 20 best-value plants

Want a garden that looks a million dollars, but costs a lot less? Hazel Sillver reveals the 20 perennials, shrubs, climbers and trees that work hardest for your money

Mysterious trilliums

If you want an exotic woodland plant that's a great choice for shady spots and wild planting schemes, try planting trilliums

Top Ten Pulmonarias

Pulmonarias are great ground-covering plants that provide beautiful flowers and foliage, says Graham Rice, as he lists his top ten favourites

Ask JOHN NEGUS

John will reply personally to all your gardening questions

Sweetcorn success

Do you want to grow the sweetest sweetcorn? Bob explains how to produce succulent cobs this summer

Layering - part 2

Alan Toogood continues with the techniques of layering, looking at how to propagate strawberries, carnations, house plants, heaths and heathers

Houseplants need attention

It's time to get them ready for summer growth

Grafting tomatoes

Steve and Val Bradley explain how grafting can protect plants from soil-borne diseases

Focus on... Runner beans

If you want a reliable crop for small spaces, runners are prolific, tasty and make great floral displays. Here's how to make sure your beans are a runaway success

Top jobs for the Easter break

Ruth suggests the tasks worth doing this long weekend

Planting a spring container

Use hardy varieties that can withstand cold,

Sow some early sunshine

It is always a joy to start your sunflowers,

Fragrance your garden with Pots of perfume

Fill your patio containers with some sweet-smelling plants and you can really enjoy the scent of summer! Hazel Sillver sniffs out the best combinations

Taking basal cuttings

Q I want to fill gaps by planting large swathes of herbaceous perennials.

Look after garden wildlife

Refresh your pond and create a safe habitat,

Focus on... Asparagus

This gourmet crop is easier to grow than you might think - all you need is patience. Lucy explains how to cultivate plump and tender asparagus spears on your plot

Artistry of nature

Within the bucolic garden of his family farm, Emmanuel de Quillacq has created a contemporary space inspired by the local Flemish art

RANUNCULUS

Ranunculus asiaticus has long been a popular florist's flower, but a number of new garden cultivars can now offer home growers spring colour for the garden and vase

GEMMA JEROME

The director of Building with Nature on the need to put nature at the heart of development, and why we may have to rethink our desire for our own private gardens

Colour magic

In his garden in the Irish village of Kiltegan artist TJ Maher paints with plants, which in mid to late spring means tulips galore

Grass roots

Bio-designer Zena Holloway goes back to basics with her organic sculptures, fashioned from wheatgrass grown at home