Gardeners' Heaven

by Alan Titchmarsh Midwinter isn’t the time you’d usually be thinking of doing some serious plant propagating, but its perfect for tip-layering – an old but effective way of propagating all sorts of cane fruit (blackberries, loganberries etc) and ornamental rubus species such as Rubus thibetanus and ‘Benenden’; also the unusual dual-purpose Japanese wineberry which [...]

by Alan Titchmarsh A good many shrubs that are growing in small gardens right now are really more suited to far larger places, and though they are undoubtedly lovely when first planted – and for several years after – they can in time outgrow their space by a large radius. Now, in many cases over-large [...]

by Alan Titchmarsh When you want masses of colourful pot plants to fill your conservatory or indoor windowsills this season, keep costs down by growing your own – from seed. Nowadays all sorts of popular annual species are available in economical packets, which will produce more than enough for your needs, and probably provide spares [...]

Any mature garden generates a certain amount of woody waste every year, and it needs getting rid of. But prunings can’t be composted, and with bonfires off-limits and trips to the municipal tip costing a fortune in petrol, disposal is becoming a problem. Well, try recycling your twiggy garden rubbish instead. Elderly bamboo plants yield [...]

If anyone needs a crystal ball, it’s a gardener. It would be so much easier to plan for the gardening year ahead if we only knew what the weather will do, which particular pests, diseases or disorders will run riot next season, and which new fashion-trends will emerge. As it is, we can only make [...]

by Alan Titchmarsh Oh, we have a lot to thank plants for – but perhaps more so now than at most times of year. It’s plants, after all, that make Christmas merry. As you knock back a glass of your favourite festive tipple, consider – it’s all thanks to grape vines that you can enjoy [...]

There’s no need to shut yourself away indoors for the winter. Even out of season, there’s nothing like a changing sequence of flowers to tempt you outside to discover what’s looking good today – and since winter flowers are subtle rather than loud, you really do have to walk round to satisfy your curiosity. Witch [...]

When there’s a seasonal lull in routine work round the garden, it’s a good time to catch up on admin. Oh, I know that’s not the sort of advice you’ll find in any gardening book, but believe me it’ll pay you hands down and save you hours of fruitless aggro. Hunt out all the instruction [...]

Cricklade, in Wiltshire, has been named this year’s Champion of Champions at the RHS Britain in Bloom Awards. A record 20 gold medals, along with 36 silver-gilts, 19 silvers and 1 bronze were awarded to the 76 finalist communities, who celebrated at the RHS awards ceremony on 25 September hosted by TV presenter Rachel De [...]