Expert Gardening Tips

Asters: what they are, which ones to try and how to grow them

These late blooming plants 'promise future spring', making them essential for any garden.

Charles Quest-Ritson: Winter buddlejas, and the plant that might just cover the VAT on your children's school fees

Charles Quest-Ritson on the buddlejas that help see him through the winter — and the plant breeding idea that could help you grow a small fortune.

The garden fruit that's a blend of strawberry, blueberry and kiwi — and it grows beautifully in Britain

The Chilean Guava was Queen Victoria's favourite fruit — so why don't we grow more of them, asks Mark Diacono.

The best bulbs to plant in your gardens, pots and pathways to guarantee floods of colour next Spring

The anticipation of cheerful spring bulbs can keep the gardener going through the dull winter months. John Hoyland advises on what to plant for every situation, from gravel to orchards, sun, shade or in pots.

The spread of Johnny Appleseed: The many many varieties of apple

They grow on our roadsides and most taste pretty ordinary. But some are 'humdingers'.

Alan Titchmarsh's Compost conundrums

No, it's not the name of a new quiz show featuring our columnist as host (although that *would* be a hit, surely) but instead it's Alan Titchmarsh on the increasingly tricky issue of getting the right kind of compost for the right kind of planting.

Alan Titchmarsh: I've been looking for the answer to peat-free compost — and now I think I've found it

Alan Titchmarsh delves into the history of compost, and has finally found something that can replace the brilliant but environmentally unsustainable peat-based formulae.

'A garden should be the cosiest of places, but with some element of awe, menace, and glimpses of the wider landscape'

Isabel Bannerman shares her thoughts on making a garden that makes people feel at home.

Pelargoniums: The flowers that'll make your garden smile

John Hoyland celebrates the renewed popularity of the irrepressibly cheerful pelargonium.

'Try them with pecorino and a cold glass of dryish white wine and feel smug': How to grow your own almonds

Associated with warmer climes than these, you can cheat geography and bask in the sense of glorious impossibility if you choose the right varieties.

When, where and what to plant for the perfect spring bulbs

The anticipation of cheerful spring bulbs can keep the gardener going through the dull winter months. John Hoyland advises on what to plant for every situation, from gravel to orchards, sun, shade or in pots.

It's been raining almost non-stop for 11 months — but one plant has defied the weather

Lavandula x intermedia ‘Phenomenal’ has lived up to its name, defying everything the weather has thrown at it. Kathryn Bradley-Hole writes in praise of this hardy, happy lavender.

Alan Titchmarsh: How many chairs in your garden is too many?

The answer is: you can't have too many.

The small suburban garden: 'It’s not what you’ve got,
it’s what you do with it'

If you know where to look, a tiny suburban garden can yield as much pleasure as views across open countryside, believes Jonathan Notley.

Parasites of pleasure: the plants that live on plants and what to do with them

You might see it as an opportunity to grab a quick kiss at Christmas, but mistletoe is a parasite like any other, points out Charles Quest-Ritson.

'fat, dark and juicy': Every type of blackberry you could ever need and how to plant them

The forager's delight, blackberries are delicious to eat and easy to grow. Here are some varieties that are worth savouring.

The year of the umbellifer: the glorious plant jesters thriving in the summer rain

Perhaps a bit prickly, these plants are loved by bumblebees and make a great splash of colour.

The case of the disappearing dahlias

John Hoyland of the gardens at Glyndebourne on how to plug the gaps of those flowers that didn't make it through the winter.

Alan Titchmarsh: The best flower shows in Britain show exactly where RHS Chelsea gets it wrong

The Chelsea Flower Show might be the most famous in the world — but does it offer the best experience for visitors? Alan Titchmarsh suggests a few others where you might have an even better time.

Charles Quest-Ritson: 'Gardens of supreme botanical importance are being degraded by new owners and changing priorities'

What's in a label? More than you might think, says Charles Quest-Ritson.