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How to grow blackberries that are 'consistently plump, reliably sweet and almost laughably juicy'
Blackberries are a gardener's dream, says expert fruit grower Mark Diacono. And while they grow plentifully in the wild, there are vigorous and unfussy domestic varieties than can be even better...
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What to deadhead and what to leave alone
We delve into the Country Life archive to revisit Mark Griffiths's tips on deadheading — and in particular being careful about what you take and what you leave.
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Arthur Parkinson: 'Dahlias don't just give a garden colour — they give it life'
The gardening writer and broadcaster Arthur Parkinson picks some of his favourite dahlias — and revels in the fact that they can be the stars at Chelsea later this year.
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Best poppies to sow in your garden
Spread a little happiness with a sprinkle of poppy seeds. John Hoyland selects the best poppies to grow at home.
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How to make a compost cake
The Land Gardeners — aka Bridget Elworthy and Henrietta Courtauld — share their tips on how to make compost without a compost heap.
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Best strawberries to grow at home, and how to make sure they keep producing fruit all summer
Expert fruit farmer Mark Diacono chooses the best strawberries, picking out varieties which will keep you in fresh strawberries all summer.
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Alan Titchmarsh: The garden blunder that caught me out — and how it's going to cost me than I can admit to my wife
Alan Titchmarsh thought his 'old friends' growing peacefully in their pots would be safe. He was wrong.
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Arthur Parkinson: 'It’s a crime that we have forsaken our wildflower meadows for petrol lawnmowers and Flymos'
The gardener Arthur Parkinson speaks to Country Life about his garden inspirations, keeping chickens and why
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Japanese Quince: The spectacular red flowers that should be on every gardener's to-grow list
Steven Desmond pours praise on the flowers of genus chaenomeles — also known as japonica, or Japanese quince — and explains how to make sure they thrive in your garden.
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Charles-Quest Ritson: 'Gardens are like people — most of them don’t age well'
Charles Quest-Ritson reminisces on his younger days and laments the passing years — not least our shared tendency with gardens to become 'rather seedy in old age, which is when they need constant attention to stay looking good'.
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Umbellifers: The plants with 'bold structure' with soft, frothy flowers that have an ethereal quality
Their frothing flower heads and bold structure give a relaxed country feel to any garden, but John Hoyland — gardens advisor at Glyndebourne — says you must choose umbellifers carefully. Here’s his guide to the best.
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Alan Titchmarsh: 'Their goal is quantity rather than quality; of boastfulness rather than the innate delight in seeing a plant that is loved'
Our columnist takes aim at the plant collectors whose desire to hit bigger numbers overtakes their love of gardening — but he pours praise on the honourable exceptions who manage to balance both impulses.
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Should you mow your lawn?
Monty Don ruffled a few feathers recently when suggesting that we should just let our grass grow as long as it likes. Is he right?
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How to grow your own salad: 'Whether it’s a single-leaf salad or a tumble of colours, no salad is better than the one you grow yourself'
Mark Diacono offers his top tips to sow, grow and cut your own salad and shares his favourite varieties.
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The ultimate guide to planting your own orchard: 'Getting it right is easy; sadly, so is getting it wrong'
Mark Diacono has planted dozens of orchards — he shares his wisdom on how to go about it.
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Alan Titchmarsh: Why I relish the worst jobs in gardening
Alan Titchmarsh admits that it's not just gardening's most challenging tasks, but also its the mundane chores that 'give me a deep sense of pleasure'.
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Noel Kingsbury: How to make a bonfire that doubles as a spectacular natural firework display
Garden designer Noel Kingsbury on the joy of a good bonfire.
