Garden design
Inspiration, ideas and everything you need to know about garden design from the gardening experts
How to make a small city garden look huge: this gardener replaced her lawn with a flower-packed paradise
Libby Webb took out the lawn in her Edinburgh garden to create an immersive, plant-packed space that is an inspiration to home gardeners everywhere
Nigel Dunnett’s top tips on using flower form, not colour, when creating dynamic planting designs
In planting design, we often consider colour, says Nigel Dunnett, but the form of flowers can be just as important
Cottage-core style: discover the best plants for a beautiful cottage garden
Looking to create a charming cottage garden feel in your garden? Marcus Eyles picks the plants you need
POV: You’ve inherited an historic English hall with two moats and incredible gardens – now what?
Once home to garden designer Xa Tollemache, Helmingham Hall is now under the care of a new generation of Tollemaches and is as glorious as ever, especially in winter when its bones are laid bare.
Words: Chris Young, Photographs: Richard Bloom
Sworn enemies no more: we should ban the word ‘pest’ and give garden critters a rebrand
We should stop labelling creatures as sworn enemies, argues Cleve West, if we want to ensure our gardens are truly welcoming to wildlife.
What's new?
Kids vs garden? You can have a beautiful family friendly space, says Chelsea Flower Show designer. Here’s how
You can have a nice garden that both you and the kids will love, says Charlotte Harris, if you design smart and think ahead
These 14 things in your garden are giving people the ick: no-nos that top designers and horticulturists would ban
Banished from sight, these are the features, plants, accessories and design choices gardeners including Monty Don, Sarah Raven, Carol Klein and Alan Titchmarsh say they would never allow in their gardens
How to turn your garden into a peaceful sanctuary with top tips from expert designers
Desperately seeking a sense of tranquillity? Discover how to make your garden a space for mindfulness and wellbeing
Are we growing lemon trees instead of apples now? The new climate-change conundrum for gardeners
As our climate changes, gardeners are finding their plant palette is shifting, with some old favourites no longer happy and opportunities to try something new
You are going to need these plant combinations and tips from an expert Spanish designer who knows how to garden in intense heat and no rain
Spanish designer Fernando Martos explains why he combines the beauty of Spain's arid landscape with English planting ideas in his dry garden designs. If we're considering climate change, his approach could be a useful one for us to take note of
Front gardens
Ideas, tricks and inspiration for your front garden from the garden design experts
Parking space vs front garden? It is actually possible to have both
Off-street parking and an attractively planted front garden needn’t be mutually exclusive – there are lots of designs that combine the two.
Ashamed of your front garden? Fix it up fast with our expert guide and real garden inspiration
Designer Charlotte Harris offers inspiration and advice on making the most of the small awkward space outside your front door
6 secret tricks of garden designers to make your garden look and feel better
Good gardens usually reference a few tried and tested design tricks – here's how to incorporate some of them into your own space.
Hard landscaping
Everything you need to know about hard landscaping in the garden
Pimp your greenhouse - from the latest cool tech to the necessities, here are the top accessories for your growing space
Getting a greenhouse is a big deal, but what about everything else that comes with it? Here's our break down of all the greenhouse accessories you need
7 garden design rules you can totally break, and the one you never should
Leading garden designers tell us which tenets of design they love to ignore, the common demands they try to talk clients out of
How to build a natural swimming pond in your garden
Discover tips on how to build a natural swimming pool or pond in your garden, from expert designer Will Tomson
Garden design resources
Our hub of all the design resources you need to make your garden into the garden you want
9 simple fixes to elevate your outdoor space fast (without spending a fortune)
These unbeatable ideas from top gardeners and designers will transform your garden into a stylish, plant-filled haven in no time
Gardening on slopes doesn't have to be a chore: how to turn challenging terrain into garden gold
Sloped gardens offer drama, depth, and beauty. Learn expert design tips to transform challenging terrain into a standout landscape
How to design an accessible garden that can be enjoyed by everyone
Garden designer Charlotte Harris shares her experience in practical design, looking at the details that make a garden more accessible
Small gardens
Small garden design inspiration, ideas and expert advice. Everything you need to know about designing and planting small gardens
This professional designer transformed his own typically long, narrow town garden into an urban oasis
Landscape architect Matt Evans has turned his typically long, narrow, town garden in Bath into a plantsman’s paradise.
Clematis montana aren't always rampant: if you're looking for a small climber, then these less vigorous varieties could be what you need
Although known as vigorous plants, Clematis montana can be also be medium sized or even compact. Here are some recommended varieties from the National Collection at the garden of National Collection holder, Val Le Neville-Parry.
A small city garden that looks good 365 days a year with top designer tips for interest in every season
In making a garden for photographer Alister Thorpe, designer Stefano Marinaz was keen to ensure there would be something worth shooting every day of the year
Soft landscaping
Learn what you need about planting and soft landscaping in the garden from the experts
Want to stop your veg from being munched? Planting these flowers nearby could save it from bugs and slugs
Ever wondered how companion planting might help your vegetables and deter pests? Here expert grower Matthew Biggs breaks down the companion planting myths and explains how the system works
The island bed is back in our gardens, with a chic designer update – here’s how to do it right for beautiful planting this summer
Designer Charlotte Harris reflects on the shift towards organically shaped ‘island’ planting beds, and reveals inside tips on how to get the right effect.
You can have a sustainable garden that's also beautiful - here's how to design stylish ecological gardens
Charlotte Harris explains how to design gardens that are ecological and beautiful in her expert guide to sustainable garden design
Garden design solutions
Recommended plants and design inspiration for compact plots
Here’s how to transform your garden with a water bowl, pond or rill, with inspirational real-life design ideas and safety tips
Designer Charlotte Harris suggests smart, interesting ways to introduce water and use it to completely transform a garden
8 super quick and easy cheats to make your garden look good in time for this weekend
Have friends coming over or got an outdoor event planned? Here are a few simple ideas to swiftly spruce up your garden
Tips on creating a dog-friendly garden, with expert advice from the RHS
Design ideas for a dog-friendly garden from experts at the RHS and Battersea - the dogs and cats home