Plenty of vegetable and flower seeds can be sown in the UK in December. Some can be sown outside, direct in the ground, while others need to be sown in a heated propagator indoors. Young plants of ...

There are more than 300 willow species to choose from, with features including ornamental stems and attractive grey-green foliage, along with the wonderful catkins (known as pussy willow) that some ...

When designing a garden it can be difficult to know where to begin. How do you assess the space, draw up a plan, start planting? And what about paths, boundaries, seating and screens? Whether you're ...

House plants in the office can help to reduce stress levels, increase concentration and therefore productivity, and generally make the office a nicer environment to work in. The types of house plant ...

Duckweed is a common pond weed, visible as masses of tiny, rounded green leaves that float on the surface of ponds and other bodies of still, nutrient-rich water, including in water butts. The ...

Flowering shrubs can bring a wonderful display of colour to the garden, whatever the time of year. In addition to their eye-catching blooms, they also provide height and structure, and are often ...

The avocado, Persea americana, bears delicious fruits packed with healthy fats. In the right conditions, trees can reach heights of up to 20m, but they're unlikely to grow so well in the UK. Avocados ...

The traditional lawn is becoming less favourable now that droughts are more common as the effects of climate change intensify. On drought-prone, free-draining soil, lawn grass turns brown when under ...

Take an elephant garlic bulb and divide it into cloves. Plant each clove into well-prepared, weed-free soil, with its pointed end up, 10-15cm deep. Space the cloves 20-30cm apart so they have plenty ...

Out of sight, below the ground, the soil teems with life. Much of the living mass of soils is made up of fungi, which form extensive underground networks, working in partnership with plants and ...

Star jasmine (also sometimes known as Chinese jasmine), Trachelospermum jasminoides, is a beautifully scented, evergreen climber. Perfect for growing up a warm wall, or a fence, it's slow growing ...

Plants require a range of nutrients for healthy growth. These nutrients occur naturally in the soil and can also be added in the form of fertilisers, to boost growth rates, performance, and crop ...