Your guide to Perfect Plants

  Gnomes; Goddesses; dragons and dogs - what's the point of garden statues? Surely they perform no useful function? Well, yes... and no. There are three good reasons why you might like to have a statue or few. What's your view - are they useless junk or valuable art? You decide....

Think vertical. It adds a new dimension to your garden If there's one aspect of a garden which is often ignored, it's the vertical. This isn't vital in large gardens where trees and larger structures provide plenty going on in an upwards sense. But in a small space it is...

Are you someone who is able to walk around a gorgeous garden and name just about every plant you see? Or do you find that plant names only get as far as the tip of your tongue and refuse to emerge in a coherent form? Why is it that common...

What can we take home from Chelsea Flower Show? The beautiful gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show are currently taking centre stage. But in just a few days they will be swiftly de-constructed and brushed away. They will leave only memories and indentations in the grounds of the Royal Hospital....

Is there anyone who hasn't yet been affected by Box Blight or any other problems resulting in Buxus becoming sick? You don't have to look very far or particularly hard before noticing that the fungal diseases spreading around Buxus sempervirens is showing no signs of abating. In fact it's unusual to see...

There are at least 8 ways to deal with the chomping, guzzling gastropods that are SLUGS. Some years there are only a few, but other springs and summers there are oodles. It all depends on the weather. Slug and snail eggs need warmth in order to hatch. They also need...

Creepy things that chomp. Six reasons to let them. Creepy crawlies in the garden. What do you do when you see caterpillars chomping away on your beloved plants? Squash them/throw them over into the neighbour's garden? Photograph them? Applaud and show the children? Clearly, nobody wants the cabbage white larvae...

Invasive plants! Avoid these for garden harmony! So many pretty plants. But do you want them in your garden? Some, certainly. Others, definitely not. Plants have many different appealing features and many of these are highly desirable. Beautiful bling on the foliage front, perhaps. Scent to drool over. Flowers that...

  When does the elusive season of spring actually start? Does it happen in the first week of March? It's a question that people ask every year. Especially when there's snow in the air and the garden is freezing. Well, the answer is both yes and maybe. The meteorological calendar...

Growing by the moon. Is it loony? What's your view on the gardening habits of people who decide to plant their seeds according to the phases of the moon? Are these poor souls completely barmy, or is the whole idea actually plain, simple common sense? If you are in tune...

Growing for beginners Fancy trying a bit of growing for the kitchen this year? Here's an easy guide to help you get started. Grow vegetables and fruit - it isn't difficult. Experiment with what fits in with your lifestyle and you'll be guaranteed to have a lot of fun 'having...

Garden plants on acid, and it's all legal! Some plants just love to take a trip on acid. And this is not something that attracts disapproval. In fact there are whole families of plants that are on a permanent high, because that is exactly where they originate from. Rhododendrons, for...