Purple craze: There’s nothing lovelier than lavender with its heady scent and vivid colour, says Monty Don – and there’s a type to suit every taste Monty Don said lavender colours a mood of gentle refinement and prettiness He said it is long-lasting, ideal for a pot and resistant to almost total neglect Lavender hates … Read more
Potting up your plot: Containers are a delight — but be sure to pick the right type Nigel Colborn shared his advice for planting and setting out summer containers British gardening expert said plants thrive when they’re given plenty of room He said most plants are fine with ordinary flower pots with holes at the … Read more
One thing I’ve learned for certain from a lifetime gardening is to never, ever think that anything will stay the same. On the plus side it means that the same garden, with the same plants, can surprise and delight you year after year. On the minus side it means that things that have reliably performed … Read more
Each year I receive many questions and requests for advice via these pages and yet I’m aware of how few of them actually get addressed every week. I am sorry if you feel neglected but I try, I really do. I sift and select and do my best to represent the most pressing problems that … Read more
My childhood was dominated by the Second World War. I was born ten years after it finished but every adult I knew had lived or fought through it, and every story book, comic and film seemed to be based upon it. The image of plucky, isolated Britain standing alone against the full might of the … Read more
Action plan: Nigel Colborn’s essential jobs for your garden this week Nigel Colborn shared advice for cutting back your autumn-flowering plants The British gardener said there are sound reasons for the early treatment Known as the Chelsea chop, the technique applies to certain perennials By Nigel Colborn for the Daily Mail Published: 22:22 GMT, 26 … Read more
Action plan: Nigel Colborn’s essential jobs for your garden this week Nigel Colborn shared advice for protecting plants from unexpected late frost British gardener recommends covering plants at night if the temperature dips He also answered a question from a reader about their dwarf bearded irises By Nigel Colborn for the Daily Mail Published: 22:16 … Read more
After being inspired by my visits to many Islamic gardens in 2017, I began my own Paradise Garden last spring. I’ve been making it gradually and to a very tight budget but it’s come along and is now ready for the next stage of planting. I have olives, pomegranates, apricots, oranges and lemons growing in … Read more
Tucked away in a sheltered corner of Hampshire, Exbury Gardens is celebrating its centenary this year. This superb garden has some of the best spring colour in Britain; one awestruck visitor described it as ‘heaven with the gates open’. Exbury is the creation of Lionel de Rothschild, who was born into the famous banking family … Read more
Go wild with water: Create your own wetland pond habitat and let nature flourish Nigel Colborn shared advice for maintaining a pond with thriving wildlife British garden expert recommends placing a site in part-shade or sun He says three main plant types are the key to a healthy, clear-water pond By Nigel Colborn for the … Read more
One of my favourite plants is now at its best in my garden. It started flowering early this year and only lasts a few weeks, but it is one of the loveliest, oddest and most exotic of all our native plants. It is the snakeshead fritillary, Fritillaria meleagris. It has nodding bells of flower, each … Read more