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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

These days we're all more aware of the benefits of eating seasonally. Not only do fruit and vegetables taste better when grown in season, but they're also often cheaper to buy. Eating seasonally is ...

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 ...

House plants fill your home with greenery and flowers, adding impact to every room. There's a huge variety to choose from, whether you're looking for bright flowers, height or dramatic foliage.

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 ...

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 ...

Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is an attractive, low-maintenance subshrub with silvery-grey foliage and tall stems of lavender-purple flowers from late summer to early autumn. From a distance ...

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 ...

Mimosa tree (Acacia dealbata) is a fast-growing, evergreen tree, with fern-like leaves and bright yellow flowers that resemble fluffy balls, and have a strong fragrance. In the UK it grows to a ...