If you're shopping for poinsettias this month, make sure you choose one that will last the whole festive season.

In April, prune your poinsettia back to about 10cm, and keep at a temperature of 13°C. In early May, repot your poinsettia ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Indoor plants bring a wealth of colour to the festive season, lending themselves to table displays and other natural decorations, as well as working as part of a standalone display. Outside, Christmas ...

A rockery, or rock garden, is a striking addition to any garden. The purpose of a rockery is to re-create the mountainous environment that Alpine plants grow in, crucially with plenty of sunlight and ...

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 ...

Virginia creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, is a rampant climber. It is typically used to clothe walls of large houses. It bears inconspicuous flowers in summer, followed by small blackberries in ...

Pruning is one the gardeners most common tasks and for the odd bit of trimming and cutting, traditional manual secateurs are great, with loppers taking the strain for more demanding jobs. But, if ...

New to gardening? Browse our list of hints and tips on getting started, sowing, planting and creating wildlife habitats. Gardening is fun and rewarding. What could be nicer than eating food you have ...