Decorating homes with holly and ivy has always been part of Britain’s winter traditions. The Pagans used them primarily to ward off evil and bring hope and good fortune. But…
Gardening
Fabulous ferns
Lush ferny foliage can bring low-maintenance splendour to shade, and when mass-planted will allow you to transform an otherwise drab area into a leafy, tranquil paradise where you can sit,…
Your bamboo zen garden
Bamboo can be relied on to add texture and colour to an evergreen planting scheme and wind filtering through the stiff canes makes a gentle rustling sound, which in urban…
Putting down new roots – moving house with your plants
Make an inventory Include photos of everything you are going to take with you, including fixtures and features like a bench, ornaments, pots, greenhouse and shed, so that there are…
How to give the illusion of a big garden
Depth illusion Use plants with warm colours, such as yellow and orange, at the front of the garden and those with lighter or cooler shades, such as blue, green and…
Spruce up your garden lawn
If you are looking at your miserable, post-winter, weather-beaten lawn and thinking that perhaps you should replace it with paving, think again. This solution might be a low-maintenance alternative but…
Your Garden: Flowers, plants and ponds
It’s clear that Women’s Weekly readers love spending time outside. And after flicking through all of these glorious backyard photographs we’ve been sent, we’re certain you’ll agree that our community…
How to maintain your garden pond
Over the last century, nearly 70% of garden ponds have been lost from the UK countryside, meaning that man-made garden ponds have an increased importance for wildlife. A well-planted garden…
Collect, save and sow seeds
Saving and swapping seeds isn’t just a brilliant way of saving money on creating a great garden, but it’ll also open it up to whole new avenues of possibility. Seeds…
How to start a permaculture garden
The term permaculture is big news in gardening at the moment. But what on earth is it? You could describe it as self-sufficiency with knobs on. Not only is it…
Pick a royal rose fit for a queen
Not only has the rose been the national flower of England since Tudor times, but many new varieties have been produced to commemorate key events over our current Queen’s…
The best garden borders for you
The style and atmosphere of a garden is created as much by the boundary that you choose to wrap around it as by the lawn, garden borders and sitting areas…
The beauty of a beach garden
To make your beach garden lush and colourful you need to look for plants with tough or waxy leaves or hairy foliage to block salty winds. Slim grassy leaves and…
Why you should have your own herb garden
A herb garden filled with herbs must be some of the hardest-working plants around. Not only do they look good and smell wonderful, they bring bees and other useful insects…
What to do in the garden in November
Get out in the garden in November and prepare your garden for winter – follow our expert tips and advice to make a gardening to-do list. Read our guide now…
Gardening and health: The mental benefits
Whether you love smelling sweetly scented lilacs and freesias in the warmer months or prefer to see bright red berries growing on your holly bush during the winter, it’s almost…
Garden Guide: A month-by-month plan
We take you through our yearly garden guide that will help you with tips on what to do in your garden in month. Read the guide now...
What to do in the garden in October
There is plenty to do in your garden in October – follow our expert tips and advice to make a gardening to-do list. Read our guide now…
What to do in the garden in September
We take you through our expert tips and advice on what to do in the garden in September. Read our guide today and get started right away!
How to grow lavender successfully
I’m sure that when the Romans packed sprigs of lavender (their favourite deodorant) into their toiletry bags before they crossed stormy seas to invade Britain, they wouldn’t have imagined that,…