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With help from dog lovers and broadcasters Monty Don and Jo Whiley. The news that BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Monty Don will be creating a dog-friendly garden as his debut show garden for next year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show will no doubt prompt fellow dog lovers to...

Blanching, freezing and liquidising will help you cope with gluts. Anyone who grows fruit and vegetables should now be reaping the rewards of their hard labour, as many crops are ready for harvesting. The problem is, how do you store them all - especially if you’re...

Gardens could be part of the solution to the climate and biodiversity crisis. But what are we doing? Disappearing them beneath plastic and paving. In my 20s I lived in Manchester, on the sixth floor of a block of council flats just off the A57, or Mancunian (Mancy)...

As the nesting season gets underway, our wild birds gear up for the hustle and bustle of building nests, finding a regular supply of food and water and, most importantly, bringing the next generation of birds into the world. Now is the perfect time to get your nest...

Move over humble barbecue; it’s time to embrace the full outdoor kitchen setup. It’s the latest must-have for those who take their al fresco entertaining seriously. Whatever your style, we’ve got you covered, from bespoke built-in kitchens to rustic wooden kitchens to...

It’s snowdrop season, when swathes of pint-sized white flowers emerge from frost-laden woodlands, parks, meadows and gardens, brightening up the winter vista. Seeing drifts of the pretty white flowers will shake off the winter blues. If you want to ditch the winter...

From banishing bin juice to blitzing bathrooms, cleaning your home doesn’t have to be laborious. Here is how to keep yours sanitary without losing your sanity. Everyone likes living in a clean home but how can you take the drudgery out of scrubbing? By being smug...

Gardeners can help birds, insects and frogs survive the cooler months with some simple steps, say experts. It may have been a mild autumn, but as soon as temperatures drop, wildlife garden visitors will be looking for places to hunker down for hibernation. Hedgehogs,...

Hedgehogs are charming and endearing creatures that often visit our gardens. It’s almost time for hedgehogs to hibernate for the winter, although the Indian summer may have delayed the process by a few weeks. Hibernation is a crucial part of their natural cycle,...

The sun may be shining, but if you have a north-facing garden, which has more than its quota of shade, don’t worry, you can still lighten it up with some impressive plants. Tropical-looking large-leaved hostas and feathery ferns, blousy hydrangeas, and colourful...