With precious birdlife facing ever greater challenges due to climate change decimating food supplies, every RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch matters.

In 2023 this annual event, organised by the conservation charity, will be the biggest garden wildlife event in the world with thousands of British people counting and noting the birds visiting gardens. Now in its 44th year, it's also more important than ever. 

'The birds we see in our gardens, from our balconies, and in our parks, are a lively, colourful and endlessly fascinating part of all our lives, offering a real connection to the natural world,' says RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) chief executive Beccy Speight.

Take part in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch 2023

'By taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2023 you, and hundreds of thousands like you, will play an important role in helping us understand how UK birds are doing. With birds now facing so many challenges due to the nature and climate emergency, every count matters. Join us for Big Garden Birdwatch 2023 and together let’s take action to protect and preserve our birds and wildlife for generations to come.' 

Nearly 7000,000 people noted down the birds they saw in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2022, counting 11 million birds in total, helping to provide vital data for the RSPB. 

The 2023 event takes place on January, 27, 28 and 29. People are asked to spend just one hour watching and recording the birds in their garden, balcony or local park, then send their results to the RSPB. 

Beccy says: 'Whatever you see – one blackbird, 20 sparrows or no birds at all – it all counts. It helps us build that vital overall picture of how our garden birds are faring from one year to the next.'

Increase your bird sightings

To maximise your sightings, you might want to top up your bird feeders and fill the bird bath to the brim. 

Ensure you don't make some common bird feeding mistakes, however. 'Remove old food and clean your feeders weekly, as disease can be a serious issue for some species,' says Beccy. 'Greenfinch numbers have massively dropped due to a disease that spreads around contaminated feeders and water bowls, and chaffinches are now struggling.' 

If you don’t have a garden, it’s no problem. The RSPB says that even a small window feeder will attract more birds for your Big Garden Birdwatch, and you can even make your own bird feeder. 

Help nature the organic way

Gail Pabst, spokesperson for the US National Garden Bureau, says we should start hanging birdhouses instead of using pesticides, because this benefits the environment two-fold. 

'Some 60 per cent of all birds depend on caterpillars and undesirable garden bugs for baby bird food. When we drop a can of pesticide on that wasp nest in the deck corner, you know you’re going to miss. In the process, you’ll contaminate your own living space with harmful chemicals. Instead of over-using chemicals, focus instead on encouraging birds into backyards.'

To get involved with the Big Garden Birdwatch, you can register online at the RSPB and do your bit to track how our feathered friends are getting on this year. 

Using seaweed compost and green manure are cornerstones of ‘regenerative gardening’, one of the top garden trends for 2023 predicted by British horticultural authority the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

And in the US, the National Garden Bureau agrees that methods of regenerative gardening, including encouraging pollinators and natural predator insects such as wasps, will really take off next year as climate change further impacts the environment.

'Many times called sustainable gardening, it is popular across the entire US because most of the country experienced drought or too much water recently, and all areas are having hotter summers,' says National Garden Bureau spokeswoman Gail Pabst. 

It’s the deepest form of organic gardening, based on optimizing growing conditions in natural ways. 

Using green manure

Regenerative gardening means keeping things natural and employing the least-intrusive ways to grow crops. And using green manure is just one method that aligns with this approach.

Green manure is a plant, often belonging to the pea and bean family (legumes), which is grown over soil to suppress weeds – it’s also called a ‘cover crop’, says Gail. Green manures also have the additional capacity of encouraging the formation of nitrogen, a valuable plant nutrient.

Other benefits of green manures include protection of the soil surface from compaction by rain and providing shelter for beneficial insects such as ground beetles.

A spotlight on seaweed compost

Seaweed fertilizer is rich in all kinds of nutrients, including nitrogen, potassium, phosphate and magnesium, which will promote crop health and encourage healthy flowering blooms. 

Gathered fresh from the sea, seaweed can be dug directly into garden beds to give plants a boost; marinated in a bucket of water for anything from three weeks to a year and then watered in, or layered with other organic materials in a compost bin or heap.

Speaking of compost, Gail comments, 'We waste about 40 percent of the food we buy, so why not recycle it?

'Two parts brown or dried food to one part green. Add water. Toss and let decompose in a dark container until black and crumbly. Mix with existing soil to feed soil microorganisms and plants. How to start? Add a plastic bag to your freezer bin and toss leftovers in there. When full, take it outside and add it to your composter.' Easy!

How will you practice regenerative gardening in 2023?

We’re not saying you need to embark on an expensive outdoor paving makeover, but keeping your patio clean and free from moss and algae will not only ramp up the kerb appeal but improve your home’s value by up to fifth and help everyone who lives there stay healthy, according to property experts. 

'The impact of moldy patios on a home’s value is definitely not a good one,' says real estate broker Gunner Davis, at Coldwell Banker in Tampa FL. 'On average, a moldy patio can decrease a home’s resale value by 20 per cent or more.'

Why a moldy patio can impact your home's resale value

Richard Harless, owner of and realtor at AZ Flat Fee, believes patios and bathrooms are key features which can make or break a lucrative house sale.

'Buyers always want a house to look clean and well-kept,' he says. 'This is best reflected in two places: bathrooms and patios, because these two places are harder to clean and maintain than the rest of the house. Buyers actively look for problems to try and drive the price down, showing you how much of a role these play in determining the worth of your house.'

Tackle the problems

A well-maintained patio is a definite advantage to a home, but if problems are ignored they will soon escalate. As well as mold, which can be transported into the house on footwear, algae and moss forming on the surface of a patio can be unsightly. Other big no-nos include cracked patio slabs, especially if weeds start sprouting through the gaps, and uneven surfaces, which can also become a dangerous tripping hazard.

Gunner’s advice is to always use a sealant on your patio paving: 'Sealing offers the most effective protection for a patio from mold. There are both wood sealers and brick sealers. No matter what the patio floor is made of, a sealer can create a protective layer over it. Sealers create a layer over your wood or brick floor so that mold and mildew-causing fungi cannot penetrate the patio floor. You’ll find those sealer products in most home improvement stores.'

Cleaning and a quick fix

In winter-time especially, when cold weather is unfavorable for outdoor tasks, a quick fix to pep up a neglected patio is an easy and inexpensive top dressing of a layer of pea gravel, says Richard. 

However, he advises against simply using a pressure washer when you’re looking for quick ways to clean a patio. 'Pressure washing roughens the surface of your patio and if done regularly, it is most definitely going to lead to regrowth of algae and moss which are a hassle,' he says. 

'To avoid this, don't just use a pressure wash nozzle and give yourself a pat on the back. Instead, get a fungicide and germicide detergent patio cleaner and add it to the mix of a soap water solution to use with a stiff brush to make sure your patio stays clean.'

One of our favorite products for moldy patios that we've tested on Gardeningetc is the Wet & Forget Moss Mould Lichen & Algae Remover (available from Amazon). 

So if you're looking to sell your home in 2023 and your patio has seen better days, giving it a good clean should be high on your to-do list if you want to achieve the best possible selling price. 

If it’s good enough for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), then it’s probably OK for the rest of us to consider it too. At RHS Rosemoor in Devon, England, curator Jonathan Webster started washing the bark of the shimmering birch trees three years ago to improve their lustre and make them more colorful in winter. 

'During the darker days of winter we all need our gardens to shine bright to help lift our spirits,' he told reporters when the project started in 2019. 'Trees with white bark are great at doing this, capturing the winter light. The Himalayan birch with pure white ghostly trunks are a sight to behold against the dark winter landscape.' 

But do what do other experts think of the tree cleaning method used at RHS Rosemoor?

Cleaning white bark trees in winter

Richard Kelly, home and garden expert at Unique Home Guide agrees that taking care of birch tree bark with a mild solution of dish soap, warm water and a sponge can deliver spectacular results.

'Yes, this is a great way to add some sparkle to your yard during the winter months,' he says. 'The soap helps break down the tannins and oils on the bark, giving it a vibrant, shimmery look. However, this is not something you should do with all trees; it's only safe to use on certain species like silver birch/paper birch/ornamental trees.'

Simple cleaning solutions you can use

Dish soap is a detergent and also has antibacterial properties – it usually contains a chemical called saponin, which occurs naturally in vegetation – that may help to treat fungal infections on the bark of a tree, says Stacie Krljanovic, a groundkeeper and advisor to outdoor furniture company Patio Productions. 

'It will not harm the tree if you use it in moderation: just dilute it with water and apply it with a spray bottle. You should only apply this solution after the first frost of the season, however, as it can cause damage to the tree if applied before then.'

Richard says you can also use a solution of two parts warm water and one part distilled white vinegar to clean your white barked backyard trees: 'This will help break down the waxes, oils, and tannins on the bark without using any chemicals or soaps.

'Another natural option to give your tree's bark some shine is to spread a thin layer of petroleum jelly or coconut oil onto it.' 

What will you use to give your trees that extra sparkle over the holidays?

Keeping fish and encouraging healthy invertebrates in a backyard pond during the cold winter months can be a challenge, as freezing temperatures and ice can be really damaging to aquatic wildlife.

One tip gardeners often share is popping a tennis ball or small beach ball into the water. But does it actually work?

'Many garden pond owners may consider using a tennis ball to prevent their water from freezing over during the winter months, and while it's not guaranteed to work it may still provide some benefit,' says Oberon Copeland, founder of consumer advice website Very Informed. 

How does a tennis ball stop a pond from freezing?

A body of water is more likely to freeze if there is no movement in the water. Simply adding a tennis ball to a pond should ensure there is constant water movement thanks to the ball being blown around by the wind, and therefore the pond is less likely to freeze. 

Be aware though, that this works best in the confined space of a small backyard pond rather than an impressive larger design. 'In a small pond, the tennis ball will prevent the pond from freezing because it will keep the water moving constantly,' says Lindsey Hyland, founder of Urban Organic Yield. 'In a larger pond, the ball won't have as much of an effect because there is too much water for the ball to move it around efficiently.'

Are there better methods you can use?

Fitting a pump to keep air circulating will definitely help keep the water warmer, and also provide vital oxygen to support aquatic life. 

However, gardener Miguel Palma of Jardin Tienda goes one step further when it comes to ensuring toasty water temperature. 'A good thing to do is to add an insulation layer to the outside of the pond, which might be a job for next spring or summer when you’re thinking about how to prepare your pond for winter,' he says. 'However, as a temporary winter measure, you can cover the pond with a tarp or some other type of covering.'

There is lots of advice about how to heat a pond in winter and Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love, argues that a tennis ball won't make any difference if the temperature really drops.

'If you really want to prevent your pond from freezing, it's best to use a pond heater or a floating de-icer,' he says. 'These devices are specifically designed to maintain a hole in the ice, allowing gases to escape and oxygen to enter the water. This can help the pond from freezing over completely.' This Farm Innovators floating pond de-icer from Amazon costs around $50, which could be money well spent if it prevents your pond from freezing and keeps your fish alive. 

Will you be investing in something like this or sticking with the simple tennis ball trick this winter?

Did you know that Mexico is the native home of the ever-popular poinsettia, and this means that this bright and colorful houseplant – with 80 per cent of poinsettias sold the traditional red, according to British Garden Centres – should never be left outside in the cold for too long?

Part of the Euphorbia family (Euphorbia pulcherrima), botanist and physician Joel Robert Poinsett introduced the plant to the United States in the 1820s.

'Poinsettias are very susceptible to extremes of temperature,' says Mike Futia, founder of Nerd Lawn. 'If a poinsettia is accidentally exposed to freezing temperatures, bringing them indoors and providing proper care is essential for the plant's recovery and further growth.'

Why poinsettias will suffer in the cold

Experts generally agree that this Christmas plant will grow outdoors in USDA zones 10 and 11, when temperatures are between 40-50˚F (4.4-10˚C). 

'Poinsettias can be left outdoors without worries in mild winter climates, such as the south. Areas such as Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas are ideal for keeping poinsettias outdoors in winter,' says Mike. 

'In these warm climates, they can be planted in the ground or in containers and will thrive with little care,' says Lindsey Hyland, founder of Urban Organic Yield. 'They can also be grown as annuals in colder climates if they are brought indoors when the weather turns cold.'

However, some regions in the US are simply too cold to leave poinsettias outside. 'Poinsettias cannot survive outdoors during winter in colder areas such as the northern Midwest, far Northwest, and much of the Northeast,' adds Mike. 

Emergency rescue

If you've accidentally exposed your poinsettia to too-cold conditions, you can rescue it by moving it back indoors as soon as possible. 'Try to keep the plant in a sunny spot and water it regularly,' says Lindsey. 'The leaves may look wilted at first, but they should recover over time.'

However, the one thing poinsettias really hate is extremes of temperature. Avoid making a common poinsettia temperature mistake and don’t shock your plant by bringing it straight in from the cold to a really warm and cozy house. Instead, it can be best to let it come back to room temperature slowly. 

Building a snowman is fun when the first flurries of snow arrive – especially before Christmas. But allowing snow or debris such as dead leaves to build up heavily on one area of a lawn can lead to the development of the damaging fungal disease Fusarium Patch, which means the grass underneath will yellow, wither and die.

'Fusarium Patch, also known as snow mold, thrives in wet, damp and compacted conditions and it can cause your grass to become yellow, or brown, or if left long enough, it could kill it,' warns Chris McIlroy, a grass expert at The Grass People.

By following this simple lawn maintenance task, however, you can help prevent this problem from starting in the first place. 

Simple garden maintenance tip for preventing snow mold

Even before the snowflakes start to fall, you can take steps to stop snow mold in its tracks by making sure your lawn is clear. 

'It is important to make sure you are regularly raking up fallen leaves and other debris, as dead organic material contributes to the growth of snow mold,' warns Oberon Copeland, CEO and founder of advice website Very Informed. 

'Your grass needs conditions conducive for good health and this means you must allow sunlight to reach beneath the surface.'

All that organic matter doesn't have to go to waste, however. You can use your fallen leaves to make your own leaf mold, turning them into a valuable soil conditioner that can be used throughout the year. 

Keep on top of your lawn routine

Once established, snow mold is difficult to control and extremely damaging. The affected patches increase and eventually merge together, and this can lead to the death of an entire lawn. 

Jen Stark, founder of advice website Happy DIY Home says it’s important to keep all vegetation off the grass in wintertime, so make this part of your winter lawn care routine. 

'So trim back any tree or shrub overhang on your lawn to ensure you get good airflow, this will also allow sunlight to permeate the surface,' says Jen. 

Also, make sure to remove any lawn clippings as they will add an extra moisture-retaining layer to your grass which will provide a welcoming breeding ground for the fungus to form. 

Don't be scared of scarifying

Experts also recommend scarifying the lawn to remove the thatch where this fungus likes to live. 

'Don’t forget to dethatch your lawn throughout the year. Thatch build-up generally creates a deeper surface area for moisture to settle into, leading to fungal growth and snow mold,' says Luke Williams, a lawn care expert with Home Insurance Rates. 

It’s a pretty picture on a Christmas card but heavy snow accumulations on tree and shrub branches can cause severe damage and even lead to the death of treasured and established plants. 

Protecting plants from snow is key, especially if a heavy fall is forecast. 'If you're in a climate with heavy ice or snow accumulation, it can be helpful to be keenly aware of the plants that have weaker structures and can break off under heavy snow or ice,' says Brendon Willis, founder and CEO at Willis Lawn Services in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Why shaking snow-covered branches is a mistake

If your backyard trees and shrubs end up covered with snow, always use a soft broom to gently dislodge the build-up. 'Always do this rather than shaking the branches,' says Brian Jones, botanist and CEO/founder of home advice website Best in Edmonton. Vigorously shaking a tree or shrub to remove snow can potentially lead to even more extensive damage, further stressing branches and causing them to snap and break off. 

'A broom will avoid damaging trees and shrubs that are covered with snow and ice. Starting near the top of the tree or shrub, gently lift branches upward with the broom and lightly knock snow off them,' says Brian. 

Lindsey Hyland, founder of Urban Organic Yield has a great tip too: 'If you don’t have a broom to hand, when daytime temperatures warm up, you can try melting the snow off the plants with a hose or bucket of hot water.'

Safety in numbers in snowy conditions

It’s a good idea to give plants extra durability by tying together multiple branches with rope or twine. This will help to keep them from breaking under the weight of the snow.

'You should also support any large limbs with cable ties or other strong materials for additional support,' says Jamie Irwin, editor and landscape designer at Windproof Gazebos. 'Plus, you can create protective cocoons around vulnerable trees with twine and agro lath sheeting (criss-crossed sheeting in plastic or galvanised metal) to stop snow from settling on them.' 

Prune and protect before snow arrives

If you want to protect plants from winter and snow, check when’s the best time to prune your shrubs and trees and plan ahead, says Jamie. 'It’s a good idea to prune back excessive foliage to ensure branches can hold less snow in winter.' 

Always remove weak or diseased branches, as these will be most susceptible to damage should snow land on them. 

Favorite garden expert Monty Don has been busy in his own backyard recently, preparing his garden for the onset of winter and the colder temperatures that come with it. 

One of his top tips for protecting plants from winter without breaking the bank is to use inexpensive bubble cushioning wrap as a way of insulating your greenhouse. 

His recommendation is to cloak it in a protective covering of bubble wrap, which will keep tender plants safe from plunging temperatures, meaning they will survive even the harshest winter.

Monty Don's tips for insulating a greenhouse with bubble wrap

You may be wondering how best to use a greenhouse in wintertime but in an episode of Gardeners' World, Monty says that if you take the correct steps, you’ll reap the benefits in the springtime. 

'Wrapping it internally in bubble wrap does two things. Obviously, it protects the plants, but also it dramatically reduces the cost of heating the greenhouse too.'

With the rising cost of energy bills, this is likely to be music to your ears if you've been trying to think of inexpensive ways to heat a greenhouse during the colder winter months. 

It's simple to fit and fix in place

For anyone concerned about the environmental impact of using large amounts of bubble cushioning wrap, Monty says that he’s used the same wrap for his own greenhouse 'for about six or seven years. It comes out every year and it’s held in place simply by bamboo canes. We’ve found this is actually the most effective method, it is very simple, but it works.'

And don't forget, insulating your greenhouse in this way means you might not have to resort to using electric heaters to keep your greenhouse warm either. 

If you don’t have bubble cushioning wrap already, you can buy it in bulk online at Amazon and do as Monty suggests. After the winter has passed, simply remove it from your greenhouse, pack it all up and reuse your materials year after year.

Creating a mini hot box for plants

If you find yourself short of this insulating material, or have a huge greenhouse that would be too challenging to entirely cover inside, Monty has the great idea of creating a mini ‘hot box’ to protect plants from frost. 

He builds this using horticultural fleece, bubble wrap and clothes pegs, incorporating a small area of glass which is lined with the bubble wrap so that light can get in to benefit the plants inside.

'This will just raise the temperature up a few degrees and that means that plants like the salvias, like citrus, if you want to, maybe even bananas can go in there,' he says. 'They'll be nice and snug in the winter. And if you do have to heat this particular area, you're doing it from a higher base and that will save you a lot of money.'

Will you be giving this cheap garden idea a try this winter?

If you're searching for unique and budget-friendly Christmas gifts for a gardening enthusiast in your life, a garden expert believes that giving a cutting from a plant in your own garden is a lovely way to connect across the holiday season. It also offers a sustainable and money-saving solution to gifting dilemmas.

'Taking cuttings from plants in your own garden gives a wonderful sense of continuity,' says garden designer Maxime Jones-Lloyd. 'Good plants for propagating in winter are box plants, climbing jasmine and fuchsias, as well as geraniums and camellias. I plan to share some cuttings from my prized bay trees this year; they offer both ornamental and culinary properties.'

Gifting plant cuttings for Christmas

From cacti and succulents to rare garden varieties, just take a look around and decide which plants you would like to share with others. 

'If you're looking to give something easy to care for, consider a fern cutting that can easily survive under typical home lighting conditions,' suggests Oberon Copeland, CEO of Very Informed. 'Or perhaps your loved one is an expert in the garden already – why not offer them prickly pear or rosemary cuttings that tend to thrive outdoors.' 

And don’t forget those colorful festive specials. 'For those with limited amounts of space, like apartments or urban balconies, a propagated Christmas cactus can spruce up any living space while also producing bright blossoms during the season,' he adds.

Give with care

When giving cuttings as presents, you should always include some rooting hormone powder [available from Amazon] and a damp paper towel or cloth to keep the cutting moist, says gardening expert Lindsey Hyland, founder of Urban Organic Yield. 

'You may also want to include clear written instructions on caring for the cutting until it's established in its new home.'

Make it easy

There are a variety of cuttings that can be given as free plant gifts, but it's important to choose the right ones for the person you're giving them to. 

'For example, people who are allergic to flowers or plants may not be able to enjoy a bouquet of holly or ivy,' warns Lindsey. 'And someone who doesn't have a green thumb probably won't appreciate a potted poinsettia as these holiday favorites can be tricky to care for, requiring a draught-free spot and bright, but indirect natural light.'

Did you know that if soil was managed more sustainably, up to 58 per cent more food could be produced globally, helping tackle famine and food shortages and ensuring a healthier future for the planet?

World Soil Day on December 5 is a UN-backed global initiative which aims to spread a positive educational message about the importance of good soil, bringing in everyone from politicians to people who garden in their own backyard.

We all have different soil types in our yards, but there are simple things we could all be doing to manage it better and more sustainably. 

'Like us, soils need a balanced and varied supply of nutrients in appropriate amounts to be healthy,' says a World Soil Day spokesperson. 'Agricultural systems lose nutrients with each harvest, and if soils are not managed sustainably, fertility is progressively lost, and soils will produce nutrient-deficient plants.'

Do less, grow more For World Soil Day

'We speak to so many people who want to get the most out of their soil and ensure they’re giving their plants the best environment,' says Shannen Godwin, growing expert at plant and bulb company J.Parker’s.

'In actual fact, it can often be that people are doing too much to try and improve their soil. The secret, in many cases, is that doing less could be better for your soil and will reduce the hard work too.'

Avoid adding fresh manure

If you’re keen on bringing in organic matter to nurture your soil never use fresh manure, Shannen warns. 

'Putting fresh manure down can damage your soil and your plants too. Fresh manure can contain high levels of chemicals such as nitrogen and ammonia, which can burn plant roots. 

'Fresh manure may also contain seeds for unwanted weeds and may have bacteria that can affect the soil and your plants. Manure is indeed good for growing roses, but choose composted or aged manure that is at least six months old. This can help to increase nutrients and soil texture without running the risk of harm.'

Improve soil health organically

Over digging will disrupt the structure of the soil, making it thinner and less able to hold onto valuable nutrients. It's just one of the many reasons that no dig gardening is growing in popularity. 

'Instead of tilling and digging, opt for top dressing your plants with compost, as well as organic matter and aged manure, and try to minimize digging to less than six inches deep,' is Shannen’s advice. 

'By reducing the hard work and focusing on topping up the soil with more nutrient-rich compost rather than digging down and disrupting the structure, you can get more from your soil.'

One of the most sustainable – and totally free - ways you can improve soil health in your own backyard is to add organic waste such as grass cuttings and shredded leaves; these will help particles in the soil to break up, introducing valuable air pockets than will allow the soil to ‘breathe’. 

As December kicks in all keen gardeners are keeping their eye on the thermometer, because when temperatures dip below freezing, precious plants can be lost to the cold weather. 

Protecting plants from frost is key during the winter months in areas with a cool climate. 'The last thing any gardener wants is their plants decaying from winter frost,' says Sam Marlow, gardening expert from Garden Buildings Direct. 

'The damage of plant cells starts soon after the frost hits but there are ways to protect them. For example, placing a lightweight bed sheet over plants helps to prevent any gaps of cold air from seeping into leaves and flowers.'

Old-fashioned frost protection hack

There is lots of advice on how to protect plants from winter, but the bed-sheet trick has been a gardeners’ go-to solution for generations. 

That’s because it’s easy and inexpensive, says Katie Krejci, owner of Minnesota-based gardening business, The Homesteading Rd, who often uses bed sheets to protect her own homegrown plants and produce. 

'While there are some better-performing options out there – such as horticultural fleece or frost cloth for plants – bedsheets are easily obtainable, reusable, and inexpensive, which makes them a desirable option.'

Prop them up

There's definitely a right and a wrong way to use bed sheets for this protective purpose, according to Katie. 'The best way to use them is to prop the sheets up slightly so they don't rest directly on the plants,' she says. 'If they touch, then frost damage can be more severe. I like to place tomato cages [available from Amazon] and chairs around my plants to drape the sheets on top of.' 

You could also use a lightweight blanket, or 'a tablecloth that has some repellent properties on the top surface, this would work really well,' she adds.

Remember to choose a covering large enough to cover the whole planted area, so it wouldn’t fall down and become tangled up in the plants, potentially causing damage.

Remove the bed sheet for sunlight

'Make sure not to leave the sheets over your plants for the whole day, otherwise they won’t receive any energy from sunlight to convert into nutrients,' warns Sam. 

Kody Ketterling, founder of Idaho-based landscaping business K.J. Ketterling Enterprises says: 'I recommend uncovering plants around mid-morning, then covering them back up in the evening. Using a sheet really does work and is a great way to protect and prolong the life of your plants.'

Will you be giving this simple hack a go in your winter garden this year? 

If you’re looking for a vivid splash of color to liven up your garden in winter, British expert gardener, author and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh recommends popping some winter jasmine in the ground or a large planter, before the frosts take hold. 

'Winter jasmine certainly earns its keep,' he says. 'It’s a popular and reliable shrub, valued for its cheery, bright yellow flowers, which appear on bare stems.'

Winter jasmine will happily scramble up a wall with little support, forming large bunches of climbing tendrils studded with starry bright yellow flowers – although white varieties are available – that lift the spirits even on the coldest days. 

Choose winter jasmine for seasonal cheer

Winter jasmine is one of the best winter-flowering shrubs because it has a long season in bloom, springing into life as early as November through to March.

Alan adds: 'The hardiest of the jasmines, unlike others, its blooms are unscented, but they make up for this by appearing very early in the season.'

'It’s perfectly-suited to this time of year,' says Antony Selvaganam, founder of plant website Plantials. 'Those bright yellow flowers on arching stems perfectly highlight foggy winter mornings and dull dusks.'

• Shop winter jasmine in the US: view at Amazon
• Shop winter jasmine in the UK: view at Crocus

It takes care of itself

One of the best things about winter jasmine is that it's a low maintenance shrub and easy to grow in any kind of well-drained soil. You can pretty much forget about it during the summer and then in late fall, it will burst into life just as everything else in your winter garden is dying back.

Oberon Copeland, owner and CEO of advice website Very Informed likes its adaptability: 'First, winter jasmine is highly resilient and can tolerate both hot and cold weather. This makes it an ideal plant for regions with unpredictable weather patterns.'

Easy backyard brightener

If you’re growing winter jasmine in a smaller space, it’s a great idea to train it upwards and over vertical climbing plant supports. 

'To grow winter jasmine in a small garden, guide the young shoots to climb up walls and fences while trimming them regularly to contain them in the available garden space,' says Alex Tinsman, founder of the How to Houseplant website. 'The plant can grow extensively even when planted in pots.'

There are plenty of after Christmas garden deals on offer right now, making it a great opportunity to update your outdoor space for less ahead of spring. 

We've found offers on some of our best-rated lawn mowers, discounts on BBQs, and incredible savings on some excellent outdoor toys for the kids, including trampolines and climbing frames. All of which means you can get your hands on some fantastic buys for your outdoor space for less, and you'll be all set to enjoy your backyard as soon as the warmer weather returns. 

Some of these discounts give the best outdoor furniture stores a run for their money, offering discounts on patio sets, outdoor benches, lounge chairs, and outdoor dining tables, amongst plenty of garden and backyard essentials, such as hot tubs and some of the best BBQs. 

Use our quicklinks below to head straight to some of our favorite retailers who are offering discounts in the after Christmas sales, and keep scrolling to see our pick of the best garden deals in both the UK and the US. 

Where to shop after Christmas garden deals in the UK:

• Amazon - shop everything from hot tubs to tools, with Prime delivery available
• Argos - discounts on a wide range of outdoor buys
• B&Q - shop deals on top lawn mowers and pizza ovens
• Dunelm - good range of furniture and outdoor accessories
• Homebase - lots of deals on a wide range of garden tools
• John Lewis - End of season discounts on outdoor buys and patio furniture
• La Redoute - up to 50% off garden furniture and outdoor buys
• Leekes - discounts on BBQs, fire pits, patio heaters and more
• Ooni - discounts on bundle deals for ovens and accessories
• Robert Dyas - great discounts on garden tools and hot tubs
• TP Toys - discounts on trampolines, climbing frames and outdoor toys
• Wayfair - garden deals live across the site

Where to shop after Christmas garden deals in the US:

• Amazon - shop everything from hot tubs to tools, with Prime delivery available
• Bed Bath & Beyond - discounts on patio furniture and decor
• Home Depot - huge discounts on offer
• Lowe's - shop backyard tools offers
• Ooni - bundle deals on pizza ovens and accessories
• Target - deals on patio furniture and outdoor living buys
• Wayfair - huge discounts on furniture, outdoor decor, hot tubs and more

The best garden deals in the UK

We've listed a range of garden deals in the UK, from fire pits to hot tubs and furniture sets to some of the best trampolines, all of which are currently discounted. 

Prices listed from low to high

Garden deals live in the US

We've listed a range of deals for your yard for those who are in the US, from fire pits to hot tubs and furniture sets, all of which are currenly discounted. 

Prices listed from low to high

When are the best after Christmas sales?

The after Christmas sales typically start on the December 26th and continue into the new year. It's a fantastic time to grab a bargain as retailers look to make space for new product launches in the new year. Plus, it means you can get your outdoor space sorted ahead of spring so you're ready to use it as soon as the warmer weather arrives. 

Make sure you keep checking back here as we'll be constantly updating the deals to keep you up to speed with the best end of year and after Christmas sales and deals as they go live. 

What to buy in the after Christmas sales

The end of year and after Christmas sales can be one of the best times of the year to grab a great buy for your garden or backyard. Whether you're looking to upgrade to one of the best lawn mowers, want to make light work of your fall gardening with a new hedge trimmer, fancy treating yourself to a hot tub deal, or simply want to get ready for the warmer weather in spring by snapping up discounted patio furniture or a garden bench, there are some amazing offers to be had. 

So if you've been thinking about investing in something for your outdoor space, then winter and the after Christmas sales can be the perfect opportunity to get something on your wishlist for less. And you can get even more of your backyard shopping sorted for less with some amazing lawn mower deals and BBQ deals too. 

How do you know if you are getting a good deal in the Christmas sales?

'The key to getting a good deal is not being blinded by discounts,' says Lindsey Davis, editor in chief of homes ecommerce for Gardeningetc. 'A discount is only great if it is on a quality product. So, check out whether the product comes recommended by those in the know. 

'We review lots of garden products every year and anything you see with our silver or gold badges is definitely worth the expense. Only then should you consider the discount. Find the MSRP (RRP) to know how much it usually costs. You can also check price comparison sites such as CamelCamelCamel which tracks Amazon prices over time. We can expect to see discounts of up to about 30% at this time of year.' 

In his latest book, garden designer and writer Nick McCullough recommends taking extra time to layer and stage pots, which will make the biggest impact to your container gardening ideas in backyards and gardens this fall and winter. 

The author of American Roots, Lessons and Inspiration from the Designers Reimagining Our Home Gardens (available on Amazon), says there are a few tricks even beginners can pull off. 

'For instance, if you only have a small balcony, you could have a little vignette of three containers with either something that is really complementary to each other or very contrasting to each other.'

Suits every spot

Nick says when thinking about how to arrange your garden planters, consider size, color, shape and texture. If you’re new to grouping containers, start with three – odd numbers work best – and stagger their height. 

You might need to use something like this plant stand for outdoor pots from Amazon, or even blocks of wood or logs to achieve this multi-dimensional effect. 

'You’ll want to put them around places like the front entrance, but don’t confine yourself,' he says. 'It’s good to put them on the back patio, where you really are surrounded by these beautiful textures.'

Admire the overall effect

A good tip when you’re creating your winter planter ideas is to keep standing back so you can assess how they look to the casual observer or visitor to your home. 

You may need to soften or adjust the planting, says Lindsey Hyland, gardening expert and founder of Urban Organic Yield. 

Her suggestions to achieve those stunning finishing touches include: 'Layering complementary colors and textures, adding accents with stones, moss or other materials, using trailing plants to soften hard edges and experimenting with different plant combinations.'

It's also worth thinking about how your winter display will look once your spring bulbs start to shoot up. Consider what will add height at the back of your display rather than having it dominate at the front. 

Weather warning

However, Miguel Palma, professional gardener and owner of gardening products review and advice website TiendaJardin, does urge caution with choosing winter plants for pots to ensure your carefully-constructed container display will survive. 

'Staging and stacking the containers not only helps maintain the beauty of the landscape, it also keeps the fragile potted plants protected from harsh weather. But during winter, only a few plants can withstand the cold and harsh weather conditions that come with it. Choose frost and wind-hardy plants and ensure soil is as moisture-retentive as possible to prevent your containers drying out.' 

We know she’s not afraid to get her elegantly manicured hands dirty in the gardens of Highgrove House, the Gloucestershire stately home she shares with her husband, King Charles III. But who knew that Camilla, Queen Consort, is gathering an impressive collection of gnomes?

In a recent TV documentary to mark her 75th birthday Camilla, showed off an impressive array of garden ornaments at her own family home, Ray Mill House in Wiltshire.

These included a large tiger hidden in the hedgerow as it stalked a cockerel and a gnome. 'No place like gnome!', laughed Camilla as she pointed out the porcelain figure in peril.

And then she let out another Royal secret, saying her green-fingered husband has at least one as part of the garden decor in his Gloucestershire gardens. 'Actually the [then] Prince does at Highgrove, too – he’s got a gnome hidden away.'

Outed in public

Eagle-eyed Royal watchers might have already suspected Camilla’s love of gnomes. Snapped at the Great Yorkshire Show, a major summer event on the horticultural and agricultural calendar in northern England, she was spotted admiring a cheeky grey garden gnome named in her honor. And she also stopped to pat its friend, which went by the name of Charles, on the head.

Setting the trend

Camilla’s been collecting her gnomes for years, and she’s obviously been ahead of the curve because this quirky way to add interest to ordinary backyards has never been as popular. 

According to one analysis of Google data, the number of searches for garden gnomes soared 1,000 per cent this summer, heralding the return of garden gnomes as a trend. 

What's more, the gnome Christmas tree trend is big news this year, as homeowners look to create these fun characters with their outdoor Christmas decor. 

Look at the displays in any garden center or shop for gnomes online at Amazon, and you'll see you won't be short of options if you also fancy jumping on this quirky garden trend too. 

Distinguished history

According to Jeff Layton, owner of Utah-based landscape company LaytonScapes, garden gnomes are way more than a modern trend: 'They’re a fixture in gardens worldwide, dating back to the 1700s when aristocrats started collecting them on their travels and using them to decorate their gardens back home.'

Gnomes, Jeff adds, started life in Switzerland and Germany, where artisans would carve little figurines out of wood or shaped them from porcelain. These would often be used to help tell children traditional folk tales, becoming much-loved tiny ‘family members’. 

Up the fun factor in your yard with these quirky garden ornaments:

As autumn comes to a close, tulip deals begin to crop up in garden centres and online. So, if you're looking to prep your plot for a colourful post-winter show – without splashing the cash – now's the perfect time to shop.

One of the reasons why they're so cheap towards the end of the season is that the window for planting bulbs is nearly over. But, if you act fast, there's still time to get them in the ground, or into containers, as long as winter frosts haven't set in. In fact, planting as late as possible is a good way to prevent the common disease tulip fire.

We've scoured the web for top savings on beautiful tulips that will give any garden a boost once warmer weather arrives.

Where to shop Black Friday tulip deals

Planting tulip bulbs is an easy way to up the glamour of your springtime garden. Grab a deal from these retailers below:

• Shop Black Friday tulip deals at Amazon
• Shop Black Friday tulip deals at Crocus
• Shop Black Friday tulip deals at Thompson & Morgan
• Shop Black Friday tulip deals at Suttons
• Shop Black Friday tulip deals at Dobies

Our favourite tulip deals

We love these tulip varieties for stunning spring colour, and right now, they're all on sale.

Botanist and horticultural expert James Wong is warning that recent spikes in energy prices are putting the delicate and beautiful potted orchid, available so easily and cheaply to buy, at risk. 

On a recent visit to a nursery in the Netherlands, he found growing halls empty and chilly, as plant producers simply can’t make the profit margins work against the rising costs of keeping the growing environment for orchids at subtropical levels.

'Some industry insiders are predicting as many as half of such growers may no longer be trading by the end of the winter,' he said in his column for The Guardian newspaper. 

'The business model of many of these producers was based on fulfilling the demands of giant retailers for ever-cheaper plants – conditions that could only be satisfied thanks to the economies of scale to be had from growing to vast scales on tiny margins. But this left very little slack in the system to cope with any change in costs.'

Wild at heart

Although it's a favorite indoor plant for many, there are actually more than 28,000 species of orchid, both cultivated and wild. What's more, this amazingly versatile plant is found on every continent on the planet, even popping up north of the Arctic Circle. 

Researchers at Kew Gardens in London, who are working on a huge ‘orchid family tree’ project to log as many varieties as possible, have found that there are 'nearly three times as many orchid species as there are species of birds alive in the world today.'

Overseas demand adding to the problems

However, Oberon Copeland, founder of consumer advice website Very Informed, believes that the rapidly increasing global market for cultivated orchids, especially in China, is putting further pressure on the supply chain. 

'A large part of this growth is coming from Asia, where demand for the flowers is soaring. In China alone, sales of cut orchids increased by 20 per cent last year,' he says. 'This rapid growth has put pressure on supplies, and the price of orchids has been rising steadily in recent years. If current trends continue, it is possible that orchids will become a luxury item that only the very wealthy can afford.'

Keep down costs by growing your own

If you're feeling disheartened by the news that orchids may soon become more of a luxury item, the good news is there is a solution to keep down costs and even get free plants. It’s surprisingly simple to propagate orchids, with the easiest methods being division or taking stem cuttings. 

Learn how to do this and you won’t have to worry about any shortages at the supermarket or garden store.

Celebrated gardener, TV presenter and author Monty Don warns that if you’re fortunate enough to have a stunning Australian tree fern Dicksonia in your backyard, you may need to take steps to protect it when temperatures start to drop. 

'The tree fern, Dicksonia, is not reliably hardy although it is quite happy down to about 23˚F (-5˚C),' he says.

So what does Monty suggest you do to ensure these tropical plants survive the winter cold?

Monty Don's tip for protecting tender tree ferns in winter

On his website, Monty Don says that when it comes to tree ferns, there are two possible methods for protecting plants from frost or more more severe winter weather. 

1. Dig them up and store them somewhere warmer

Monty says that if the forecast is for super-freezing weather – and you have the space for storage – you can dig up your tree ferns and keep them in pots in a frost-free place such as a greenhouse until warmer weather comes back in springtime. 

'They have minimal roots in the ground,' he points out. 'However, there is no need to bring them in under winter cover if you protect them where they need protecting most.'

2. Protect the stem of your tree fern

When it comes to potential damage from frost, it’s not really the roots you have to worry about with the Australian tree fern, which makes an excellent stand-out specimen in any landscaping ideas featuring trees. 

'The secret is to make sure that the central soft inverted cone at the top of the stem – it is not really a trunk as it is made up of rods of root – is unable to fill with water that can then freeze,' he says. 

Monty advises that the easiest way to protect the top of the stem is to pack it with straw which both insulates and acts as a sponge. 

'I change this straw once or even twice during the winter,' he says. 'Then I bandage a thick layer of [horticultural] fleece around the vulnerable top six to nine inches of the stem to provide extra insulation.'

Horticultural fleece is ready available online at Amazon. Look out for products like this Abimars frost protection fabric (from Amazon), which can be cut down to the size you need.

Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of garden care company Lawn Love suggests you can also add a layer of bubble cushioning wrap (available on Amazon) over the fleece. 

'This will keep the moisture inside so the trunk doesn't dry out and the leaves stay protected,' he says. 'If it gets colder than 14˚F (-10˚C) in your area, use more layers of cloth or even a heating cable to warm your precious tree fern during the colder nights.'

But don’t worry too much about the leaves, Monty adds: 'They will die back anyway so need no care, and the lower part of the trunk is not the crucial growing point, so this can remain unprotected too.'

Will you be adding this to your list of winter jobs in the garden this weekend?

Now keen organic gardener King Charles is in charge of the famous Buckingham Palace garden, everyone is waiting to see what he will do with the carefully designed and tended landscape. 

A new book reveals that the garden design includes beehives, a bug-friendly water feature and even a dozen carefully selected ‘botanicals’ including mulberry bushes, lemon verbena, hawthorn berries and bay leaves grown especially to produce Buckingham Palace gin. 

'I do wonder what His Royal Highness will make of the Buckingham Palace gardens,' says Chris Bonnett, founder and CEO of Gardening Express. 'Will he turn over some of the lawns into huge organic vegetable beds? Perhaps he could arrange a link up with inner-city schools to visit and tend the vegetables and for the children to learn about where food comes from and the importance of growing your own.'

Royal inspiration

Fans of the Royalcore garden trend will find much to inspire in Buckingham Palace head gardener Mark Lane’s book, Buckingham Palace, A Royal Garden, available on Amazon, written in collaboration with gardening author Claire Masset and photographer John Campbell.

'The garden you see today looks nothing like it did in the 18th century, when it reached a peak of formality,' the book reveals. 'The then gardener, Henry Wise, added lots of finely executed features, including a canal, avenues of lime trees, elaborate parterres with fountains and statues, and paths lined with neatly-spaced tubs of bay and orange trees.'

Bee friendly

One of the two idyllic islands in the three-acre lake at Buckingham Palace has been home to five beehives since 2008, which produce around 160 jars of honey a year for use in the royal kitchens. 

The gardens are already bursting with bee-friendly blooms, including the Buckingham Palace Rose Garden, with 25 rose beds, each boasting 60 rose bushes of a different variety, and a glorious herbaceous border more than 500 foot long.

Welcoming waterfall

The eco-friendly garden is believed to host 350 species of wildflower, 83 species of birds and 2,500 British species of insects including butterflies.

The picturesque waterfall, a key element of the Romantic style of landscaping which has long influenced the garden’s design, helps to oxygenate the lake and attract all those birds and insects.

Veteran British gardener, author and TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh, says it's already a wildlife garden haven: 'As you venture around the lake into the wildest places, you feel as though you’re deep in the country. I’m not the only one that’s fooled. Her Majesty made her garden a place where nature thrives.'

Only time will tell how Buckingham Palace Gardens will continue to evolve in the future under the new King. 

Buckingham Palace opens for visitors several times a year, and tickets for 2023 will be available soon. 

King Charles is currently patron of more than 420 charities, and has already warned that his new responsibilities as monarch will mean he has to pass on some honors to other members of the Royal Family. 

However, the National Hedgelaying Society is hoping that he’s able to keep his role as their patron close to his heart, because His Majesty is an expert hedgelayer himself, having laid more than 15 miles of hedging plants around his own Highgrove, Gloucestershire, estate. 

Why King Charles says hedges are vital for threatened species

At the most recent hedgelaying event at Highgrove in January, the King declared that hedgerows are a 'vital part of the landscape' and 'essential biodiversity corridors' for threatened species, including garden birds, the dormouse and a host of butterflies, who face food shortages. 

However, during the latter half of the 20th century many hedgerows were dug up across the UK and replaced with wooden posts and tangles of barbed wire. Almost 200,000 miles of hedges vanished between 1950 and 1995, according to the National Hedgelaying Society, but the skill has seen a revival and is now attracting new converts. 

Hundreds of competitors, male and female, flock to the annual National Hedgelaying Championships, held back in October 2022 at Clacks Farm, Wallingford, Oxfordshire.

The King's personal tutor

John Savings, 79, the five times winner of the south of England hedgelaying prize at the national championships, became the King’s personal hedgelaying tutor 20 years ago, after the pair met at a game fair. 'And he is bloody good at it. He loves it,' says Mr Savings, who shares that his protégé has often worked on hedgerows for five hours straight without breaking for lunch. 

And the King admits he’s obsessed, writing in Country Life magazine in 2021, that his own efforts left him 'looking as if I have just come off the field at Agincourt'.

Preserving an ancient art

There have been hedges in Britain since Roman times, and when done traditionally, the techniques have barely changed over 2,000 years. 

The NHLS explains that ‘proper’ hedgelaying involves cutting trees at the base and leaving just enough of the trunk intact for the sap to still rise before repositioning it horizontally secured by hazel stakes and supports. This allows new growth to shoot vertically upwards from the base of the tree, rejuvenating the hedgerow from the bottom upwards.

However, many farmers now use a mechanised flail, which only chops the tops of the hedgerows – usually in autumn – leaving the branches below gappy and bare. 'This means they lose their ability to enclose livestock as well serving as a vital wildlife habitat for nesting birds and other species,' a NHLS spokesperson says.

Only time will tell if King Charles can continue his work in promoting the more traditional landscaping methods. 

Next year we’ll be embracing traditional garden plants such as roses, lilacs, hydrangeas and hollyhocks, according to a trend forecaster who has been looking at the key garden trends that are set to be big for the year ahead. 

Katie Tamony, chief marketing officer and trend spotter for Monrovia garden centers, says that the New Victorian garden trend will be one of the most popular looks for 2023. 

'Blame it on Bridgerton,' says Katie, referencing the popular Netflix series which has inspired decadence and delight in gardens. 'This trend is an elevated maximized version of cottage gardens. These classic, pretty plants bring a sense of history and tradition without the slight chaos of the typical cottage design.'

What is the New Victorian garden trend?

Though the New Victorian trend is casual and rambling, it's not disorganized, stresses Katie: 'The trend is punctuated with romantic garden accents such as white fences, gravel or brick pathways, birdbaths, and stone planters.'

The New Victorian garden will typically have a more relaxed, informal feel than a traditional cottage garden, but still use strong lines and structured planting to create an ordered look, says garden expert Lindsey Hyland at advice website Urban Organic Yield.

'Key elements in creating a New Victorian garden are drama, structure and color,' says Lindsey. 'Gardeners will often landscape with evergreens to create structure all year round, incorporating dramatic features such as ponds and statues to make their garden stand out.'

Pastel color scheme

We’re also looking at 'a feminine palette of pink, purple, and white flowers, such as hydrangeas and roses, along with delicate fern-like foliage,' says Katie.

'Hydrangeas and roses represent a kind of dream garden,' says garden designer Leeann Lavin at Duchess Designs. 'Folks have long loved them. Places like The Hamptons and Nantucket, to name a few, have almost built a brand on them.   

'I suggest this is an enduring desirable garden design, that yes, can be heightened by cinema or popular culture, but it's always been a favorite garden look.'

Fragrant flowers

Glorious clouds of scent are a key part of the New Victorian appeal. 'Fragrant roses, such as the Eau de Parfum Bubbly Fragrant Rose, Seaside Swirl Pink Rugosa rose, or the Heavenly Ascent Pink climbing rose (all available from Monrovia),'  are amongst Katie’s recommendations.

'Purple flowers such as the Seaside Serenade Crystal Cove Hydrangea and Arctic Falls Campanula [from Monrovia] also add visual impact to the New Victorian garden.'

Will you be introducing the New Victorian garden trend to your outdoor space in 2023?

As a dedicated wildlife champion King Charles III must be breathing a sigh of relief that his plans for a new gift shop at his Highgrove, Gloucestershire estate will not harm the precious habitat of the Great Crested Newt, a UK protected species that has suffered significant population decline in recent years. 

Planners were asked to take into account the potential presence of the amphibians before work could begin to replace a temporary marquee with a new retail unit designed to serve the 40,000 UK and overseas visitors who visit the 15 organically cared for acres, including water features, fountains and wildlife gardens, at Highgrove Gardens every year. 

Potential Great Crested Newt threat to Highgrove plans

'In the case of the Highgrove planning application, the advice to the planning authority from NatureSpace was that there was little risk of impacts on Great Crested Newts – so no further information on newts was required and there were no requirements for any survey work or for a licence,' says Sarah Garratt FRSA, conservation director at NatureSpace, an organisation which works with other environmental partners to protect the Great Crested Newt.

However, this high-profile Royal case has highlighted the danger this native UK species faces.

In a recent report, Natural England says that Great Crested Newts are under threat because approximately 50 per cent of ponds – their natural habitat – were lost in the 20th century and 80 per cent of current ponds are in a poor state. 

Habitats need protection

'Great Crested Newts require good quality ponds for breeding and feeding, as well as terrestrial habitats such as woodlands, scrub, hedgerows and grasslands for feeding, shelter, hibernation and dispersal,' says Sarah Garratt.

'Built development and intensive agricultural management have reduced the quality, extent and connectedness of landscapes. Good quality habitat creation and restoration help to restore newt populations.' 

Monty Don, who has stood beside King Charles to campaign in favour of organic farming methods, says that wherever you live, if you’re lucky enough to have a pond in your backyard, his pond care tips are to leave it to nature as far as possible in order to create a habitat that supports amphibians, insects, birds and water-borne creatures.

Welcoming wildlife at the Highgrove Estate

Great Crested Newts would certainly be made welcome at Highgrove. There are two fountains providing running, open water for their feathered friends throughout the year. A willow 'ramp' is placed in each water feature to provide an easy exit in case any wildlife inadvertently fall in.

There’s also a water feature cum wildlife pond close to the Stumpery made of Hereford sandstone and Spanish holey limestone. It features four Pacific Ocean clamshells from Edward VII’s garden at Sandringham, Norfolk and a stately heron statue keeps watch.

If you fancy exploring Highgrove Gardens for yourself, they are open to the public from April to October, with garden tour e-vouchers available for 2023 dates. Visits can be booked online. 

Chrysanthemums are cool again, and now fall is in full swing, the trend has really taken off. You’ll find this retro favorite everywhere, blooming in pots on porches and adding the wow factor to overflowing window boxes.

When most other flowering plants have already died back ‘mums’ are one of the best fall flowers, adding a welcome pop of color during the fall months. 

'You can set them on your porch to add a welcome touch to anyone who sees them,' says Jen Stark, founder of gardening and DIY blog Happy DIY Home. 'The bold colors stand out nicely against the more muted autumn shades such as russet and brown.'

Alpha mums

First cultivated in China as a flowering herb – chrysanthemum tea is said to improve digestion and alleviate headaches – the ‘mum’ grows reliably across most zones of the USA and in Europe. Although they fell out of fashion, chrysanthemums are back in trend once more. 

'One of the biggest reasons chrysanthemums are so popular is because they have a reputation for symbolizing a long life, happiness, and joy,' says Jen. 

The National Chrysanthemum Society, USA has 13 official categories of ‘mums’, including stunning Pompons, feathery and delicate Quills and the breath-taking ball-shaped Reflex.

• Shop chrysanthemum plants in the US: view at Burpee
• Shop chrysanthemum plants in the UK: view at Thompson & Morgan

Perfect for a color pop

Chrysanthemums are a tough plant, making them the ideal option for gardens prone to harsh weather conditions. 

Plantsman Steven Dale, of Mowers and Yard Tools, says that this is one of the reasons why they offer good value for money and are perfect for budget backyard ideas: 'Chrysanthemums have a long blooming season, which means they will be in full bloom for a long period of time.'

If you opt for hardy garden mums (chrysanthemums morifolium), these are perennials, returning every year, once established in a garden.

Easy to grow

'Chrysanthemums are easy to grow because they have shallow roots and are easy to plant,' says master gardener Charlotte Ekker Wiggins, founder of Gardening Charlotte. 'If you happen to break off a branch you can also grow a new plant by rooting the cuttings in water.'

Mums are adaptable, work well with other long-flowering hardy plants and come in a range of colors to complement any garden color scheme including pure white, cheerful yellow, deep burgundies and purples and even soft lime green.

Charlotte adds that they also make a natural pest repellent, so you can use chrysanthemums to repel ants and other insects. 'Pyrethrins, the basis of most organic bug-deterring products, is basically natural pesticides found in chrysanthemums.'

Beloved by the Romans, used to add distinctive flavor to everything from curries to chilli, garlic (allium sativum) is now the most popular veg to grow in the US at this time of year. 

The number of people who want to learn how to grow garlic is on the up, according to gardening guru Jessica Damiano’s analysis of recent Google trends data collected by a gardening website All About Gardening.

'I compared Americans’ interest in growing garlic with interest in growing other fall-planted bulbs, like tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocus,' says Jessica. 'Surely, colorful blooms would trump the spicy, pungent vegetable.

'No. When people used the search term 'how to grow...' garlic was again the frontrunner when compared with those spring bulb plants.'

Why is garlic the most popular fall-planted crop?

Thomas McGee, owner of Pinch Spice Market, an online organic spice company, says that recent interest in growing all kinds of veg at home is leading to the popularity of garlic. 

'Most of the garlic consumed in the US, whether fresh or dehydrated, is produced in China, I believe something like 90 per cent or more. But we get a lot of people that are looking for garlic grown in the USA now.'

Garlic bulbs are readily available at Amazon and other online retailers, as well as at your local garden center, and planting them in a raised garden bed or kitchen garden couldn't be easier. 

Choose the right variety for your climate

If you’re interested in planting garlic, always choose the variety that’s best for your climate. There are two kinds of garlic. Hardneck garlic is suited to cooler northern areas in the US, and softneck is the choice for warmer climates. 

Softneck garlic, distinguished by several rows of smaller cloves, tends to store better than its hardneck cousin.

'Each household has its preferred flavor and the homegrown option allows each to grow the crop in the flavor they prefer,' says gardener Miguel Palma, of Jardin Tienda. 

'This versatility is the reason the crop is the most homegrown of all other vegetable options in the US. It also helps that it is an easy crop to grow at home, hence many households find it easy to grow it themselves.'

To give your crop the best possible chance of success, consider planting some of the best companion plants for garlic alongside your fall-planted bulbs. 

Swerve supermarket sorts

Garlic bulbs are cheap and easy to buy, but Jessica warns against planting those you find in the supermarket or store. 

'Shop-bought garlic is often treated with growth inhibitors to prevent sprouting at the store and in your refrigerator. It also may not be the type best suited for your growing conditions.'  

Will you give growing garlic a go this fall?

Here’s a good old-fashioned tip for fall gardening. Before your herbaceous perennials go back down to ground level for the winter, mark their position with a stake, pole or stick in the ground. 

But why should you add this simple task to your fall gardening checklist? 'It will avoid accidentally damaging these plants when you’re digging over flower beds or borders, planting spring-flowering bulbs or adding new plants,' says flower farmer and gardening expert Fionnuala Fallon. 

If you have dahlias, Fionnuala also recommends using stakes to remind yourself that come springtime, you’ll need to protect emerging young shoots against slug and snail damage. 'If you’re leaving dahlia tubers in the ground overwinter, then do the same with these half-hardy, tuberous perennials before giving them a protective mulch,' she says.

Simple tip for marking out perennials

If your borders put on a glorious display during the summer months, you’re probably missing their wonderful colors and shapes. 

When you’re cutting them back to ensure plants are protected from frost and will reach optimum performance again next year, adding a decorative stake will bring interest back to the garden. 

You can even find stakes with built-in bird feeders, to help wildlife through the winter too. We like this adjustable shepherd's hook design from Amazon, which can be used for hanging everything from bird feeders to lanterns from its decorative hook. 

Add a tag

'Marking perennials before the hard frosts of winter force them to die back is a trick seasoned gardeners know well,' says Jamie Rae, spokesperson for Green Cottage Garden. 'Clearly labeling your perennials will ensure that you don't accidentally weed them out when spring cleaning, and will help you plan your flower bed ideas for the next season.'

Jamie recommends using large labels, and writing with a permanent marker to ensure seasonal snows and heavy rain don’t erase the details. Alternatively, these aluminium plant labels from Amazon are hardwearing and can be re-used from one year to the next. 

Set stakes securely

When winter winds howl, you don’t want all your efforts to be in vain, so make sure your stakes are firmly implanted in the ground and they won’t blow away, advises Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love.

In the long throes of winter it's easy to forget what beautiful perennials await rebirth beneath the ground, so Jeremy also recommends keeping a visual record.

'I also will usually either take a picture or draw a diagram of my garden as a back-up measure. That way, should something happen to the stakes, I can still figure out what plants are where in my garden borders just fine.'

Did you know that historic city of Charleston, South Carolina is home to the magnificent Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, believed to be America’s oldest public garden? 

Dating back to 1676, when Thomas Drayton and his wife, Ann, moved from Barbados to the Deep South to start a rice plantation, it’s still in the same family ownership, 15 generations later. 

'Although it first welcomed guests in 1870, two decades after the US Botanic Garden debuted [in Washington D.C], Magnolia Plantation and Gardens asserts that it is the country's oldest public garden,' says a spokesperson. 'Additionally, it is said to have the oldest Indica Azalea collection in the nation.'

And, these 464 acres, created in the Romantic style with sweeping bridges, drifts of naturalised daffodils and bursts of vivid color, also offer some amazingly inspirational ideas to take away if you’re thinking of planning some new garden design ideas for your own backyard scheme. 

Be inspired by the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

Each generation of the family has added to the overall style of the gardens over the years. Here are some of our favorite things to look out for and how you can adapt them to your own backyard ideas. 

1. Reflective glory

Built on a peninsula bordered by the Ashley and Cooper rivers, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens has always made creative use of abundant water. 

A key theme of the space is reflection, which you can easily recreate at home by edging a small wildlife pond with grasses, sculptural perennials such as tall lilies and, if you have space, elegant trees.

2. Wildflower borders

There’s been plenty of time over the centuries for wildflowers such as cone-flowers and daisies to establish themselves in the informal borders of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, self-seeding to create a glorious display in the summer months. 

If you want to create a border that looks more like a wildflower meadow than a formal display, simply scatter a wildflower seed mix in freshly raked soil, cover lightly, and water gently. Or collect your own seeds from your favorite roadside plants.

3. Statement plants

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is renowned for its outstanding collection of Indica Azaleas – and has acres of space to display them. But even if your backyard is super-bijou, you can specialize in one particular kind of plant. 

Pelargoniums or hydrangeas are good choices. Easy to grow and maintain, a massed collection will bring a sense of purpose and coherence to even small backyards.

4. Take to the trees

Statuesque oak and cypress trees characterise the historic landscape of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, but if you have only a small tree in your backyard, why not incorporate some flower-filled hanging basket ideas into your space and try suspending your creation from its branches? It looks really natural, can be adjusted to suit the season and makes a lovely surprise for your own garden visitors. 

Can you visit the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens?

Located in Charleston, South Carolina, The Magnolia Plantation and Gardens are open to visitors every day from 9am-5pm (except for Christmas Eve, 9am-3pm, and closed on Christmas Day). 

A general admission ticket will give you access to the historic gardens, zoo and nature center, the Tropical Conservatory and the horticultural maze. It also includes the guided 'From Slavery to Freedom' tour. 

All tickets must be purchased on site on arrival. 

All houseplants love humidity, right? Wrong, say these experts, who warn that there are some varieties of plants that can't cope with a steamy environment. 

So if you’re bringing houseplants indoors for the winter, don’t assume they will all be happy spending the colder months as bathroom plants, warns Kiera Kay, plant expert at plant and flower delivery company, Bloom and Wild. 

'When choosing the plants to go in your bathroom, look for the type that like to tolerate shade or low to medium light, higher humidity and warm temperatures,' she explains. 

Keep cacti out

Definitely don’t allow cacti and other indoor succulents into the steamy rainforest-like atmosphere, says Jo Lambell, founder of plant company Beards & Daisies, and author of The Unkillables: 40 Resilient House Plants for New Plant Parents (available on Amazon). 

'Whilst bathrooms can often make an ideal home for your more tropical leafy plants, cacti aren’t always best suited to the humid conditions of a bath or shower room,' she says. 

'When looking for the perfect spot for your new indoor plant, consider your plant's origins – with most cacti growing in dry, hot desert conditions, you’ll want to recreate that as best possible to keep a happy plant. Cacti enjoy plenty of natural indirect sunlight - which a lot of bathrooms don’t offer.'

Get in the zone

All houseplants originally came from quite specific global locations, so look up their origins before making the move indoors, say the experts at online plant marketplace, HeyPlants: 'The question to ask yourself is, ‘what region is this plant originally from?’ If it's not native to a tropical region it may not survive well in humid conditions.'

Kiera advises resisting the temptation to re-locate fruiting plants (which need lots of sunshine), plus the Jade plant, gardenia and the exotic Hibiscus, both sharing some origins in mountainous China and Tibet, in bathrooms: 'Plants like these don’t thrive in the typically warmer and less sunlit bathroom environment.'

Plant practicalities

Some plants, such as the Monkey Face Monstera, Ponytail Palm and Euphorbia candelabrum, don’t need a lot of water, especially over the more dormant winter period. Exposing these varieties to too much moisture can lead to their roots rotting and eventual plant collapse.

Other outdoor/indoor plants, for example, the Strelitzia nicolai, also known as the white bird of paradise plant, are simply likely to grow too large to lead a healthy life in a confined indoor garden in bathroom space, experts agree. They would do better overwintering in a living room or spacious hallway.

It might be tempting to give your lawn that final trim before winter sets in, but take care and only do it when the conditions are right, experts are warning. 

If you don't, not only could you end up causing problems with your lawn care for winter, but chances are you'll risk ruining your lawn mower too. 

'Mowing lawns during wet or cold weather conditions can be detrimental, not only to the lawn, but to the machinery itself,' says Paul Chappell, co-owner of gardening tool manufacturer, DTW Tools and Machinery. 

Cold weather causes havoc

Did you know that cold weather has a very specific damaging effect on the blades of even the best lawn mower? 

'When the weather is cold, the blades of lawn mowers become less efficient, particularly in older or well-used models,' Paul explains. 'They struggle to get the momentum they need to spin quickly enough to cut the grass blades. This leads to grass getting caught in the mechanism, which can wreak havoc with the machine itself.'

Wet weather is even worse

'Wet weather is even more problematic,' Paul warns. 'Mowing straight after rainfall or even when there is dampness or mildew on grass blades means that grass is more likely to clump and jam the blades of the mower. This causes strain on the machinery and can lead to the mower blocking up and overheating.' 

He adds that the same is true for other garden power tools such as leaf blowers, strimmers and trimmers. So the rule is simple; wait for a spell of mild, clear days before considering whether it's the right time to mow the lawn before winter arrives.

Take care of your tools

At this time of year, it is doubly important to clean your lawn mower carefully after each use, and especially before you put it away safely and securely in your garden tool storage, ideally covered in a thick, waterproof blanket, until spring. 

'Before winter comes around you want to clean the deck of any dampness and residue. This is the part that stops blades and debris from shooting out, it protects you and the engine of the lawn mower,' says Chris Bonnett, founder of gardening website Gardening Express.

'A lot of people don’t consider this part of their lawn mower but if you don’t clean this, you could end up leaving it exposed to moisture throughout the winter and it may begin corroding and affecting the lawn mower's performance.'

Consider yourself warned. 

Trend forecasters are saying that terracotta will be everywhere in 2023, finally helping to banish the grays and neutrals which have dominated outdoor furniture and accessories, with this natural hue reflected in planting too. 

Looking at garden trends for the year ahead, the new US Garden Trends Report  says, 'terracotta can add warmth and vibrancy,' to any outdoor scheme, which is perhaps just what we all need in challenging times. 

Why is terracotta is a top backyard trend for 2023?

'Terracotta gardening is trending for 2023 because it is an easy way to add texture and color to your garden,' says Stacie Krljanovic, head groundkeeper at Patio Productions. 

This rich, yet neutral shade lends itself to all kinds of garden design ideas, from Moroccan or Mediterranean-inspired schemes for hot, arid zones to the traditional appeal of an English-style country garden. 

'Terracotta is soft, but it’s a very powerful color,' says designer Martine Claessens. 'It has a lot of the qualities of orange – enthusiasm, spontaneous, gives energy and brings joy – but it has a more comforting feeling than orange because of the mix with brown.'

Plants are natural partners

The expert trend forecasters are saying that the terracotta trend will also influence flowers and plants, from pansies to prize dahlias, just two blooms which come in a range of coppery hues. 

Their recommendations for your pots and flower beds also include the vibrant Sombrero Adobe Orange Coneflower (available at Amazon), a delicate Tecoma, ‘Red Hot’ (available at Monrovia), the vibrant Veranda Mango rose (available at Amazon) and long-lasting Coppertop Sweet Viburnum (available at Plants By Mail). 

'The new growth on this gorgeous and low-maintenance landscape star, Coppertop Sweet Viburnum, is dark maroon to terracotta, providing season-long appeal,' says a US Garden Trends Report spokesperson. 

Terracotta is affordable and recyclable

If you’re looking for garden planter ideas 'terracotta is often seen as a more affordable option than some other materials available on the market,' says organic gardener Lindsey Hyland, founder of Urban Organic Yield. 

'So if you're looking for an affordable way to add some warmth to your garden, terracotta may be the right choice for you.'

There are plenty of good-value terracotta planters available online at the likes of Amazon, but it's also possible to find beautifully aged terracotta pots second-hand, online, at yard sales or in reclamation yards. And of course, should a terracotta pot get broken, the pieces make perfect crocks in the bottom of other planters to aid drainage, because terracotta is a permeable material.

The prestigious US National Garden Bureau has given amaryllis the honor of Bulb of the Year 2023, putting this stunning, yet easy-to-care-for plant center stage.

'The members of National Garden Bureau have chosen amaryllis to be our “Year of the” plant in the bulb category because they are wildly popular, easy to grow and bring much-needed joy indoors during cold and dreary winter months,' says spokesperson Diane Blazek. 

At a time of year when planting bulbs is top of most people's to-do list, just what is it about this pretty plant that means you should consider adding it to your planting list? 

Why has amaryllis been crowned Bulb of the Year 2023?

'Whether single-flowered or double, they come in many colors and bulb sizes so there is something for everyone,' says Diane Blazek from the National Garden Bureau.

Native to Africa, the genus amaryllis comes from the Greek word amarysso, which means ‘to sparkle’. The bulbs were brought to Europe in the 1700s and then to the USA, and have been known to bloom for up to 75 years. 

As well as the popular reds and pinks, the large, trumpet-shaped flowers, come in a range of colors including white, yellow and variegated. The amaryllis is also easy to grow, making it well-suited to a variety of growing conditions.

• Shop amaryllis bulbs in the US: view at Amazon
• Shop amaryllis bulbs in the UK: view at Amazon

A star performer

'Amaryllis has everything going for it,' says Elle Meager, CEO of gardening and homesteading website Outdoor Happens, who was apprenticed in a Dutch bulb nursery specializing in raising the plant. 'Each variety flaunts gorgeous flowers that are unrivaled. There aren't many plants that are quite as spectacular when in bloom as the amaryllis.'

Elle says that what she loves most is its versatility: 'In warmer regions, this is a bulb you can plant and forget. Once planted, it requires almost no care to keep flowering profusely and it multiplies by itself – giving you free plants to re-plant in a different location or container. 

'In cooler regions, you can grow amaryllis outdoors when the weather is warm, and move it indoors or to a warmer location before the first frosts arrive.'

The perfect holiday plant

Amaryllis is one of best Thanksgiving and Christmas plants you can give. 'It’s perfect for bringing color into anyone’s home, especially during the dreary winter season,' says Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love. 

'Amaryllis plants are tall, have large blossoms, and just have a really cool, unique appearance. They make an excellent gift or addition to your own indoor garden during the holiday season. Their flowers are red or pink, they thrive at this time of year.'

They're also one of the top options if you want to learn how to force bulbs indoors for a bright and bold seasonal holiday display. 

With so many benefits, will you be adding amaryllis to your bulb planting list?

Saving seeds helps preserve native species, saves gardeners money and could now help save the planet too.

In the US, Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) has been on a mission to protect the diversity of America’s endangered garden and food crop seeds since 1975. 

With collecting seeds from flowers and crops growing in popularity, it allows members to share and swap open-pollinated seeds – so no F1 hybrids, genetically-engineered or poisonous plants – for free, just charging for shipping.

And now, as fears over climate change and food security grow, SSE’s job has become more important than ever. 

Why saving heirloom seeds matters

This non-governmental organization, the largest global network of gardeners of its kind, is currently preserving, distributing and sharing more than 20,000 varieties of open-pollinated heirloom vegetable, herb and flower seeds – plus 1,500 varieties of apples and 290 garlic varieties – across the country.

'Gardening with and saving seeds from open-pollinated varieties not only increases agricultural biodiversity but also helps varieties change and adapt to particular climate and soil conditions, thus ensuring a more stable food supply today and in the future,' says Sara Straate, seed historian at Seed Savers Exchange.   

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the world lost a staggering 75 per cent of crop diversity between 1900 and 2000. Sara adds that this is one of the reasons why the global food system is at such high risk.

Sowing seeds of success

Planting indigenous US seeds helps the home gardener celebrate their own heritage by planting traditional varieties of American favorites such as corn and tomatoes. And this feel-good factor is helping to contribute to food security. 

'There are some garden crops, like cauliflower, in which we have seen a decline, but there have also been a huge increase in the number of varieties available in bean, garlic, eggplant, pepper, and tomatoes between the 1985 and 2015 Seed Trade Census,' says Sara. 

'This success can be attributed to the heirloom seed movement, the mission work of Seed Savers Exchange, collaborations like the Heirloom Collards Project, and the growth of small- to mid-sized open-pollinated heirloom seed companies.'

Save your own seeds

There are many ways you can your own seeds and help save indigenous US species and money too. Some seeds, such as melon and pumpkin, are extremely easy to harvest, as our guide on how to save pumpkin seeds explains.  

As well as joining the SSE, look out for local seed-sharing groups in your neighborhood – they’re often advertised on social media and are the easiest way to get free seeds.

Which seeds will you be saving this fall?

Growing herbs is a great way to add variety to your backyard, attract pollinating insects, and add extra oomph to home-cooked dishes. 

However, as fall brings colder temperatures in many US zones, your sun-loving summer herb garden ideas can begin to look past their past, with favorites such as basil wilting outdoors.

'You’ll want to make sure you’re replacing some of the more classic summer herbs like basil and tarragon for heartier herbs like parsley and sage,' says Tom Monson, owner of Minnesota-based gardens company Monson Lawn and Landscaping. 

3 easy herb swaps for fall

Some of the best herbs to grow in your garden are suitable for planting in fall, making it easy to replace your summer varieties. 

'Remember, you want to make sure your fall herbs are able to withstand colder temperatures and more moisture, which is why it’s especially important to have them planted in well-draining soil,' says Tom Monson. 

Here are three swaps to try. 

1. Swap basil for oregano

If you love that touch of Italian seasoning in your food, the first thing to do is swap basil for oregano, says expert gardener Jen Stark, founder of the Happy DIY Home blog.  

'Basil is a lovely summer herb that doesn't do well in cooler weather. On the other hand, oregano is much more robust and can handle the cooler fall temperatures just fine.'

• Shop for oregano plants in the US: view at Amazon
• Shop for oregano plants in the UK: view at Amazon

2. Swap cilantro for parsley

A fresh green garnish can lift any dish, but in October, cilantro may start to struggle. 'I find cilantro won't make it much longer through the year and so this tends to get replaced by a few parsley herbs which I'd started off already to help get them established,' says Alex Tinsman, gardener at How to Houseplant. 

'If they're kept in a sheltered position you should be able to benefit from year round parsley. If you do get harsh frosts you may need to protect your plants from frost by covering them, or keep a pot on a windowsill somewhere instead.'

• Shop for parsley plants in the US: view at Amazon
• Shop for parsley plants in the UK: view at Amazon

3. Swap thyme for sage

Whilst thyme will still thrive in warmer zones, sage is almost guaranteed to keep growing whatever the mercury says. 

Plus, says Inez Stanway, CEO of crafting and home-making website Live Laugh Create, sage is the perfect addition to hearty fall meals: 'Sage pairs well with other winter favorites like potatoes, onions, and squash.

'As a result, it can help to give your dishes a more robust flavor. So if you're looking to change things up this season, consider adding some sage to your herb garden repertoire.' 

• Shop for sage plants in the US: view at Amazon
• Shop for sage plants in the UK: view at Amazon

Which herbs will you swapping out in your kitchen garden this season?

If you’re looking at your planters and thinking it’s time to update them for fall and the coming winter, don’t feel you have to throw everything out and start again. 

For a start it’s bad for the environment, and if you can carefully curate what you have, you’ll save money when refreshing your fall planters too. 

With that in mind, one garden expert has a simple bread knife hack that could make the process of refreshing your planters a whole lot easier this season. 

Using a bread knife to refresh planters

Garden coach Denise Hodgins recommends using a a shaped, serrated knife or root knife, like this Hori Hori knife from Amazon, to remove the plants which really are past their best.

'But if you don’t have one, pick up a basic bread knife at a discount store. It will work just as well,' she explains. 

'Simply cut around the plants you want to remove from your garden planter. By doing this, you will not disrupt the plants you want to keep. Once the plants have been removed, you can now add some fall flowers for seasonal interest.'

Which plants to use? 

But do you have to use the best winter plants for pots every time, or are there some alternatives?

In San Diego, where frost is a rarity, gardener Nan Sterman of The Waterwise Gardener, keeps most of her container plants year-round, thinning out only those that have grown too large or succumbed to disease. 

'In general, what we grow in containers are not necessarily "container plants" but rather plants that will grow in containers. Succulents, for example, have shallow roots make them very adaptable to containers.'

Fall and winter bloomers she adds include pelargonium, perennial salvia, aloe, tagetes lemmonii, alstroemeria, lavandula, bougainvillea, and arctotis.

Embrace a range of different plants

Fresh fall foliage doesn’t have to be flower-focused either. Denise says that as well as traditional favorites such as ‘mums’ (chrysanthemums) and multi-colored asters, 'ornamental peppers, flowering cabbages and kale' will fill those holes and make a stunning container gardening display that reflects the seasonal themes of harvest and Thanksgiving. 

Gardening expert Francesca Cocchi at The Pioneer Woman has a top fall planting tip too. 'You can stick to just one flower variety per pot or follow the popular "thriller, filler, and spiller" approach by combining a tall, eye-catching flower with a shorter bloom and a trailing bloom.

'Just make sure flowers planted in the same pot have similar requirements for soil, light, and watering.'

A tall grass, coneflowers or black-eyed Susans, plus pansies and a trailing plant such creeping Jenny would work well in this kind of scheme, suggests Denise.

What are your favorite fall plant combos?

If you want a host of golden daffodils early next year, fall is the time to get them in the ground. But did you know that cheerful and easy to grow daffodil bulbs can also deter deer, mice, squirrels and other vermin from invading your patch?

'Daffodils can help to ward off dangerous wildlife such as deer,' says nature expert Kasey Turner, founder of the Nature Nibble website. 'This is because they contain a bioflavonoid compound called apigenin that is toxic to these animals. Studies have shown that their populations decline significantly when daffodils are planted near livestock or other areas where deer habitually feed.'

Why can daffodils deter pests?

Daffodils also contain lycorine, an alkaloid which is toxic to many animals but not to humans, although it causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea if ingested in large amounts. 

'This makes daffodils a useful plant to grow if you're looking to deter squirrels, rodents, rabbits and other animals from your garden,' says Violet Joy Miller, founder of Greeny Thumbs. 'These animals can smell lycorine and will stay away from the plant.'

• Shop daffodil bulbs in the US: view at Amazon
• Shop daffodil bulbs in the UK: view at Amazon

Does it work?

'I remember my mum's garden backs onto a park and she would suffer at the hands of deer, especially in late winter when there wasn't a great deal of food around,' says Alex Tinsman, founder of How to Houseplant.

'They loved the hostas in her garden, and some of the vegetables she had growing. Since putting daffodil bulbs throughout the garden and the hedgerow it seems to so far have kept them away.'

Adding several varieties of deer-resistant plants to your plot alongside your daffodils can also be an effective way of stopping them from eating all of your treasured blooms. 

Get planting

There is such a huge choice of this easy to plant bulb - from familiar bright yellow types to new hybrids in delicate shades of pale peach and lemon. It can be difficult to know which to choose from the many types of daffodils available, but if you’re planning to plant to ward off destructive wildlife, choose a sturdy spreader. 

If you have the space in your backyard, plant as many as you can can in large drifts, spacing bulbs around six inches apart. 

Not only will you get to enjoy the results come spring, you might also have the added benefit of less pests in your yard too. 

Celebrated British gardener Alan Titchmarsh is warning that lazy gardeners who leave their lawns under a carpet of fallen leaves this fall are putting their precious grass at risk. 

'Your lawn is probably drowning at the moment under a blanket of leaves,' he says. 'Now you may be tempted to think I’ll wait until they’re all down on the lawn and then I’ll have one big clean up. Don’t!'

Alan, a regular TV gardening show presenter and author of countless gardening books, says that whilst cleaning up leaves may be time-consuming, it’s a vital task for your lawn care.

Fallen leaves warning

If you’re keen on practising healthy autumn lawn care heed Alan’s advice: 'If they sit there for weeks, and oak leaves remember don’t come down till about Christmas, by the time you rake them off in that one big clean up you’ll find that there’s no grass left underneath – it’ll be killed off.'

This is because leaves cause damage to lawns by starving them of much-needed light and air, which quickly kills off healthy grass plants.

Cleaning up leaves doesn't have to be a really time-consuming task. 'The easiest way is to rake them up with a simple leaf rake, like this one from Amazon,' says Gardeningetc editor Beth Murton. 'It's nice and long so there's less need to bend down when completing this gardening task.' 

Leaves can look after wildlife

However, horticulturist, Charlotte Bailey, who has a MSc in Botanical Conservation, and runs specialist plant website Oh So Garden, disagrees. 

She says that in many cases, leaving some leaves on your lawn can be beneficial to the grass: 'As they decompose they can act as a natural organic fertilizer, adding key nutrients such as nitrogen to your lawn’s soil. 

'Mowing your leafy lawn can also help small critters and micro-organisms break down the matter faster; leading to a quicker nutrient uptake in spring.'

Creating a mini ecosystem

In addition, Charlotte adds, the leaf layer itself is its own mini ecosystem. 'If you want to do your part for your community’s wildlife, keep some of those leaves. Leaves act as a natural habitat and feeding ground for butterflies, chipmunks, hogs, squirrels, earthworms and even shrews,' is her advice. 'Raking leaves away disrupts their life cycle and eliminates beneficial insects.'

One way to balance things out is to allow part of the lawn to remain covered with leaves; when leaves break down they become food for bacteria and fungi. The bacteria and fungi remove the nitrogen from the leaves, leaving behind leaf mold, prized as a material for mulching because it is rich in organic material.

Follow our step-by-step guide on how to make a pumpkin planter and you can create a stunning centerpiece for your front porch or patio this holiday season.

While grocery stores are full of plump pumpkins that are all ready for carving into Halloween lanterns, why not pick one up and use it to create a display with a bit of a difference outside your front door? A generous-sized pumpkin is the perfect shape to carve into a quirky planter for your outdoor Halloween decor ideas. 

Don't want to stop at a single planter? You could use other varieties of squash and different sized pumpkins for a varied collection of planters. Most of us will have carved a pumpkin before so this planter should be easy peasy! 

Make a pumpkin planter in 3 easy steps

Outdoor fall decor doesn't have to be all about scary Jack O'Lanterns and spooky scenes. A pretty pumpkin planter like this will introduce a decorative touch to your yard, and you can even keep it as part of your fall front porch ideas long after the trick or treaters have left. 

You will need: 

• A decent sized pumpkin
• Pumpkin carving knife or kit, available from Amazon
• Large spoon
• Multi purpose compost, try Amazon
• Choice of plants (try Solanum, orange heather, trailing ivy)
• Watering can

1. Hollow out the pumpkin

Start by cutting the top off the pumpkin. Scoop out the flesh and seeds from inside in the same way you would if you were carving a pumpkin to make a Halloween lantern. 

Make the round opening on the top of the pumpkin as wide as you can – this will help you to fit in as many plants as possible. Cut a couple of small holes in the bottom for drainage too as waterlogging will be no good for the plants or the pumpkin.

Our top tip? Instead of discarding the scraped out inside, at the very least you can add the seeds and the pulp to your compost heap. You can even clean the seeds up and roast them in the oven for tasty snacks for you or birds in your garden.

2. Fill your pumpkin with plants

Half fill the hollowed-out pumpkin with a good-quality multi-purpose planting compost, just as you would do when creating a standard fall planter in a pot or container.

Next is the fun part as you can get creative and arrange a mix of seasonal fall flowers and plants in shades of orange and yellow for a really autumnal vibe. Solanum, heather and ivy are good choices for fall color, but any winter plants for pots would work well and there will be plenty on offer at your local garden center. 

'If you'd prefer to add cut flowers to your pumpkin planter instead, simply switch out the compost for some chicken wire or a flower frog at the bottom of the planter and insert the flower stems into it,' says Gardeningetc's Holly Crossley. 'If you're lucky enough to still have some in bloom, adding a mix of different types of dahlias would make a stunning look, or dried hydrangeas from your backyard would be equally effective.' 

3. Display your pumpkin planter

Fill in any gaps in your pumpkin planter with more of the compost and don't forget about watering plants to give them a good start. 

Pop your finished DIY outdoor fall decoration on a table as a centerpiece or as a seasonal greeting on your front porch. 

Can you use a real pumpkin as a planter? 

In short, yes! Any pumpkin can be turned into a seasonal planter for your Halloween porch decor, although you might find that a rounder pumpkin with a flatter bottom will be better suited as it will be easier to keep it upright on a table or front porch. 

'And don't forget, pumpkins come in a wide range of colors,' say the experts at The Greenhouse People. 'You can find white, green and even blue pumpkins and gourds, so there's no need to stick to garish oranges if this doesn’t suit your style.'

Due to increasingly extreme weather patterns and longer, hotter summers caused by climate change, the interest in growing native species of plants that are better equipped to deal with these challenging conditions is on the up. 

Expert gardeners Mark and Ben Cullen, leading advocates of the new fascination with raising native species across North America and Canada, say that gardeners should be aiming to plant at least 70 per cent of their garden in native species that range from grasses to ferns, trees, flowers and herbs to create more sustainable gardens and combat climate change.

'We call this a nature-based climate solution,' says Mark Cullen. 'These have countless add-on benefits that relate to an improved natural environment, ranging from increased bio-diversity to overall lower costs.'

Why the switch to native plants? 

Mark and Ben explain that native plants grew naturally, before the Europeans arrived about 500 years ago. Native plants generally require less water, no winter protection, or insect and disease control.

Native perennials adjust to a warmer, drier climate by developing deeper root systems. They sequester more carbon into the soil. Native plants have the added benefit of supporting birds, insects, bees and butterflies that co-evolved with them, which increases biodiversity and resilience in the face of climate change. It's just one of the many ways that climate change is impacting the way we garden. 

Swap out for sustainable species

So where should you start if you want to go down this route for your own backyard? Try swapping out species recommended by the North American Native Plant Society (NANPS), including adding a native fern or sedge rather than a hosta for a shady spot, using locally collected seeds to fill gaps in cottage gardens instead of spending money on professionally raised perennials, and using big native types of ornamental grass such as Big Bluestem or Indian Grass to fill gaps at the back of sunny borders.

The beauty of gardening with native plants is that many species will pretty much look after themselves, so if you’re interested in how to plant a wildflower meadow, they’re a great choice. 

Start with a single plant

Gardening with native plants can seem like a huge challenge, with lots of unfamiliar plant names and difficult questions about what is truly native to a particular area, says Ali Hayes, communications co-ordinator for the North American Native Plant Society. 

'However, you don’t have to dig up your rose garden if you don’t want to. No-one is expecting you to pull up your whole lawn and cover the area with a prairie – at least not the first day. The best way to start is very small, maybe even with a single plant.' 

Check out the North American Native Plant Society’s (NANPS) list for some great suggestions on easy swaps you can make. 

Early fall is one of the key times of year for picking apples, and whether you're already growing them in your own yard or are thinking of adding one of these fruit trees to your space, experts advise you'll be making a great choice. 

Apples are one of the most sustainable crops you can grow, says organic gardening expert Marissa Ames at Mother Earth News. Modern techniques for growing organic apples such as moth traps, fruit barriers, and organic insecticides, like bacterial toxins that only target caterpillars, are helping turn this humble fruit into a possible lifesaver when it comes to fears over food security.

What makes apples such a special homegrown crop? 

'Apples’ storability, their versatility for recipes, and the long lives of the trees themselves place the fruit at the top of a list of sustainable fruit crops for food security,' says Marissa. 

There’s lots of advice for how to harvest apples as well as storing apples correctly so you can get the most from your crop. And let's not forget there are plenty of easy ways to use them in preserves and cooking – and not just good old apple pie.

Joelle Kurczodyna, nutritional therapy practitioner, gardening expert and founder of From Scratch Farmstead, agrees and adds that growing interest in organic food is also behind the new interest in this traditional crop. 

'I think one of the big reasons apples are growing in popularity for the home gardener is because more and more people are becoming educated on where their food is coming from and are therefore interested in eating healthy non-sprayed, organically grown produce,' says Joelle. 

What's best for your zone?

Many different types of apples can be grown in the United States, but a few stand out as the best for each hardiness zone.

'For those in the Northeast, Honeycrisp apples are a great choice because they are hardy and have a sweet flavor,' says Lindsey Hyland, gardening expert at Urban Organic Yield. 

'In the Midwest, Granny Smith apples grow well and are perfect for making pies. Braeburn apples are a good option for those living in the Southwest of the US because they also resist pests and diseases. 

'Finally, those in the Northwest US should choose Royal Gala apples, which thrive in cooler climates.'

Bountiful benefits

As well as being easy to care for and less susceptible to pests than softer fruits such as gooseberries and raspberries, apple trees are a great backyard tree because they are relatively small and have a long blooming period, says Lindsay. 

Apples also produce a lot of fruit, which can be helpful if you're trying to create a wildlife garden. 

In addition, learning how to prune apple trees isn't too complicated, and they are resistant to most pests and diseases – yet more reasons why they’re a great choice for home gardeners.

As fall temperatures drop it’s time to bring houseplants which have basked in summer warmth back indoors. 

After their outdoor vacation and summer in the sun, your best indoor plants will be thriving and ready to green up the interior of your home during the cooler months. 

But one gardening expert, Gail Pabst, marketing communications officer for the US National Garden Bureau, warns that the last thing you want to do is bring a whole load of damaging and destructive pests along for the ride.

The benefits of washing houseplants

'Hitchhiking pests such as aphids, spider mites, mealy bugs and scale can rapidly become a problem in a warm indoor environment without insect predators, as the population has the ability to go through several life cycles indoors,' she says.

She recommends instigating an at-home IPM (integrated pest management) system. If this sounds complicated, don’t worry. Put simply, all it means for home gardeners is giving plants a thorough hosing using horticultural soap (available from Amazon) and water, followed by a treatment of horticultural oil. 

How it works

Horticultural soap is usually made of potassium fatty acids that kills pests on contact. Horticultural oil can often be petroleum-based, or derived from fish and plants. There are also insecticidal soaps and oils which may contain chemicals. Always check the label carefully, especially if you favor organic gardening methods.  

Whilst soap and water work well on soft-boded insects, oil targets hard-bodied pests, such as beetles and scale, by smothering them.

'We still don’t understand exactly how soap kills (or doesn’t kill) an insect,' says Marissa Schuh, extension educator, integrated pest management at the University of Minnesota. 'The working theory is that the soap washes off a protective coating on the insect's body, causing it to dry out. Because of this potential cause and effect, only certain insects are susceptible; small, soft-bodied insects are those most likely to be controlled.'

When you’re cleaning your houseplants, Gail’s advice is to start with the soap and water, trying to remove as many insects as possible using your fingers, rinsing with a garden hose afterwards. 

Then, spray with horticultural oil, also available at Amazon, using your hands to make sure it coats all parts of the plant, including the front and back of the leaves. If your plant has a severe infestation, you may need to repeat this process several times. Our guide on how to use neem oil on plants has plenty more tips too. 

Do it outdoors

'Giving a plant a bath with horticultural soap and a hose before bringing it back inside is fantastically freeing, as you don't need to worry about indoor surfaces and can spray with abandon,' says Gail. 

However, she warns that you should always remove any leaves that are yellowed or heavily infested with insects, rather than trying to treat them.

Plants have suffered and shrivelled and lawns turned to dust, and now scientists are reporting that the extreme heat and lack of rain this summer is also leading to a decline in the population of slugs.

This discovery will obviously be music to your ears if you're always on the lookout for how to get rid of slugs in the garden, but it might not be such good news as you think as slugs can play a vital role in the overall biodiversity of your plot. 

Why are slug numbers reduced?

'Slugs and snails will have suffered greatly this summer,' says Paul Hetherington, director at Buglife, an organisation devoted to the conservation of invertebrates.

'When it’s really hot, slugs go deep down into the ground, and snails go into hibernation, similar to the way they do over winter. But this prolonged heat and baking of the ground is likely to have killed an awful lot of them.'

Although slugs have a bad reputation, in the UK at least, only nine of the 44 recognised species actually eat garden plants, according to the RHS, which no longer classes slugs as pests. 

'The majority are very beneficial in the garden because they break down dead plant matter and turn it back into compost,' says Paul. 'There’s also the knock-on effect on things that eat slugs and snails: song thrushes, amphibians, hedgehogs – all of these creatures are in decline at the moment.'

Searching for slugs

Dr Hayley Jones, senior entomologist at the RHS, has been conducting research into slug numbers this summer. 

She says: 'We were searching for slugs in July and August as part of a RHS summer studentship project and found them hard to find over this period. They reappeared in late August once the rain came, as slugs are generally very resilient. However, we would expect that the protracted drought means fewer individuals survived the summer, so numbers will be reduced.'

Slugs sort out the soil

This reduction in numbers might well make you relieved for the fate of crops in your kitchen garden. 'We know that slugs will eat away any foliage, especially tender leaves and stems of seedlings,' says Vera Kutsenko, founder and CEO at plant nursery Neverland. 'If you have slugs, they will take bites randomly at vegetables in your garden, such as strawberries,' 

'But on the other hand, slugs may also break down garden debris into nitrogen-rich fertilizer, and that has got to be good for any garden.'

Once slug numbers start to increase again after this summer's drought, adding slug repellent plants to your beds and borders can be a great way to ensure they don't chew their way through all of your precious blooms. 

If your metal garden furniture is looking slightly worse for wear after a hardworking summer of entertaining and extreme temperatures, you might be looking for an easy and organic way of removing the rust. 

Rust is a common problem for outdoor furniture, particularly if it is made from iron or steel. Over time, the metal will start to oxidize, leading to unsightly brown or red patches which need removing. Rust can lead to serious decay, even destroying the stability of furniture legs and seats.

If you’re looking for a cheap and chemical-free way of getting your garden furniture back to its best again, Chris Bonnett, founder of the garden plants and products company GardeningExpress.co.uk says you shouldn't overlook the humble potato.

Using a potato to remove rust from outdoor furniture

Like that already well-known organic lemon juice rust-removal tip, using a potato requires no special equipment or use of chemicals. 

Chris says the first step in cleaning outdoor furniture in this way would to sand down as much of the existing rust as you can with fine sandpaper or a baking soda and water solution. 

Then simply take a potato – any decent-sized variety will do – cut it in half and rub it along the surface of the rust-affected area, applying decent pressure as you do so. You can also rub the furniture with the potato’s skin.

Why can a potato help remove rust?

'Potatoes contain oxalic acid, which can dissolve rust and remove dirty brown rust stains from metal furniture,' agrees Jamie Penney, home improvement and outdoor design expert and CEO of home advice service The Backyard Pros. 

When the potato and metal meet, it starts a chemical reaction which weakens the rust. After the rust starts to flake, clean it off with an old rag, Jamie advises.

What kind of potato works best?

It's best to choose a potato with a decent thick skin, so avoid the red-skinned varieties. 

The key is to make sure that the potatoes are not too old, says cleaning expert Maria Ivanova, founder of Master Maid. 'They need to be fresh and crunchy. You can even use frozen potatoes, although they may not be as effective.' 

She is especially keen on using the Yukon variety of spud, because it has a particularly firm texture so shouldn’t crumble easily – or even turn to mash – when you apply pressure.

Will you be giving this potato rust removal hack a go on your outdoor seating and patio furniture?

Even British gardening pro James Wong was surprised to learn that rockwool, more commonly used for insulating homes, but long-established as a plant medium in hydroponics and commercial horticulture, is being trialled as an innovative way to raise tricky species such as orchids.

James has written about his experience visiting specialist growers in Europe, where they are experimenting with adding 1cm tiny cubes of rockwool to the compost in pots of these delicate blooms, with favourable results so far. 

So could this material change the way we look at composting methods in the future?

What is rockwool?

Rockwool is a material made by melting down basalt rock and spinning the molten mass into a soft, spongy wool-type material. When rockwool is used in hydroponics, it’s either in plug form or large bricks that allow water and plant nutrients to drip through. Commercial growers often use rockwool for raising tomatoes.

However, as James noted when writing in The Guardian about the rockwool experiments, this is all about finding a new way to compost by mixing up the cubes of rockwool with the compost to create tiny water-retaining sponges. 

'This mix of air and water creates the paradoxical conditions many tricky-to-grow species need in order to thrive,' said James. 'Consistent access to an even level of moisture, yet simultaneously perfect drainage and continual air flow.'

The case for using rockwool as compost

The main argument in favor is that unlike naturally occuring peat or coir, rockwool does not need to be grown and harvested, so the process won’t decimate natural habitats. 

With a ban on the sale of peat-based products for private gardens from 2024 in the UK, and the growing demand for peat-free compost, could rockwool offer another viable alternative too?

'Rockwool has a high-water retention capacity while maintaining aeration and promoting plant growth,' says plant expert and Forbes editor Laurice Constantine. 

'It is naturally sterile, making it less susceptible to the transmission of pathogenic germs. Rockwool does not degrade over time because of the irreversible bond. This enables the reuse of rockwool in successive crops.'

Rockwool compost cons

For now, it’s clear that it's best if the experiment with rockwool is done under scientific conditions, because the fibres in the material can be harmful to human health if ingested. 

The mineral content might also upset the balance of your garden, and will not break down organically into the soil. 'Unless it’s properly treated, rockwool is pretty acidic,' says Erinn Witz, garden expert and co-founder of Seeds and Spades, an educational gardening website.

'You can neutralize that, but I would worry about people thinking they could just add rockwool to the compost if they have extra lying around. I imagine that could really throw off your compost’s pH and in turn, alter your garden soil type too.'

Celebrated gardener, author and TV presenter Monty Don is dividing gardeners with his views on planting daffodils this year. 

He told viewers that due to the record high temperatures this hot, dry summer and drought conditions – with hosepipe bans still in place across much of the UK – the conditions just weren’t right to plant daffodil bulbs in the ground.

Hard ground causing daffodil planting problems

Speaking on an episode of the BBC show Gardeners' World from Longmeadow, his own two-acre garden near Leominster in Herefordshire, UK, Monty Don said that at this time of year he would 'normally' be planting spring bulbs such as daffodils into the long grass, ready to carpet the ground in springtime with glorious banks of color. 

However, he admitted that the ground is still too hard, despite recent bouts of rain: 'There is no way I could get a bulb into the ground. The ground is still like iron.'

When to plant

Monty Don's fellow TV gardener, Alan Titchmarsh, has even been known to plant his daffodils as early as August, if conditions allow. 'If you have ever speared an underground daffodil bulb with an errant fork in August you will have noticed that it has already started to put out roots,' he says. 

'That’s nature’s way of reminding you that the sooner you get them in the ground the better. Don’t worry. If you don’t plant them until September or even October, it is not the end of the world. But the sooner you can get them in the ground the better, provided that the earth is not dust-dry and as hard as nails.'

Plenty of time left for planting

In the US, Dutch bulb expert Ben Rotteveel at Dutch Grown offers reassurance if you’re worrying about daffodil planting. 

'Daffodils are one of the easiest flower bulbs to grow and will thrive in most regions of North America,' he says. 'Just try to plant them when the soil is starting to cool down in the fall; they will need two to four weeks to settle in before the soil freezes. As a general rule, you can plant daffodil bulbs from September to December, as long as it isn’t too cold.'

The gardening experts at Homebase have a simple, fool-proof tip for the perfect moment for planting bulbs for spring, including daffodils: 'If the soil is dry, plant the day after it rains.'

If you're eager to make a start on your spring displays, follow Monty Don's lead and focus on planting up your daffodils in spring containers instead while you wait for more rain to arrive to help soften the ground. 

As many as one in six tree species face extinction, scientists are warning in an explosive new report which documents for the very first time the threats facing all 881 native tree species across 48 US states, not including Alaska and Hawaii. 

With drought and unprecedented high temperatures, climate change is damaging enough, says the lead author of the report, Murphy Westwood, vice president for science and conservation at the Morton Arboretum in Illinois. 

But her work has found that changing weather patterns are also responsible for hordes of invasive insects, such as the bright yellow banana slug, a threat to redwoods, and a surge in deadly diseases.

Some diseases her team discovered, such as ‘laurel wilt’, which attacks all three native members of the genus persea and is putting the small, fragrant evergreen trees in peril, have rarely been seen until now.

What native trees are most at risk in the US?

Murphy warns that at least 100 precious species of trees, including the mighty coast redwoods, American chestnuts, the black ash and the whitebark pine, could disappear. 

'It’s easy to feel that gloom and doom because … the scope of the crisis is really, really great right now,' says Murphy. 'We’re losing species before they even get described.'

The report, Data sharing for conservation: A standardized checklist of US native tree species and threat assessments to prioritize and coordinate action, lists the main trees at risk and the factors that are threatening their survival.

What can you do to help save native trees?

'We have a narrow and rapidly closing window to take action,' says Murphy. 'But there are things we can all do as individuals. Plant native species in our gardens. Volunteer in local woodlands. Avoid transporting firewood or other material that might carry dangerous pests.'

The first step is to identify threatened native trees in your neighborhood, says Kate Russell, garden author and blogger at The Daily Garden. 'The Department of Agriculture, local Master Gardeners, and your state's Native Plants Society can help you identify which trees need the most help and which are best suited to your microclimate.'

It's a good idea too to keep a close eye on any backyard trees and front yard trees you have, as well as those growing near your land.

'One of the most helpful things you can do at home is to watch for signs of disease,' says Simon Barker, co-editor and founder at garden advice website Grow Your Yard. 'If you see any signs of disease on your trees, such as black spots on the leaves or bark that's falling off, contact a certified arborist or tree doctor immediately.'

The increasing risks to these native trees shows yet again just how climate change is impacting the way we garden, and why we all have a part to play in reducing its impact.

On the night of the 23 September 2022, at The Landmark Hotel in Marylebone, London, the top names from the garden design industry gathered to witness the announcements of the winning gardens for this year's Society of Garden Designers Awards 2022.

The panel of 13 judges, comprised garden designers, landscape architects, horticultural experts and garden editors, selected their shortlist from almost 60 entries across 13 categories. From there they decided on the designs that they felt exhibited award-winning qualities.

Chair of the Judging Panel, Richard Sneesby commented: 'As always, the gardens showcase lots of new ideas, innovative materials and current planting trends, but this year especially the designers, clients and contractors have a strong focus on environmental issues.'

'Plants which are resilient to climate change and global pathogens, sustainable water management, minimizing carbon footprint of materials supplied, wildlife friendly gardens and health and well-being are all evident within many of the garden design ideas.' 

Winners of the Society of Garden Designers Awards 2022

'The judges were delighted with the range of entries which covered the stimulating work of the Society of Garden Designers members both here in the UK and internationally,' says Richard. 

'In particular we were pleased to see the wide range of entries in the smaller garden categories which often celebrate the work of new members and those who have recently joined the profession.'

Get inspired by the winning designs for each of the 13 categories. 

International Commercial or Community Landscapes & Gardens and Grand Award

This design by Tommaso Del Buono MSGD is the garden of a corporate headquarters with a difference. It took home the award in two categories: International Commercial or Community Landscapes & Gardens and the coveted Grand Award.

'I was asked to create, from scratch, a sequence of new gardens and spaces, not only aimed to add beauty and harmony to the daily work life of many, but also convey the company’s unwavering commitment to environmental improvement and preservation.'

The judges felt that this design, applying a number of landscape design principles, more than delivered on its aims. 'A serious piece of high quality landscape design, that cleverly combines commercial landscaping, with garden design, to create a generosity of space, while maintaining a sense of intimacy, you might expect of a private small garden.'

UK Commercial or Community Landscapes Gardens and People's Choice Award

The principle designer on this double-award winning project, Ann Marie Powell MSGD of Ann Marie Powell Gardens commented: 'The garden was [intended] to inspire gardeners at all interest and experience levels, both new food growers and the experienced, and was a priority for us as a practice, and indeed the RHS, that the food garden reach out to diverse communities of edible growers.'

The judges saw it as 'a wonderfully immersive public space displaying a lovely mix of edible, annual and perennial planting designed to inspire and educate visitors.' 

What really stands out about the kitchen garden ideas in this space, is how well they demonstrate just how beautiful a productive food garden can be. 

Ann Marie and her team achieved this by ensuring, 'a range of interest throughout the year, looking at the ornamental properties of height, form, structure, color and wildlife benefits.'

International Residential Gardens & Landscapes

Gavin McWilliam MSGD & Andrew Wilson FSGD topped the competition in the International, International Residential Gardens & Landscapes category with their imaginative design set in an arid region of Portugal.

What stood out about this design is how effortlessly it sits in its surroundings, and is an ideal example of how a garden should not 'fight' against its natural environment, but rather embrace it, in order to create a truly sustainable garden as well as a beautiful one.

The judges felt that this dry garden design offered a new aesthetic of naturalistic and native planting inspired by the surrounding landscape. 

They said: 'Demonstrating a wonderful contrast between the simplicity of the design and the architecture of the house, the designers have created a place of sanctuary and retreat, that looks and feels completely at home in its surroundings.'

Large Residential Landscapes & Gardens

For the judges, this winning garden, designed by Matthew Wilson MSGD was: 'A carefully considered design, which blends beautifully into the surrounding hills while enhancing the architecture of the house and buildings.'

They particularly loved how the existing materials, original features and established plants were thoughtfully integrated alongside a planting palette, that demonstrates gently blended color combinations and textures.

Similarly for Matthew, the most interesting aspect of this large garden design was how he reused and upcycled materials such as walling stone, barrel top coping and paving.

'Finding ways to incorporate these elements in the design that felt purposeful and not "tacked on" made for a fascinating challenge,' says Matthew.

Medium Residential Landscapes & Gardens and The Judges Award

'This is a truly impressive garden demonstrating a strong sense of cohesion, great use of focal points and beautiful planting,' according to the judging panel. 

'Built on a challenging site, the designer has managed to incorporate difficult topography to great effect, creating a wonderful sense of privacy and seclusion in this wildlife garden, while successfully blending the surrounding woodland into the space.'

It was a worthy winner for both the Medium Residential Landscapes & Gardens category and The Judges Award. Designer, Matthew Childs, loves the fact that there is no conflict between the needs of the client and the wildlife in the garden, rather the space is mutually beneficial to both.

'Although the garden is designed with the needs of people at its heart, our planting design and the inclusion of a large pond and waterfalls have also made the garden a habitat for wildlife,' Matthew says.

Small Residential Landscapes & Gardens

Yet another stand-out entry in this year's awards, in the way that it challenges the expected. Designer Tom Massey has pulled off an 'outstanding piece of design that challenges the more typical approach to suburban sloping gardens with something that is bold, playful and very attractive,' say the judges.

'This was an incredibly technical build with multiple specialist sub-contractors working under Landscape Associates (the landscape contractor),' explains Tom. 

'There was a point where the scheme felt very hard – and I was slightly concerned it would feel too industrial. But as soon as the plants went in it all made sense, and the softness provided a perfect counterpoint to the hard landscape.'

Garden Jewel and Planting Design

Stefano Marinaz MSGD has offered a truly inspiring design of a residential garden which was awarded first prize in two categories: the Garden Jewel and Planting Design. 

A far cry from the standard garden layout ideas of a rectangular lawn and border of beds, the judges felt that this space was 'a beautiful composition with simple, effective detailing and a choice of materials that provide unity and harmony. A great example of what a domestic residential garden should be like.' 

For Stefano, he particular loved that the garden is not pretentious nor expensive but still it creates a powerful link between the house and the outdoor areas. 'It can inspire other home owners to achieve something similar by creating something that almost could have been designed by nature itself,' he says.

Big Ideas, Small Budget

Four-times SGD shortlisted designer, Mandy Buckland MSGD took home the award this year for her whimsical bijou city garden.

For the judges it was, 'an intelligent piece of design displaying imagination and clever use of levels to create a chic, sharp outdoor room which works really well from both inside and outside the house.'

Mandy chose to use a simple use of materials, and a nice balance of hard landscaping and textural landscaping with evergreens. The overall effect, is an entertaining, usable and balanced space.

Design for the Environment

Kristina Clode is developing a solid reputation of being the most environmentally friendly designer on the block, having won the Design For The Environment award for the second year in a row. 

For Kristina: 'It was the perfect project to put forward for this award as every aspect of the design had environmental aims in mind: using local and natural eco landscaping ideas; growing your own food; composting and rain water harvesting; planting with a high proportion of native, pollinator and wildlife-friendly plants; creating diverse habitat with a drought tolerant gravel garden; perennial wildflower meadow and a pond and bog area.'

The judges saw this as a simple design that 'stands out for its environmental credentials. The sympathetic use of low impact materials, which enhance the setting and design concept, has been combined with sumptuous wildlife friendly planting associations to create an eco friendly garden, with a series of garden spaces for both the environment and the lifestyle of the homeowners.'

Fresh Designer

An important category in the SGD Awards as it demonstrates what we can expect from the next generation of garden design talent. Winner, Harry Holding, showed the judges: 

'An accomplished garden for a designer at the beginning of their professional journey, who has turned a difficult space into a unique and richly diverse garden, demonstrating an excellent sensitivity to the surrounding landscape, and successfully enhancing the architecture of the building.' 

Before the announcement Harry had this to say: 'Being my flagship project, words can't describe what it would mean to have it recognized. It would be a huge boost to my career and really amplify the already vibrant energy of our design studio.'

Hardscape Design

Gavin McWilliam MSGD and Andrew Wilson FSGD's joint project was, unlike its dimensions, anything but modest.

The judges saw this space as a thoughtful and beautifully detailed composition which 'demonstrates exceptional quality of design and execution'. 

'The small scale minimalist design required exquisite detailing, which has been achieved throughout, creating a garden that works as a visual tableau from the house and is a pleasure to use,' they said.

Paper Landscape Design

An interesting category, the Paper Landscape award is given for a garden which exists as a concept only. This design, by Tabi Jackson Gee, was shortlisted by Macmillan Cancer Support for their 2022 Hampton Court Legacy Garden.

The judges deemed this a lovely scheme that is 'creative in its approach and presented using beautifully evocative graphics to communicate the story. The lasting legacy story is beautifully expressed through the use of materials and evocations of time and natural processes.'

Fall is the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, stunning colors in our gardens and harvest time for many of the crops we've carefully tended to over the summer months. 

It's also the optimum time for completing a relatively simple task that could save you lots of money on plants. Experts advise that by collecting seeds from flowers you’ve enjoyed all summer, you can keep more money in your pocket in the year ahead. 

'I collect seeds close to the end of the growing season,' says agriculturist Shelby DeVore, founder of Farminence, offering advice on self-sufficiency. 'I allow the fruits to stay ripe on the plant and become overly ripe. This gives the seeds time to mature completely on the plant.'

Why this money-saving task is simple to do

Some of the easiest plants to gather seeds from are also the easiest to grow, so whether you're harvesting sunflowers seeds or collecting them from other easy-to-raise flowering favorites such as nasturtiums, poppies, sweet peas, cosmos, zinnia or hardy hibiscus, it's not a tricky task. 

'When it comes to vegetables, peppers, peas, cucumber, melon, and beans are great choices for seed saving because these are open-pollinated plants,' says Jen McDonald, certified organic garden specialist and co-founder of Garden Girls, a garden design company based in Houston.  

'The seed babies will often look just like their parent crop when it’s time to harvest. If you’ve had a particularly successful season growing a favorite pepper variety, you’ll appreciate saving the seed for the next season.'

Most seeds can be stored on paper in a dry, dark, cool place. Some seeds have a gel-like coating. Ferment such seeds in water for a few days to remove the coating, then dry as above.

Which plants to choose?

As your plants grow, bloom, and produce, pay attention to the ones that really thrive, is Shelby’s advice: 'If you have one plant that outperforms the others, that's the one that you want to keep the seeds from.'

However, be aware that a lot of plants bough from garden centers are hybrids – labelled 'hybrid' or 'F1' varieties. This means it has been developed by plant breeders to exhibit certain characteristics, such as pest-resilience, or a particular petal color. 

'You can keep the seeds of some hybrid plants, but this is where you'll have to really do your research, or experiment with growing them out, since they may not breed true,' warns Shelby. 

'If they don't breed true, you'll end up with plants that are slightly different than the parent plants. Sometimes the change is very slight, such as leaf shape or size, or it's very dramatic like dwarf plants or different-colored blooms.'

Swap and save money

Saving your own seeds is very exciting for a gardener as it allows you to focus on specific varieties of plants you want and – to an extent – control the growing process from the start. You will definitely save money by getting lots more free plants and can become self-sufficient if you really want to. 

And, says Washington-based gardening blogger and writer Kathy Gentz, 'the final reason to collect seeds is to trade them.' It's certainly one of the easiest ways to get free seeds for your own collection. 

'You may have 100s of cleome seeds and another gardener has 100s of poppy seeds,' says Kathy. 'Why not trade a few hundred with each other? Again, you are getting new plants for free or close to it. Seed trading is a whole world unto itself. There are online groups, pen pal lists, and clubs for seed swapping.'

Will you be giving this free garden idea a go this fall?

We’re all looking for ways to keep our lawns weed-free going into fall, and now a lawn care expert is sharing his top organic, pesticide-free tip for getting rid of pretty but pesky lodgers such as daisies, dandelions and buttercups. 

When it comes to getting rid of lawn weeds, 'alcohol is the answer,' says Carlos Real, managing director of Total Lawn. 'While it’s a bit unusual and may seem like a waste of perfectly good alcohol, clear spirits are a common kitchen cupboard item that can help remove weeds.'

Using vodka to kill weeds

The best approach for getting rid of weeds is to dilute the vodka – you could also use another strong clear spirit, such as gin – with water and spray it onto the problem area to give your weeds a hangover from hell, says Carlos. 

'Try to do this on a sunny day, as the combination of sunlight and vodka can leave your weeds feeling thirsty and dehydrated, causing them to die out,' he says. 

Why it works

'The reason vodka works so well on weeds is that it's highly flammable and can evaporate quickly, within a few days,' explains groundkeeper and advisor to outdoor furniture company Patio Productions Stacie Krljanovic.

'As soon as you spray it over a weed, the vodka will evaporate into the air very quickly. The plant will then begin to dry out because of this evaporation process, which eventually leads to its death.'

Stacie adds that whilst vodka does not kill weeds permanently, it will however, attack the roots of the weeds and prevent them from growing back for a few months.

Alcohol-free alternatives

If you’re looking for an alternative organic way to kill weeds as part of an effective lawn care regime, you might consider alternatives to alcohol, says Daniel Carruthers, director of Cultivar Greenhouses.

'I haven’t seen enough of the use of vodka to gauge its effectiveness, but for people who don’t want to have liquor around for this purpose, there are other at-home substitutes you can try to kill weeds with first.'

Daniel recommends neat lemon juice – 'not mixed with anything, very eco-friendly' – and vinegar mixed with water as liquid weedkillers, or sprinkling offending intruders with salt or baking soda.

If you're thinking of adding some new plants to your plot this fall, experts agree that there's one option you should definitely consider adding to your wishlist. 

The colorful pyracantha is one of the best plants with winter berries you can choose for your garden, and will provide plentiful food for birds such as blackbirds, thrushes and robins as colder weather arrives in fall and winter.

'It’s a great climber for wildlife as its spring flowers and the berries which appear in fall give seasonal food for garden visitors,' says Katie Middleton, spokesperson for Garden Buildings Direct.

Why pyracantha is the perfect fall plant

Pyracantha is also known as firethorn – a reference to its bright colors. Varieties are available in red, orange and yellow. Masses of white flowers in springtime attract pollinators too. 

Related to the rose family and grown in the UK since the 1500s, it’s known as an inexpensive and easy-to-find perennial that will thrive well in any kind of soil. 

Because it’s an evergreen with lots of glossy leaves, pyracantha provides shelter for birds all year-round. However, those leaves hide the famous thorns that make it such a good burglar deterrent, so the advice is always to take care when pruning and wear gloves.

'If you would prefer a less prickly customer, consider opting for a cotoneaster instead, which shares many similar features with pyracantha whilst being totally thornless,' says Olivia Drake, horticultural expert from Thompson & Morgan.

Evergreen favorite

Monty Don says he likes to use pyracantha in a border because 'it’s a really good evergreen option'. It’s certainly an easy-to-grow evergreen that is as happy in a pot as it is scrambling along a wall. 

'I view pyracantha as the perfect garden guest,' says garden blogger Sarah Shoesmith at The Gardening Shoe. 'It behaves exactly as I wish because it is trainable. It does not mind being clipped so it makes a useful hedging plant, but when shaped into an espalier it is a stylish, eye-catching and structurally-valuable addition to the garden.'

Security feature

It’s a great option for a wildlife garden, but pyracantha doesn’t like intruders. Train the plant along the perimeter of a property and its thorns will form an impenetrable security barrier to help protect your home. 

'Rather than installing a wall or fence which can be very costly, time-consuming and vulnerable to damage, planting intruder-repelling spiky plants provides you with an environmentally friendly, long-lasting barrier for a fraction of the cost,' says a spokesperson for hedging plant specialists Hedges Direct. 

Will you be adding this versatile plant with autumn berries to your plot this fall?

Horticulture experts and scientists are worried by the signs that the UK and many other places appear to be suffering from what they’re calling a ‘false’ or ‘early’ autumn and our gardens are suffering as a result. 

Fall began to arrive in August this year, following record hot temperatures and drought conditions. And this could have serious consequences for fruit crops, trees, ecology and wildlife gardens.

'Trees have been prematurely shedding their leaves, and the store of nuts and berries usually found in autumn could be severely depleted by October and November, causing a scarcity of food for birds and mammals,' says Sarah Hancocks, spokesperson for wildlife expert brand Vivara.

Stressed trees are a sign of a false autumn

The heatwaves of July and August, plus widespread droughts, have sent trees into survival mode. Leaves are dropping off or changing color already, much earlier than we would expect in a typical autumn. 

Yellowing leaves and early leaf fall are key signs that trees are stressed and 'shutting up shop', says Leigh Hunt, senior horticultural advisor at the Royal Horticultural Society.  

'It's giving the appearance that we're already in autumn, but the days are too long for those natural autumn processes to begin.'

Fruits ripening too soon

The Woodland Trust has also received its earliest ever report of ripe blackberries this year – from June 28. 

This rapid ripening 'can spell disaster for wildlife', warns Woodland Trust spokesperson Fritha West, as trees with berries are essential for providing animals and birds with crucial food supplies before the arrival of winter.  

'The record-breaking heat we have just experienced has helped bring on a number of early autumn events,' adds Fritha. 

'We have received some of our earliest-ever ripe blackberry records from the south of England. Hawthorn and rowan are also ripening early in some parts of the country.

'Elder and holly have been recorded as fruiting earlier too. Both extreme temperatures and a lack of water can cause trees to drop their leaves earlier than we'd expect.'

Is there hope? 

Whilst nothing can be done to halt the early ripening of crops and fruit, even fruit growing in pots at home, or trees that have lost only a few leaves with just a little bit of yellowing, should recover with enough rainfall, according to Leigh: 'If there's a lot of rain we might even see "a second spring" with trees putting on an extra spurt of growth.'

However, there is ‘a critical point’, when the tree can't replenish the water lost through pores in the leaves and will ‘literally desiccate’ or dry up.

In conditions like those seen recently, trees may react by producing more seeds – for instance, acorns – in an attempt to reproduce and survive into the future.