Garden Answers

Garden Answers is a vibrant and inspiring gardening magazine filled with ingenious design ideas and exciting plant combinations guaranteed to make your garden beautiful.

Welcome

Meet the Contributors “This month in the garden I’ll be…”

Celebrate THE WARMTH OF MAY • It’s the month when spring begins to glow with a gentle heat that was missing in March and April

Be inspired by… • Plants, books, events & buys for the month

Wish list • This is the month when some special climbers begin to envelop the garden with a profusion of flowers to treasure

WIN WILKINSON SWORD SHEERS, LOPPERS, SPADE AND PRUNERS!

What’s on…

Stars of the Show • Each year the RHS Chelsea Flower Show nominates a Plant of the Year. Can you identify these recent winners?

WILDLIFE SPOTTERS NEEDED THIS SPRING!

PEONY COLLECTOR VOWS TO SAVE MORE ‘LOST’ PLANTS

30-minute makes • These stylish William Morris plant pot covers are easy to make, for a fraction of the cost of buying individual planters from a shop. Mix and match the colours to suit each room in the house.

Book of the month

Garden like the Netherlands for a TRUE TULIP EXTRAVAGANZA • The rich history of the tulip has been interwoven with that of Holland since the 17th century and continues on a grand scale today, says Sue Fisher

Versatile euphorbia THE PERFECT PLANTING PARTNER • This incredibly diverse group of plants thrive in all sorts of conditions and provide a wonderful colourful foil. Louise Curley shares her top 10 choices for your garden

Fragrant SYRINGA • May is lilac time and these iconic, romantic, late-spring shrubs with their heavily fragrant blooms are ripe for a renaissance, says Sue Fisher

May • At some point this month spring seems to turn to summer and as the garden blossoms, some gentle coaxing will keep it looking at its best

MAKE AN ANNUAL SUMMER BORDER FROM SEED • Annuals can’t be beaten for flower power and value for money

Get creative with tall plants! CREATE HEIGHT • Add highlights at eye level and above to make the most of the space you have

Give cottage borders A STYLISH TWIST • Choose cottage garden favourites in summer’s palest pastel shades for a lush and soothing display

EXTEND THE DISPLAY • This is a planting that peaks in spring, but to extend the interest into summer and autumn, add the following flowering plants in a romantic pastel colour range.

Passion for POLLINATORS • Adrian Thomas investigates the world of garden pollinators, and suggests the actions we can all take to help them

Labour of love! • Malcolm and Wendy Fisher don’t mind getting their hands dirty as their garden is a reward for all the hard work

Free as a bird • This Derbyshire plot is a haven full of colour as spring gets into full swing

It’s time to visit Glorious Godinton • Make this majestic garden in Kent a fabulous new discovery for 2025

Awaken your garden

Welcome to my lovely plot • The month of May should last at least 60 days, says a very busy Olga Grieves

Grow your own ‘CHANTENAY’ CARROTS • All you need for a delicious crop of ‘posh carrots’ is a bucket or large pot

Ask the Experts • Our experts will help you get the best from your garden

Q&A • Will amaryllis bloom again? Am I too late to sow French beans? Read on…

Garden RESCUE • Add height and cohesion using plants that echo each other’s form, says Ian Hodgson. Here’s how to do it

THE HEAT IS ON! • Geoff Hodge fires up the latest outdoor simple garden heaters, great for beating off chilly weather

Over to you!

Spring has sprung! • Here’s this month’s round-up of your top garden...