Every week, Amateur Gardening is the first choice for both beginners and knowledgeable gardeners looking for advice and easy-to-follow practical features on growing flowers, trees, shrubs as well as fruit and vegetables. Be inspired, by our beautifully illustrated features covering plant and flower groups, both home grown and exotic, and take a sneak peek into some of the most beautiful private gardens around the country. Plus, every week we feature expert opinion and tips from some of gardening’s most influential exponents including Toby Buckland, Bob Flowerdew, Anne Swithinbank, Peter Seabrook and Jo Whittingham.
Editor’s notes
Dealing with problem spots • Improve your soil and work with what you’ve got, says Ruth
Is your soil sticky or sandy? • How to tell the difference between soil types
Green ways of boosting soil • Expert praises homemade compost and green waste
Caring for growing potatoes • AG editor Garry explains how to cultivate a healthy crop
Tackling grassroots jobs • Be consistent with little tasks to get best results, says Ruth
Let’s go crazy for daisies • Osteospermums are tough but beautiful, says Ruth
What’s On
Ants in your plants • They may not always seem like the gardener’s friend, but sometimes we benefit from an ant’s presence, says Bob
War on weeds • Battling with weeds reminds Val of a great gardener
Focus on… Growing cherries • Successful cherry growing is well within your reach and you don’t need a massive garden to reap the juicy rewards. Lucy reveals how to enjoy these lip-smacking summer fruits
Fabulous philadelphus • Robust in harsh weather, luxuriant in its profusion of white blooms and with a fragrance to die for, what’s not to like about philadelphus? Graham Rice picks his top varieties
Walls of colour • Clematis provide a mass of flowers for months, so plant these late-season varieties now for cheering blooms towards the end of summer into autumn, says Hazel Sillver
This week… Peonies • For stunning blooms in a variety of colours, plant peonies, says Graham Rice
What will our mystery ‘stick’ grow into?
Guide to hardy plants • In part four of our series on hardy herbaceous perennials, we continue with a comprehensive ABC of suitable plants for your garden
Pests: past, present and future! This week it’s: • We look at pests that devour your plants
Crossword …just for fun!
Weed removers • Steve and Val Bradley test six options for physically controlling weeds on your lawn
Weeds worth keeping
Father of lupins
Postage stamp
Amateur Gardening
The really wild show • Gardens used to be neat, but now the fashion showcased by the Chelsea Flower Show is for a wild look, says Toby