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.

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

Welcome

SHIMMERING SHOOTS OF COLOUR • There are hints of brighter things to come as the borders begin to light up with shots of purple, pink and yellow, and there’s just enough sun to start warming the earth in readiness for its springtime bounty

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

RHS PARTNER GARDEN WINNERS ANNOUNCED

SAPLINGS SPROUT AT PALACE GARDENS

Seasonal shopping • The best garden buys this month

Wish list • Plant these fruit trees now for maximum blossom next spring

What’s on...

ELHO NOA GROW TABLE

Love is in the air • The following plants are ideal gifts for Valentine’s Day – and not a red rose in sight! Can you name them? (See next page for answer)

CLIMBERS BOOST URBAN DIVERSITY

SHOCKING DECLINE IN HAZEL DORMICE NUMBERS

30-minute makes

CAN AI SAVE THE HOPPING BEE?

Book of the month

Jewels of WINTER • These small but priceless plants bring a welcome sparkle to the coldest season

Six small bulbs for EARLY FLOWERS

Unlock the potential of your winter garden • Even during the coldest months, there is so much to marvel at in the garden. Naomi Slade shines a warm light on the often-overlooked season in her new book

Plants for fabulous winter scent • Plant these aromatic beauties close to windows and doors to make the most of their enchanting fragrance. Most winter-flower plants have small blooms but they work hard and throw out delicious scent

Handsome HELLEBORES • With foliage that’s almost as handsome as the delicate flowers themselves, nothing comes close to matching these hardy little perennials that bloom when very little else is flowering

February • It may be cold, but spring is coming – and with the right maintenance and sowing, you’ll be ready for all the best of the new growth and colours that will soon be arriving!

START PRUNING • Some summer-flowering shrubs need cutting back now. Just follow our guide

It’s time to SOW ANNUALS INDOORS • Late February is a good time to give annuals a head start, provided you have a warm, light, frost-free place where you can position seed pots and trays

Warm up soil

Cut back decaying seedheads in borders

Plant summer bulbs now

Pick a late winter posy

Highlight your border’s FINE FILAMENTS • Make the most of winter foliage to create contrast with jewel-like tones

A bird in THE BOX • Adrian Thomas suggests the best ways to encourage hole-nesting birds in your garden

“We love to share the garden with other people” • With a snowdrop collection to rival the great estates, there are quirky features at every turn in this small, fun garden

A BEAUTIFUL SLICE OF SERENITY • Trickling water and richly planted terraces form the central part of this small formal plot

Dunham Massey WARMTH, LIGHT AND WELCOME • Masses of bulbs and velvety carpets of irises make this a must-see garden to lift the spirits in darkest winter

Welcome to my lovely plot • Avery warm welcome to this brand new column from keen allotmenteer Olga Grieves

Planting blueberries and strawberries • Container-grown blueberries and strawberries not only look good as a display, they taste delicious too

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

Q&A • Can leeks stay in the ground? What are orange spots on oxalis? Read on…

Garden RESCUE • Fill this sunny spot with soft prairie...