Amateur Gardening

Since 1884 Amateur Gardening has been the gardening ‘Bible’ for serious gardeners from all walks of life. With unrivalled levels of practical content written by seasoned experts, it remains the only media brand to win a coveted gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show. We are passionate about all things horticultural and are dedicated to producing informative content that gives accurate and helpful advice. Amateur Gardening is a trusted fortnightly companion, offering guidance and advice for all green-fingered projects.

Editor’s Letter

Houseplants inside and out • Regular care will keep them happy all summer, says Ruth

Not such prickly customers • Cacti and succulents are easy-going to grow and care for

Post-holiday action plan • Prioritise what will keep your garden on track, says Ruth

Time for the second shift • Ruth clears early summer plants for later varieties

How to get the best toms • Pruning, watering and feeding are essential, says Ruth

Sow some prairie beauties • Echinaceas are a must-have perennial, says Ruth

What’s On

Know your onions • Get the most out of your ready-to-harvest onions, and sow some more now for next spring, says Bob

Meadows fit for a king • Val looks at the value of meadows to all kinds of wildlife

Focus on… Growing melons • Cantaloupes and honeydews are easy to grow, and even musk breeds are possible if you have a greenhouse. Lucy reveals how to enjoy the delights of homegrown melons

Winter Greens • Make the most of the warmth of August to start sowing vegetable seeds and planting seed potatoes to harvest in the months to come, says Sue Bradley

Easy plants for a No-fuss August garden • Want to spend less time watering and more time relaxing in a deckchair this month? Resilient, low-maintenance border plants are the answer, says Sally Jenner

Best lilies • With thousands of varieties to choose from, lilies provide a range of flower colours, some with scented blooms, says Graham Rice

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Ask JOHN NEGUS • John will reply personally to all your gardening questions

Quick questions & answers

SIZZLING HOT SUBSCRIPTIONS

Environmental truths • Sphagnum moss can be regenerated, says Peter

A gardener’s MISCELLANY • Gardening’s king of trivia and brain-teasers, Graham Clarke

AG’s Garden Wall

Word search

Crossword …just for fun!

Dealing with drought • Steve and Val Bradley explain how to plan ahead to help our plants cope with the hot, dry conditions that are becoming more commonplace

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Ask ANNE SWITHINBANK • Masterclass on: drought-tolerant edging

Your LETTERS TO WENDY

A traditional garden • The garden at Jane and Ian Morrison’s thatched-cottage home in Amport, Hampshire, has been 50 years in the making, as Sue Bradley discovers

Newt sensations • Given all the things he’s lost in his garden, Toby is pleased to discover something as precious as his new pond visitor