Amateur Gardening

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 Letter

Planning for autumn days • The season for planting and making changes, says Ruth

Sorting out beds and borders • Remove old plants, feed soil and then plan ahead

Drought shows ‘lost’ garden • Historic parterre appears after record-breaking weather

Time for sowing annuals • Hardy annuals are an easy joy to sow and grow, says Ruth

Autumnal semi-ripe cuttings • The perfect way to propagate many shrubs, says Ruth

Cooking up a feast of colour • Nigellas are a bright bunch and so easy to sow, says Ruth

Bring on the nuts! • Bob Flowerdew looks at some of the best options and growing tips for healthy and productive nut harvests

The right spot • Val spots various ladybirds and their larvae on her veg

Focus on… Dessert apples • If you want to ensure the tangiest, most delectable dessert apples year after year, Lucy can show you how. Find out how you can capture that quintessential crunch

Preplanted Hanging Baskets BUY 1 GET 1 FREE! • Make a statement in your garden with these fantastic ready-made baskets! SAVE £19.99

A host of daffodils • We all love the classic daffodil, but why not branch out and try something different? Graham Rice looks at the key groups and the best places to plant them

Colour bombs • Enjoy a non-stop display of bright, bold colour next year by planting your spring bulbs now, says Hazel Sillver, as she describes the best for autumn planting

This week… Lilies • For flamboyant summer flowers with a fantastic fragrance, you can’t beat lilies

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

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

Word search

Crossword • …just for fun!

Growing blueberries in containers • Steve and Val Bradley reveal their top tips for growing this popular ‘super fruit’

Growing better pears

Your LETTERS TO WENDY • Write to us: Letters, Amateur Gardening magazine, Future Publishing Limited, Unit 415, Winnersh Triangle, Eskdale Road, Winnersh, RG41 5TP (please include your address). Email us: amateurgardening@futurenet.com

The reclaimed garden • Preparation has been key for Steve and Marion Harrison as they set about tackling their Dorset garden a small section at a time, as Sue Bradley reports

Water wisdom • Water-saving measures don’t have to be complicated, as the simplest tricks can help your plants, says Toby