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

Prepping for the festivities • Tackle jobs now to keep the garden ticking over, says Ruth

Tasks to consider before life gets busy! • General care need not be time-consuming, but it is so important to keep on top of jobs

Last call for garlic planting! • Ruth gets her garlic growing in the nick of time

Refurbishing a patio pot • New plants should shine through winter, says Ruth

Give your soil a feed now • Boost beds and borders through winter, says Ruth

Helping lawns through winter • Lawn jobs depend on good weather, says Ruth

Grow your own canes • Making your own plant supports helps protect your crops and saves you cash. Bob explains your best options

Return of the fern • Val explains why ferns are her latest plant passion

Focus on… Fruit supports • Take time to reinforce your trained fruits, says Lucy

How to be A greener gardener • You don’t need to be a revolutionary to take a stand against climate change and plastic use. Val Bourne’s call to arms features easy changes we can all make

Classic camellias • Growing well in both borders and containers, camellias are beautiful glossy-leaved evergreens that flower in late winter and early spring, says Anne Swithinbank

Get Christmas wrapped up Subscribe Today

This week… Ivy • If you want a shade-tolerant evergreen vine with attractive foliage, try ivy

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

Myths and legends of cock robin • Geoffrey Humphrys explores some of the many facts and superstitions surrounding the robin, which enlivens our gardens in winter and is often depicted on Christmas cards

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

AG’s Garden Wall JUST FOR FUN

Word search

Crossword • …just for fun!

Taking wound cuttings • Steve and Val Bradley explain how to propagate plants that don’t root easily

Dwarf conifer dilemma

Lathyrus on the loose • 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

Amateur Gardening

Let the good times stroll • A recent visit to a Japanese stroll garden gives Toby a chance to reflect on how we can all better spend our time