JOINT ENTERPRISE

In southwest Germany, a couple have combined structural grasses and perennials with good seedheads in their garden to great effect, especially when touched by winter frost

MATTHEW BIGGS

Horticulture's nicest practitioner on his journey from sweeping playgrounds to Gardeners' Question Time via offering gardening advice to insomniacs

PITTOSPORUM

These evergreen shrubs come in a multitude of sizes and shapes with shiny, often variegated or colourful leaves and small scented flowers

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

There is a biodiversity loss crisis, but research into the wildlife found in gardens has made it clear just how important these spaces are as habitat. Discover how much you can learn, and gain, by identifying and documenting what you find beyond your back door

SCULPTING THE LANDSCAPE

Charlotte Rowe's elegant design for a country garden in Hampshire fuses modern and traditional styles and captures the Zeitgeist for naturalism with a contemporary edge

Flavour of the seasons

Smallholder and former chef Julius Roberts suggests three easy, warming recipes for a winter feast with seasonal produce

Festive flourishes

Entertain in style this Christmas with ideas for natural decorations from Swallows & Damsons

Change of view

Designer Katie Guillebaud updated the Cotswolds garden of a garden photographer to make it picture perfect all winter

YOUNG AT HEART

The garden of the late, great landscape architect Jacques Wirtz, which is more than 50 years old, is now being renewed by his children

LUKE SENIOR

A former Ruth Borun scholar at Great Dixter, Luke is now one of the garden's full time gardeners

DIGGING THE DIRT

As Ken Thompson explains, the key to a good soil lies both in its structure and in the life it sustains. But is any of it improved by digging?

LAZY DAYS

Alice Vincent has had a hectic 2023, but for next year she's come up with a cunning plan to give herself more time and reduce her carbon footprint

Christmas garden makes

Welcome guests to your home this festive season with sustainable decorations and gifts that won't break the bank. Rich Heathcote shows how to use the bounty your garden provides

Make a lasting impression

This year's festive centrepiece could be your best ever with Alan Titchmarsh's essential guide to choosing, preparing and looking after your Christmas tree

The happy house plant guide

In the first of a seven-part series, Jane Perrone shares expert advice on how to give your house plants the best start to a long and healthy life in your home

Hassle-free harvests

While veg-plot activities slow down in winter, there is still plenty to do, from planting fruit trees, and harvesting sprouts and salads to taking stock of your growing year so you can plan next year's crops, says Jack Wallington

YOUR PRUNING MONTH

Frances Tophill explains what to cut back now, including grapevines and hardy shrubs

Expert's choice

Smaller variegated ivies still pack a big punch all year round, says Graham Rice

Festive treats

The calm of the veg plot is the perfect antidote to frantic festivities - and the bounty it provides is the highlight of every meal, says Monty

The science of soil

Healthy soil is teeming with life - Becky Searle delves below the surface to explore how this fascinating system works and how it can benefit our plants

'It's like another lung - like having oxygen on tap. It makes you breathe in a different way'

Helen Maxwell's garden in rural Carmarthenshire surrounds the house that her husband (who's an architect) designed.

The Full Monty

I can, and occasionally do, manufacture jobs in a kind of gung-ho, boy-scout spirit

Hardwood cuttings

It's the zero-fuss way to make free new shrubs - just follow our guide from Nick Bailey

Your wildlife month

December is a time for reflection in the garden. What worked for wildlife in 2023 and what didn't? How could you do more? Looking at the bones of the garden now, is there space for more plants? Are your fences bare? Are there enough berries and hips? You have until March to plant bare-root trees and shrubs. What would look good? What would better serve wildlife?

Lightweight gardening tools

AS well as being good for our mental health, gardening is also great exercise.

The box ball blues

As if his beleaguered box hadn't already taken a beating, Toby now has to deal with some hungry box caterpillars

To dig or not to dig?

Should we be carrying out a full dig on plots now? Bob considers the pros and cons of the 'autumn dig' debate

Strange sightings

Three unusual insects turn up in Val's garden in one day

Save your own seeds

Masterclass on: seed saving

Create a winter container

There are as many options as in summer