I like unusual words and there are a couple that seem appropriate for this time of year. March, we know, is a fickle beast, where the weather can flicker from T-shirt to thermals in the course of a da

Because we garden organically here, we are at the mercy of slugs and snails, which means we have good years and bad years when it comes to dahlias. We could lift them, grow them on, then plant them ou

I absolutely adore smaller gladioli like Gladiolus communis subsp. byzantinus. It can naturalise, which is a really positive thing for the garden. For anyone who’s terrified of having pink in their ga

Dahlias are gorgeous. They’re easy to care for, which is a bonus when you’re a grower, and florists absolutely adore them as a focal flower. Their vase life is about five days and, once cut, they don’

IN the swelter of last summer, a coolly ...

REAL readers' gardens! Pruning roses A plant-packed suburban ...