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Gardener surrounded by plants and flowers in the foreground pruning at Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester
Gardener at work at Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Gardening tips

Discover expert tips for every green space, large or small, from patio to plot. Discover how you can help nature too, with advice on wildlife-friendly gardening.

Seasonal gardening tips

Gardening tips for spring 

Make the most of your garden or growing space this spring with tips and advice from our gardeners. Find out about pruning shrubs, preparing flower borders, planting early vegetables and choosing the best blossom trees.

Two garden volunteers at work in the walled garden at Wimpole, removing weeds and pruning among other tasks. Red tulips can be seen in bloom in the garden border.

How to build a wildlife-friendly garden 

Looking for new ways to help your local wildlife? Here are some tips on how to make your garden a haven for mammals, birds and insects.

Blue tit on a bird box with a tree and leaves in the background at Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire

Growing tips for allotments 

Discover top tips on getting the most from your allotment or patch, and find out why growing your own fruit and vegetables is good for you in more ways than one.

The Community Allotments at Minnowburn, County Down

Grow your own

Sky Gardening Challenge 2026 

Sign up to the Sky Gardening Challenge 2026 and turn the outside space of your flat or apartment into something special.

Balcony image from 2024 with a the judges from the 2024 pilot.

How to make a rose arch 

Discover how to make your own rose arch from former Mottisfont head gardener Jonny Bass, plus an alternative for smaller gardens.

A rose arch, covered in pink Rosa 'Lauré Davoust' roses in bloom, in the walled rose garden at Mottisfont, Hampshire

Grow your own mini-garden 

Add a touch of colour to your windowsill and create a small haven for pollinators to thrive. Follow our easy step-by-step guide on how to grow your own mini-garden.

Children at a table planting seeds in flower pots at Mottisfont, Hampshire with shrubs in the background

Eco-friendly gardening

Guide to peat-free gardening 

We've committed to going peat free as an organisation, and all the plants we grow, buy and sell are potted in peat-free compost. Hear from our team of gardening experts and discover top tips for peat-free gardening in your green space.

Green cuttings sprouting in natural plastic-free pots and peat-free compost

Grow your own loofah kitchen sponges 

Follow our month-by-month guide to growing loofah plants from seed, which you can turn into kitchen sponges as an eco-friendly alternative to the store-bought plastic versions.

A home grown loofah in use washing up at Knightshayes, Devon
A child bending down to inspect plants with a magnifying glass at Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire

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