Gardeners' tips

During the coronavirus lockdown period, we've been retaining a small number of gardeners, maintaining social distancing measures, to carry out essential maintenance tasks and allowing our gardens to open gradually, safely and in line with government advice.

Gardeners in the Kitchen Garden at Ham House and Garden, London

Close view of a tree laden with ripening damsons at Hill House Farm on the Brockhampton EstateClose view of a tree laden with ripening damsons at Hill House Farm on the Brockhampton Estate — Damsons are typically used to make preserves in autumn

Get a taste of what's in season for September

Read up on what's in season for growing and harvesting in September. Find out why we’re talking about damsons this month, and get inspired with some advice from our experts about how to get the best out of the season with recipes and growing tips.

Discover what's in season

Autumn gardening tips

Hydrangea ayesha at Killerton in the autumn

View of Hanbury Hall from the fruit garden, Worcestershire

The perfect time to plant

Autumn is the perfect time of year to carry out any big replanting jobs, because the soil will still be warm to aid root establishment and moist from late summer showers.

Replenish your lawn after a long summer

Apply top dressing and over seed to remove moss and dead grass to reduce disease. You can then sit back and enjoy a healthy green lawn next spring.

Plant strategically with autumn colour for next year

In order to achieve maximum autumn colour, plant ahead now. All acers are a good choice, but the Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica) makes a spectacular specimen tree, providing fiery leaves in autumn.

A pile of seasonal produce dug up from a vegetable patch — Treat your vegetable patch to home-grown compost

Make your own compost

Our gardeners have written some top tips for making your own compost at home. Follow this cost effective, step-by-step guide to help your garden - it will help reduce waste, too.

Give compost a go

See our other how to guides

Freshly baked rhubarb and stem ginger scones on baking tray, fresh rhubarb on the side — Add a twist to your basic scones with this delicious recipe

Autumn feasts and farming

Get the best recipe inspiration when you delve into our take on autumn feasts, inspired by the theme of autumn traditions in this season's Magazine. You can also learn about the sustainable farming techniques we use to grow, harvest and make the best of British food and drink.

Bring autumn tastes to your plate

Family on the Community Allotments at Minnowburn, Co Down, Northern Ireland — Join in with the veggie growing fun on the Community Allotments at Minnowburn

Allotments and growing spaces

This year's National Allotments Week, which took place on 10-16 August, focused on the wellbeing benefits of gardening. To mark the occasion, we're sharing stories, recipes and tips that will nourish your soul and help you get the most out of your growing space.

Get growing

Our gardeners will continue caring for our green spaces

Keep gardens growing

Now more than ever, we need gardens and parklands to escape to. Give today and together we can help nature recover and ensure our shared history continues to inspire us all. Thank you for your continued support, we couldn't keep gardens in bloom without it.

Donate now

" I was a Head Gardener for twenty years and you never stop learning. You need to be creative, prepared to try new things and inspire a wide range of people. "

Member of staff checking the records at the Plant Conservation Centre — At work in the Plant Conservation Centre

Listen to our podcast about gardens

Download or listen to episodes from our podcast series that explore our most important historic gardens and meet the staff and volunteers who care for them.

Listen now

Gardener's essentials

See our range of decorative and practical items for making your garden great

Browse our garden selection