The Gardener Magazine

The Gardener is a monthly, national magazine dedicated to inspiring gardeners, providing practical advice and showing step-by-step garden projects. Our monthly features include garden design, in-depth plant features, growing vegetables and herbs, water gardening, garden wildlife and pets, specialist plant articles and much more. We have an extensive database on our website that is growing daily.

Welcome

FRESH PICKS AND CLIPS

LETTERS

Ask the team

COVER STORIES

A GARDEN OF grace and abundance

Plant Gallery

In the shade of GIANTS • Trees are the giants of the garden, anchoring the space with their presence while drawing in birds, shade, and a sense of calm that nothing else quite matches.

GCA COMPETITION Winners 2026

Eckards

Plantland

WHAT TO PLANT NOW

Earth to sky,… • Give us a rainbow every day!

Rhaphiolepis delacourii ‘Kruschenia’

Dahlia gems • Dahlias are geometrical gems, with flowers ranging from compact pompoms to blooms the size of dinner plates, in a variety of warm hues. With old favourites and new hybrids there’s something for everyone.

SET FOR Summer • October is the perfect time to plant annuals that will give you bright, longlasting colour throughout the summer.

Sort shade with Lamium • Deep shade and dry to boot are a gardening headache for many. What can be planted there?

SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS • High-density orchards, high-impact results

Superb aggies • They grow effortlessly, and when bursting into flower in summer, few other perennials can beat their sheer beauty and grace.

Houseplant trends now and beyond • Creating a vibe with houseplants changes from year to year. We can learn plenty from the new trends for now and next year and try some ourselves.

Subscribe and win! • This month, you have a chance to win one of two brand-new Dual 2-in-1 Portable Hose Boxes from.

IN THE FOOD GARDEN

THE HOME FARMER • You don’t need a field to grow your own grain

Melissa ‘Limoncello’ • This lovely perennial herb is now available in a dramatic, strong lemon scent, which the growers have labelled ‘Limoncello’ after the heavily lemon-flavoured Italian drink.

What’s new in superfoods • Every year another plant gets crowned a superfood. These are a few in rotation this year.

Quick fixes and tips • New and fun ways to increase the diversity of your food garden start here.

Eureka! • A good lemon tree is a must-have in any garden, and Citrus limon ‘Eureka’ ticks a great many boxes when it comes to a good variety.

THINGS TO DO NOW

TIME to TRIM • Summer pruning is done to encourage dense new growth on some plants, to give those that have done the job of flowering in late winter and early spring a heads up to do it again in following seasons and as a form of plant maintenance.

Annuals to sow • October is the time to start sowing summer annuals. There are a great many to choose from, so don’t limit yourself.

IN THE NURSERY

A PENNY GUM wedding

Pretty Penstemon

Chafer beetles

Trailing plants for hanging baskets • Bring your hanging baskets to life with trailing plants. Spillers are a lovely way to soften and add interest to any pot, planter or hanging basket, but are especially handy for hanging baskets displayed above eye level. There are a great many trailing plants to choose from, but let’s have a look at a few of our favourites.

INSECTS on the Menu • The simplest way to get rid of pesky pests in your home is to have your plants do it for you.

APHRODITE’S Hothouse • This controversial ‘pleasure garden’ filled with themes of sex and desire turned heads at the 2026...