California gardeners plant native species in parks to prevent wildfire spread – in pictures

We gave you eco-friendly lawn tips, a seasonal fashion edit, the ultimate guide to eye creams and more. Here are the picks that inspired you most in May• Don’t get the Filter delivered to your inb

Shady areas of the garden can be one of the hardest places to get flowers to grow, so the species recommended for these spots are often foliage plants like heucheras and ivy. But it is possible to gro

When you're growing plants in containers, whether indoors or outside, knowing how much water a plant needs can be a challenge, but self-watering planters and pots take a lot of that pressure away. The

The series in which readers answer others’ questions on subjects ranging from flights of fancy to profound scientific concepts. This week, a neighbourly issueIt’s common these days for people to p

Orchids are popular house plants and make a beautiful addition to house plant displays. Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) are the most common type of orchid grown in the UK. Flowering over a long period, th

Tiverton, Devon: On days like this, there’s no finer place to be than in a walled garden, and this one is bursting with gooseberries, beans and buttercupsAny garden is a special thing, but a walled

I try to harbour small colonies of weeds in my plot, but growing vegetables is the priority and some wild plants are too energetic for the spaceI started my growing season late this year. Life got in

Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi, and make an excellent substitute for meat, being high in protein, vitamins and minerals. Growing your own mushrooms at home is a great way to enjoy healthy

What is Himalayan balsam?Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is a tall, annual weed that grows so vigorously it's classed as an invasive non-native plant species. Native to the Himalayas, it was

From a castle in Cumbria to a subtropical paradise in Cornwall, these are some of the top unsung gardens across the countryIn the dash for Cumbria’s lakes and fells, the area’s other green attract

A road trip is the perfect way to explore the county’s horticultural highlights, with great places to eat, drink and stay en routeDriving the back roads of Carmarthenshire in spring, beneath br

Fuchsias are much-loved for their hanging, bell-shaped, bi-coloured flowers that look like colourful, dancing skirts. The flowers last all summer long and there are thousands of varieties available, i

With summer just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to think about outdoor cooking end entertaining.  This versatile gas barbeque from Weber will enable you to cook anything from simple break

This article has been checked for horticultural accuracy by Oliver Parsons.Growing tomatoes is fun and rewarding, resulting in masses of fresh, nutritious fruits that taste better than anything you c

Courgettes are easy and quick to grow and typically yield prolific crops. The fruits must be picked as soon as they're ready or they'll quickly turn into marrows.This means that courgette gluts are al

Our tipsters discover rainforests, rare flowers blazing with colour and the finest tea and cake• Share a tip on a great dog-friendly break – the best tip wins a £200 holiday voucherThornton Hall

Oleanders (Nerium oleander) are a mainstay of Mediterranean gardens, widely used for screen planting, on hillsides and alongside roads. Flowering in summer, the large open flower clusters can be singl

Lily of the valley, Convallaria majalis, is a low-growing, spreading perennial plant, bearing arching stems of white bell-shaped flowers with a wonderful perfume. It makes good ground cover in shady s