Gardeners’ Question Time

Dear subscriber Welcome to May

I love May. It’s the time of year

We Love May

May is a gift for writers of low-quality poetry. There are many things that rhyme with May, so putting together a passionate poem, an overwhelming ode or a sentimental sonnet is so much easier; for example, “A roll in the hay, in May”. Too raunchy? How about “In May I swim, the fjords of Norway”. Not bad. “To me, in May, you are as good as cabaret or a corps de ballet.” Now we’re getting there. Have a good month: if not writing bad poetry, then at least there’s loads to keep you going in the garden.

The Full Monty

Despite increasing prices, growing from seed is still the most cost-effective way of raising a garden, says Monty – even better if you produce your own seeds

Expert’s choice Wisteria

With cascades of scented flowers in purples, whites and pinks, this vigorous climber brings drama to the garden, says Graham Rice

2 for 1Gardens

Across the seasons

America’s Golden West & Las Vegas

SAVE 15% * book by 31 May Departures

Enjoy a luxury gardens and gourmet stay in Yorkshire

Overnight stay at Goldsborough Hall from £155pp *

Explore the horticultural wonders of Marrakech

From £1,845pp* , 4 nights, 5 days – departs 6 October 2025

THE WONDERS OF SPAIN

Explore the rich history, culture and cuisine of Spain in two enchanting areas – the Basque region in the north and Andalucia in the south, on trips you’ll never forget

Discover the gardens of the Scottish Borders

7-11 July | 4 nights/5 days from £1,295pp*

FREE* 24 English lavender plants for every reader

*Just pay £5.95 postage

Sunbelievable sunfower

Offer of the month

Unlock great savings with our partner discounts

Welcome to your new subscriber discount list, offering you savings of up to 20% * across a range of products. Working with our specially selected partners, we aim to help you save even more every time you shop

Mix & Match on Baskets

BENEFITS

10 veg seed packs for ONLY £10

SUBSCRIBER-ONLY OFFERS

Some like it hot

Monty shares how he uses succulents, miniature bulbs and alpines at Longmeadow – planting them out in containers to bring a touch of the exotic to the garden

Cultivating joy

Part 1 Bountiful borders

Root of the matter

ASHLEY EDWARDS BECKY SEARLE HAFSAH HAFEJI JAMIE WALTON POLLYANNA WILKINSON BARBARA SEGALL

Garden globetrotting: Western Cape

A plant paradise for botanical enthusiasts, the Western Cape is home to countless species – although it was the wild succulents that caught Emma Crawforth’s attention during her recent visit

Inspired by the Western Cape

If you’d like to bring a taste of South Africa to your garden here in the UK, there are lots of plants you can grow. Here are my top choices, all suitable for growing at home providing you pay a little attention to cold weather and hardiness ratings

Cordless self-propelled mowers

Self-propelled mowers make light work of lawns, even on slopes. Reviews Editor Kay Maguire puts seven to the test, to help you find the best choice for your garden

A garden at the edge of the world

Having built his garden from scratch, author Patrick Gale shares the challenges he faces having one of England’s most westerly walled rose gardens and the plants he holds dearest

Master your mix

Nick’s guide to edible companion planting

Beyond the herb bed

Grow and enjoy more herbs in your garden by interplanting them in beds, borders, pots, and the veg patch. Adam Frost shares how he mixes things up

Growing THE GOOD LIFE

It’s mid-spring on Sara Ward ’s smallholding, where she’s rotating crops, controlling pests and creating a delicious broad bean hummus

May Growing guide

Make the most of warm soil this month by sowing successionally for continuous crops

Make a Metre Matter

Create a wildlife pond

Elements of your pond

Even the smallest pond will attract wildlife. Nic Wilson shares her top tips on how to build and maintain it so you have creatures visiting for years on end

Stop. Relax. Enjoy

May is one of the busiest months of the gardening calender, but, says Ashley Edwards, slowing things down to observe and appreciate your plot – flaws and all – will pay dividends

GREEN HOUSE GROWING

Alan shares his greenhouse know-how, with advice on what to grow now and which kit is essential for success

Is your garden camera ready?

There’s still plenty of time to enter our 2025 Gardens of the Year competition and win some fabulous prizes, including having your garden photographed for the magazine! To give your garden the best chance of impressing our judges, make sure you capture it at its finest. Follow these expert tips from Gardeners’ World Magazine photographer Jason Ingram to give yourself the best chance of being one of our six finalists.

WHAT TO DO NOW

PHOTOS: NEIL HEPWORTH; JASON INGRAM 50 things

AROUND THE GARDEN

Plant annual climbers If you plant within the

PRUNING

Give ceanothus a spring trim Use a smaller

TEST YOUR SKILLS

Plant freesia bulbs now With their vibrant colours

Sow your FREE seeds

This month, subscribers receive FREE lettuce Salad Bowl

WILDLIFE

Take part in No Mow May The speckled

FLOWERS

Plant out geums Geums are ideal for popping

ADAM’S ESSENTIALS

Pot up bedding and hardy plants A pot

Plant out a pot-grown rose

When digging the hole, check that the soil

FRUIT & VEG

Use pheromone traps on fruit Pheromone traps interrupt

HOUSE PLANTS

STEP BY STEP Repot cymbidiums Repot cymbidiums after

A trio of Peruvian lilies

SAVE OVER 50% Alstroemerias are prized for long-stemmed

Exotic oleander bush

Oleander Pink Emilie SAVE £25 Oleanders are one

Chrysanthemum collection

FREE P&P when you quote code below

SAVE 15%* on your spring essentials

Helping you spend less with our specially selected partners

NEXT month

June issue on sale 22 May

Puzzles

Take a break from the garden with these brain-teasers

Tales from Titchmarsh

Fashions may come and go at the Chelsea Flower Show, but the one thing that will always be in style is the event itself, says Alan

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