Best charcoal BBQs 2023

If 2022 started the rise of the green kitchen, then a recent report by Living Spaces can officially credit 2023 as the year of the green living room. 

As part of your Premium access, you can send your gardening questions to our horticultural experts each month. They will then answer a selection of the questions they receive, and share the advice at the end of the month.

With the wide and exciting range of gardening products out there, it can be difficult to think of the best gardening gift ideas for birthdays, Christmas or any other special occasion.

Buying someone a bouquet of flowers is a sure way to bring a smile to their face, as well as brighten up an entire room. They make an ideal gift and it’s now easier than ever to give them, thanks to the numerous online flower delivery services that make it easier to send flowers from afar.

Garden fire pits provide a cosy campfire atmosphere in any garden. They can make the focal point of a patio for big gatherings or part of a quiet, comfy nook to curl up in.

Vote now, and pick the garden you’d like to win this year’s People’s Choice award for the Gardens of the Year Competition 2023, sponsored by Yeo Valley. Take a look at this year’s finalists, and vote for your favourite below. Voting closes at noon on Monday 6 November.

Secateurs and loppers are handy pruning tools but for thicker branches a pruning saw is the tool for the job. The last resort before you need a chainsaw, a pruning saw has a toothed blade capable of cutting branches 5cm thick and above and many different shapes and sizes are available, from compact folding saws that fit in the pocket to long, straight, fixed blades that need a holster to keep them safe. All have a high carbon steel blade, and many have been designed to cut a particular type or thickness of wood. As a rule of thumb, the longer the blade the thicker the wood it can cut, but strength of blade, sharpness of teeth and how long they stay sharp, as well as grip and comfort will all affect how easily and well a saw will cut.

A bird box provides a safe place for birds to build their nests and a specialist bird box camera can give you a closer look at the birds raising their families in your garden without causing disruption.

Gardening is incredibly rewarding but it can be tricky to keep on top of seasonal jobs such as sowing and harvesting, not to mention new planting plans, redesigns and wish lists from one year to the next.  

While bird feeders are common in Britain’s gardens, bird baths are less so. Bird baths are a brilliant way of providing birds with a regular supply of clean water for both drinking and bathing. Bird baths become even more essential in the colder months when natural sources may be frozen or in the height of summer when water can be hard to come by.

Mainland UK is home to many natural treasures. While many are world-famous and are visited by millions of people each year, there are several that many haven’t even heard of, including some locals.

Zack Snipes