0085003-scaled.jpg

Grow autumn asters for colour that lasts the season

Hydrangea-macrophylla-1717063-scaled.jpg

Hydrangea heroes for every garden

bright-lights-chard2.jpg

Grow vegetables for looks as well as flavour

1485022-heliathus-scaled.jpg

Grow perennial sunflowers for lasting colour in late-summer borders

nepeta-and-roses-1751485-scaled.jpg

10 of the best companion plants to grow with roses

fruit-shape-prune-currant--scaled.jpeg

How to shape fruit trees in summer for healthier growth

hydrangea-cuttings-june-9.jpeg

Take hydrangea cuttings now for free plants next year

sow-beet.jpg

Late veg to sow now for fast autumn harvests

0361908-scaled.jpg

How to grow, divide and care for your peonies

peg-runners-pot-1.jpg

Make new strawberry plants from runners

0556162-1-scaled.jpg

Grow lupins for bold summer colour

salads-sow-opener-2.jpeg

Sow lettuce and salads for fresh summer harvests

10 long-flowering plants for a summer full of colour

0454474-scaled.jpg

Bearded irises for structure, colour and early summer impact

Orange double-flowered dahlias growing in a garden border, with green foliage and unopened buds among other summer plants.

IMG_3867.jpeg

How to grow dahlias for months of colour

Prunus-subhirtella-Autumnalis-1102698-scaled.jpg

Best flowering cherries for spring blossom and year-round interest

GNS xmas assets-27-BWS 2400X900

Subscribe to Garden News Magazine

Heuchera used as edging for a curved stone flagged path

6 easy ways to use heucheras

houseplants-repot-reopt-2-scaled.jpeg

Repotting houseplants made simple

Step-4-plant-summer-pots-containers-Group-pots.jpg

Summer containers made simple

A grey windowbox mounted below a window, filled with orange and yellow tulips, pink and yellow primroses and fresh green foliage, creating a colourful spring display against a stone building.

Tip-4-Plant-bulbs-for-bright-blooms.jpeg

Make the most of vertical space with windowboxes

Step-4-Wait-for-wildlife-to-move-in.jpeg

How to make a mini pond in a container

MAIN-SHOT-_-115368.jpg

Spring projects to get your garden growing

Step-2-Roll-soil-into-ball.jpeg

Know how to test your soil for healthy, happy plants

Tackle-buddlejas-buddleja-0731567-scaled.jpg

How to prune your garden in late winter

Garden-Essentials-Website-Image-1600x900-1.jpg

Cultivating calm and curiosity: Introducing the Essential Gardening Puzzle Book

Prune-shrub-roses.jpeg

How to prune shrub roses for stunning summer blooms

View of a path through a garden which is situated in a steep-sided valley, with its own sheltered microclimate which permits tender exotic plants to flourish.

Know-your-garden-1451136.jpg

How to adapt your garden for unpredictable weather

Woman dressed in jeans and salmon-coloured jumper, kneeling down in a border and using shears to cut the top of a Rosemary hedge.

5-PRUNING-ROSEMARY-1425295-scaled.jpg

Top 10 common gardening mistakes and how to avoid them

In this image, you can see a person (their gender isn’t fully clear from what’s visible) carefully sowing seeds into a modular tray, which is commonly used for starting plants from seed. The person is placing a couple of seeds in each individual cell of the tray, ensuring even distribution for optimal germination.

MAIN-1352056-copy-scaled.jpg

The secret to good seed sowing

A person kneeling on the grass in a garden, smiling, while pouring soil from a green bucket into a plastic container filled with food scraps to make a wormery. The container’s green lid and a drill are on the ground nearby, and leafy plants are in the background.

Make-a-wormery-copy.jpeg

How to make a homemade wormery

A close-up of a person planting individual red onion ‘Red Baron’ sets into small, green, reusable plastic multipots filled with soil. The person is using one hand to place an onion set into the soil, while the other hand holds several more onion sets.

onions-1537812-scaled.jpg

January garden jobs to kickstart the year

Plants

Flowers Shrubs Trees

Fruit and Vegetables

Advice

Beginners

Garden Maintenance

Garden Design

Magazine

Choisya Aztec Pearl 0535308

Top 10 evergreen shrubs that thrive in clay soil

GNS WBS PAGE BANNER

Pick up your copy on the newsstand!

GN project life social 1080x1080

Magazines: In The World’s Best Interests

**Your magazine, your passion, your community**

_In an age of instant gratification, where so often new technology for instant response is offered, we should be reminded that in feedback offered, there is still need for patience, reward and it asks the reader to engage with what has been written._ _That’s why we love writing for Garden News, a printed weekly publication read by lots of people and loved by gardeners._ _It’s a whole different joy to engage with words on a page._

We know it – real passion deserves something real. That's why, across Britain, your favourite magazine titles are coming together like never before, united by one goal: to put your interests and curiosities first.

Because in the world’s best interests, your interests matter most.

Magazines have always had your best interest at heart. Whether you love gardening, showbiz, classic cinema or motorbikes, we’re here to bring your closer to the things you love.

A magazine isn’t just something to read – it's a feed that feeds the mind. It’s where your passions find people, curated by those who care as much as you do.

Let’s be honest – endless scrolling is getting old. More of us are craving time away from screens, looking for something meaningful, mindful and real. You’re not alone: 8 in 10 adults agree that magazine reading matters now more than ever. And yet, not enough of us are making that time.

We get it. Life is busy. But turning a page, underlining a line that speaks to you, passing an issue to a friend - these simple, analogue pleasures matter, maybe now more than ever.

We’re not run by algorithms. We’re not here to grab your attention and never let go. We’re here to fuel your interests, your curiosity - your passion. Every page you turn is a page created by people who share your interests and obsessions.

This isn’t just a campaign- it’s a movement. Britain’s favourite magazines are joining forces to stand up for what matters: you, your community, your curiosity.

So, take a moment. Pick up the magazine that calls to you. Discover something new, rediscover an old passion, or simply enjoy a quiet moment for yourself. Because when you do, you’re part of a community of millions - each of us united by what we love.

**Magazines. In The World’s Best Interests.**

<div class="landing-page">

<div class="container">

  
  <div class="section hero">

    <img src="https://images.bauerhosting.com/celebrity/sites/14/2026/10/any-and-everything-3.jpeg" alt="Garden News magazine" />

    <div class="hero-text">
      <div class="offer">❄️ Winter special offer</div>
      <h1>Stay on top of your garden, all winter long.</h1>

      <p>
        Winter might slow growth down, but there’s still plenty you can do to protect what you’ve got and set yourself up for a stronger spring. Garden News keeps it simple with weekly expert advice, seasonal reminders and practical ideas you can get done whenever the weather gives you a break.
      </p>

      <p>
        From pruning and plant protection to planning, soil care and winter veg jobs, each issue helps you focus on what matters most right now, without overcomplicating it. Expect clear guidance, problem-solvers and tips that fit real gardens and real schedules.
      </p>

     <ul class="benefits">
        <li>✅ Weekly seasonal jobs, reminders and expert gardening advice</li>
        <li>✅ Practical tips for winter veg, pruning and protecting plants</li>
        <li>✅ Simple ideas that help you get ahead for spring</li>
      </ul>

      <a class="cta-button" href="https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/garden-news-magazine?utm_source=gardennewsmagazine.co.uk&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=bau_gardennews&utm_content=brand_article_winter"
         target="_blank">
         SUBSCRIBE
      </a>

      <div style="font-size:14px; margin-top:10px; color:#555;">
        📰 Weekly issues · 📬 Delivered to your door · 🌱 Trusted expert advice
      </div>

      <div class="small-text">
        Simple, secure checkout. Start your subscription in minutes.<br>
        ⏳ Offer ends 28th December
      </div>
    </div>

  </div>


  
  <div class="section review">

    <div class="review-text">

      <p><strong>Join thousands of passionate gardeners across the UK</strong></p>

      <div class="stars">★★★★★</div>

      <p>
        “Garden News keeps me on track all year. The weekly reminders and expert tips have made such a difference to my borders.”
      </p>

      <p><strong>— Verified reader</strong></p>

      <div class="stars">★★★★★</div>

      <p>
        “I love having clear advice on what to do each week. It’s like having a gardening expert by my side.”
      </p>

      <p><strong>— Verified reader</strong></p>


      <a class="cta-button" href="https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/garden-news-magazine?utm_source=gardennewsmagazine.co.uk&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=bau_gardennews&utm_content=brand_article_winter"
         target="_blank">
         START GROWING TODAY
      </a>
      </div>
       <img src="https://images.bauerhosting.com/celebrity/sites/14/2026/10/UK_GNS_0041_2026_001_C_N_N_LD_COVER_HighRes-1-scaled.jpg" alt="Garden News cover" />

    </div>

  </div>


  
  <div class="section">
    <h2 style="text-align:center;">Why subscribe?</h2>

    <div class="cards">

      <div class="card">
        <h3>🗓️ Stay on track</h3>
        <p>Know what to do in your garden each week, right through winter</p>
      </div>

      <div class="card">
        <h3>🥕 Grow more</h3>
        <p>Practical advice for flowers, fruit and veg—whatever the weather</p>
      </div>

      <div class="card">
        <h3>🌿 Garden with confidence</h3>
        <p>Trusted guidance to protect plants now and prep for spring</p>
      </div>

    </div>
  </div>


  
  <div class="section final-cta">

    <h2>Ready to get ahead for spring?</h2>

    <p>Get 12 issues for £19.99</p>

    <ul class="benefits" style="display:inline-block; text-align:left;">
      <li>✅ FREE UK delivery</li>
      <li>✅ Practical advice in every issue</li>
      <li>✅ Weekly guidance that keeps you on track</li>
    </ul>

    <div style="margin-top:20px;">
      <a class="cta-button" href="https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/garden-news-magazine?utm_source=gardennewsmagazine.co.uk&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=bau_gardennews&utm_content=brand_article_winter">
         Get 12 issues for £19.99
      </a>
    </div>

    <div style="font-size:14px; margin-top:10px; color:#555;">
      Trusted by thousands of UK gardeners every week
    </div>

Give your garden lasting colour with these easy-grow foliage favourites

Few plants offer as much versatility as heucheras. Their colourful evergreen leaves bring interest throughout the year, while their delicate summer flowers add extra appeal. Available in shades from bright green and rich purple to soft pinks and oranges, they work well in borders, containers and hanging baskets.

Here are six simple ways to make the most of them in your garden.

Just as box hedging or lavender can define the edges of borders, heucheras make excellent edging plants.

Using heucheras avoids problems with box blight and provides a wide choice of foliage colours, along with airy flowers in summer. Choose a single shade such as deep purple or fresh green for a more formal look, or mix colours together for a bolder display.

Heucheras prefer well-drained soil, making them ideal for hanging baskets where compost can dry out quickly.

Mix different foliage colours together for a low-maintenance display. Pair them with tufts of carex and trailing ivy to create contrast in shape and texture. Their flowers provide extra interest in early summer.

A splash of colour can make a big difference during the darker months.

Choose bright lime, pink, purple and orange heucheras to bring vivid colour to the garden when many other plants are less eye-catching. Their evergreen foliage provides interest right through winter.

Native to woodland areas of North America, heucheras can cope with a good amount of shade.

Purple-leaved varieties perform particularly well in shadier conditions, although many of the hundreds of available cultivars are suitable. They mix well with hostas and can be used to add colour beneath trees, without attracting the slug problems often associated with hostas.

Heucheras are excellent container plants, whether planted on their own or combined with other favourites.

Different foliage colours can be mixed together, or teamed with bedding plants, perennials and grasses. Simple combinations are often the easiest to maintain. Try pairing carex with heucheras, or combine ajuga, cyclamen, abelia, carex and heuchera ‘Marmalade’ for a colourful display.

While some heucheras stand out as feature plants thanks to their bright foliage, they are also useful as ground cover.

As plants grow and form larger clumps, they help fill gaps and suppress weeds. Try _Stipa tenuissim_a, ophiopogon, salvia ‘Mainacht’ and heuchera ‘Beauty Colour’ for a striking planting scheme.

Heucheras grown in containers can be affected by vine weevil. Apply nematodes in autumn or spring to control grubs and help prevent infestations. If a plant is affected, remove and wash off any grubs, repot the remaining plant into fresh compost and water it well. Although the roots may have been badly damaged, the plant may regrow and recover.

Bees love heuchera flowers and will visit them throughout summer, stopping at each individual bloom in search of nectar.

**:a[Subscribe]{href='http://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/landscape-magazine?utm_source=landscapemagazine.co.uk&amp;utm_medium=link&amp;utm_campaign=bau_landscape &amp;utm_content=wbs_article_link' }to Garden News and get the latest gardening advice, plant care tips, and outdoor living ideas delivered straight to your door. Whether you're a seasoned grower or just starting out, Garden News brings you expert insights that’ll help your garden thrive.**

Garden News is for gardeners who love the rhythm of the seasons and want a weekly magazine that keeps pace. Each issue gives you timely advice that helps you stay on top of things, so you’re doing the right jobs at the right time, without feeling like you’re always catching up. The “what to do now” pages are a big part of that: they break the week’s key tasks into simple, manageable steps, whether you’ve got a free afternoon or just a quick window to get outside. It takes the guesswork out and helps you see real progress, week by week.

But it isn’t just a list of jobs. Garden News is also full of ideas to keep gardening enjoyable, with plant spotlights, seasonal features and fresh inspiration for borders, beds and containers as the weather shifts. You’ll find advice that suits real gardens and real conditions too, like plants that cope better in dry spells, and ways to keep colour going later in the year with berries, bulbs and reliable favourites. And because it’s weekly, there’s always something new to try, with free seeds included in some issues for an extra boost of growing inspiration.

:a[Subscribe]{href='http://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/landscape-magazine?utm_source=landscapemagazine.co.uk&amp;utm_medium=link&amp;utm_campaign=bau_landscape &amp;utm_content=wbs_article_link' }today or pick up your copy from your local newsstand or supermarket

:a[STORE FINDER]{href='https://frontline-group.co.uk/store-finder/' }

Perennial asters are flowers no autumn garden should be without. They are dependable and bring valuable colour as the year starts to wind down. They can also cope better than expected in heat and drought, although they will look even better with a good soak once or twice.

There are many varieties for mixed borders and perennial borders. Some are knee-high, others reach head height. You can find neat, compact sorts for containers or the very front of the border, as well as taller plants that will rise through planting or appear behind old roses. Many are excellent cut flowers. Dwarf types, often sold in flower at garden centres, also make useful emergency fillers later in the season.

• **‘Blue Star’ (heath aster):** Prolific clouds of small lavender-blue daisies fade almost to white, with eyes that turn from purple to yellow. Mildew resistant. 60cm.

• **‘Coombe Fishacre’ (****Aster** **hybrid):** Repeatedly branching flowerheads give a long season of purplish-pink flowers, with primrose eyes that soon turn purple. Mostly mildew resistant. 90cm.

• **‘Golden Spray’ (heath aster):** Dense heads packed with small flowers, white petals and a rich golden eye. Mildew resistant. 90cm.

• **‘Fellowship’ (New York aster):** Elegantly open sprays of double, pale pink flowers late in autumn. Not mildew resistant. 1m.

• **‘Forncett Flourish’ (Italian aster):** Prolific, purple-tinted, rich blue flowers with golden eyes on self-supporting plants. Mildew resistant. 45cm.

• **‘Helen Picton’ (New England aster):** Mildew-resistant plants topped with unusually rich violet-purple flowers. 1.2m.

• **‘Little Carlow’ (****Aster** **hybrid):** Upright, often self-supporting growth with bright yellow-eyed, lavender-blue flowers. Mostly mildew resistant. 1.2m.

• **‘Rosa Sieger’ (New England aster):** Very striking, with unusually large flowers in especially vivid rose pink. Mildew resistant. 1.2m.

Asters are versatile plants, but it still pays to choose the right one for the right place.

**Containers:** ‘Professor Anton Kippenberg’ is robust, reliably short and has full-sized lavender-blue flowers. It is often available in garden centres as well as by mail order. 30cm.

Mixed borders: ‘Prince’ has attractively bronzed spring foliage, topped with red-eyed pale daisies. 50cm.

Instant fillers: For an easy filler that starts flowering earlier than most and keeps going well into autumn, choose the large-flowered ‘Rudolf Goethe’.

**Perennial borders:** ‘Ringdove’ forms strong, tight clumps topped with clouds of pale lavender flowers with primrose disks. 1m.

Autumn asters make excellent perennials for cutting and can be used in several ways:

• Plant four or five varieties together in different colours for picking

• Pair their airy sprays with larger blooms, such as roses or dahlias, for a balanced mix of big and small flowers

• Use them in informal, cottage-style arrangements

• Cut stems when about a third of the flowers in a spray are open. Strip off the lower leaves, at least all those that would sit under water in the vase, and use flower food.

• **‘Monch’:** Larger than average lavender-blue flowers with bright yellow eyes. 90cm.

• **‘Monte Cassino’:** Clouds of bright white daisies that suit almost any arrangement. 1.2m.

• **‘Ochtendgloren’:** Branched heads of pink flowers over an unusually long season. 1.2m.

Powdery mildew can be a major issue on autumn-flowering perennial asters. It shows as a white, dusty coating on the leaves. Foliage then turns brown and crisp and drops off.

In general, infection is limited to one group: _Symphyotrichum novi-belgii_ (New York asters). However, this group has more varieties than any other, so avoiding it can greatly reduce your choices.

There are still plenty of options from other groups, including _Aster amellus_ (Italian aster), _A._ _frikartii_ (hybrid), _Symphyotrichum ericoides_ (heath aster) and _S._ _novae-angliae_ (New England aster), offering a wide range of styles. In some seasons, especially when plants are challenged by hot, dry weather, resistance can partially break down.

**Situation:** All these plants grow poorly in shade. They do not always need full sun, but most do well in open positions that are not shaded from above.

**Planting:** These asters are best planted in spring.

**Drought:** In dry spells, plants often lose their lower leaves. In the recent drought, many lost foliage and ended up with branched flowerheads on bare stems. An occasional soaking makes a big difference.

**The Chelsea chop:** Taller asters are ideal for the Chelsea chop. In mid to late May, around the time of the Chelsea Flower Show, cut taller varieties back by half. This encourages shorter, bushier growth that should not need support. Flowering will be delayed, but that is often helpful.

**Deadheading:** Deadhead promptly after flowering to stop plants looking untidy, reduce self-sown seedlings and avoid weakening the plant.

In recent years, botanists decided the plants long known as asters are too varied to sit under one botanical name. A few remain as Aster, but many, including most covered here, have moved to Symphyotrichum. Others are now called Eurybia or Seriocarpus.

Nurseries are understandably cautious, but if you ask for an aster, you should still get the right plant, whatever name it is sold under.

**Love what you’re reading? Subscribe to Garden News and get the latest gardening advice, plant care tips, and outdoor living ideas delivered straight to your door. Whether you're a seasoned grower or just starting out, Garden News brings you expert insights that’ll help your garden thrive.**

Hydrangeas were once dismissed as dull. In reality, they are some of the most dependable and versatile plants you can grow. As shrubs or climbers, and even bred for ground cover or baskets, they reward simple, regular care with long-lasting colour.

Flowerheads come in a wide range of shapes and shades, offering more choice than many gardeners realise. The key is choosing the right type for the right job. Here’s how to pick the perfect hydrangea for your garden.

A tough, resilient and naturally compact shrub, best known for the classic ‘Annabelle’. Its huge white summer flowerheads can be so heavy they weigh down the branches. Garden centres now offer more choice, including ‘Pink Annabelle’, with soft pink blooms opening from deeper pink buds.

**Pruning guide:** Light pruning encourages smaller, self-supporting flowerheads Cut stems down to 15cm for fewer but much larger blooms

A bold, shade-loving hydrangea for borders with neutral or acid soil. The large leaves are softly hairy and attractive from spring through summer. In July and August, domed buds open into large lacecap flowerheads. A ring of soft purplish or bluish florets surrounds a mass of tiny central flowers.

• ‘Hot Chocolate’ with purple-tinted foliage, reddish undersides and pink lacecap flowers

• ‘Gold Rush’ with golden leaves turning green in summer, then orange in autumn

On limey soil, grow in a large container for best results.

The traditional hydrangea, known for its rounded heads of colourful florets. These plants tolerate a wide range of conditions but give their best display in a sunny spot.

**Mopheads:** Large, rounded flowerheads packed with bold florets

**Lacecaps:** A ring of colourful florets surrounding a centre of tiny, less showy flowers

Hydrangea colourant from garden centres can encourage blue flowers on limey soil.

Easy to control in size through pruning. The harder they are pruned, the larger the flowerheads and the later they bloom, making it easier to fit them into your planting scheme. Cone-shaped flowerheads usually open white and mature to pink.

• ‘Limelight’ with lime green spikes ageing to pink

• ‘Pinky-Winky’ whose white flowers quickly turn pink, creating bicoloured spikes

The well-known climbing hydrangea. Its stems cling to brick, stone or wooden fences without causing damage, attaching in a similar way to ivy. Huge white lacecap flowers appear in early summer. Mature plants are also valued by nesting birds.

‘Mirranda’ is a variegated form with cream-yellow leaf edges.

The oak-leaved hydrangea is grown as much for its foliage as its flowers. Large, oak-shaped leaves create impact throughout the season. In late summer, conical white flowerheads appear. In autumn, foliage turns golden. Try ‘Little Honey’ which offers:

A naturally compact Japanese hydrangea, well suited to smaller spaces. The prettily toothed leaves add to its appeal. Lacecap flowers are:

Autumn foliage colour adds further interest.

‘Bluebird’ is an outstanding choice for small gardens on acid soil.

The correct name for climbing hydrangea has returned to _Hydrangea petiolaris_. Alongside it is a close relative that looks very similar: Schizophragma hydrangeoides. This self-clinging climber produces lacecap flowerheads up to 25cm across. The variety ‘Moonlight’ has silvery foliage that turns yellow in autumn. A superb choice for covering walls and fences.

Many varieties of Hydrangea paniculata make excellent specimen plants in both small and large gardens. Size is easily managed through pruning:

• Light pruning produces smaller, bushier plants

• Hard pruning encourages larger growth and bigger flowerheads

RHS Award of Garden Merit winners include:

• ‘Phantom’ with large white heads turning coral pink

• ‘Pink Diamond’ with very large white florets ageing to pink

• ‘Silver Dollar’ with very upright growth

• Choose varieties whose colours develop attractively from bud to maturity

• All hydrangeas are straightforward to prune

• Climbing types usually need little or no pruning until they fill their space

• H. paniculata varieties are excellent for cutting, so consider planting extra where a few stems can be taken

**Subscribe to Garden News and get the latest gardening advice, plant care tips, and outdoor living ideas delivered straight to your door. Whether you're a seasoned grower or just starting out, Garden News brings you expert insights that’ll help your garden thrive.**

Ornamental vegetables have been gaining attention since the late 1980s, when a planting scheme at Kew’s Palm House featured herbs and veg in a summer display. The effect was striking, especially from potatoes in full flower. Since then, gardeners have embraced the idea of growing veg for both looks and taste.

Here are some of the best options to bring colour and interest into beds, borders and containers.

Most broad beans produce white flowers with black markings, often hidden among the leaves. One stands out from the rest. ‘Crimson Flowered’ carries purplish red blooms with black marks, and the flowers are far more visible. It brings welcome colour to the veg patch while still producing a reliable crop.

Many beetroot varieties have dark green leaves, but a few offer rich foliage colour.

• ‘MacGregor’s Favourite’ has broad, glossy purple-red leaves

• ‘Bull’s Blood’ produces narrower foliage in a similar shade

Both work well alongside marigolds, where their dark leaves contrast beautifully with bright blooms.

Red cabbages spread their red or purplish leaves long before forming tight hearts. This early growth creates bold colour and structure, often with a soft blue haze over the foliage. Try:

Grow them through a low carpet of trailing pearly lilac petunias to make the foliage stand out.

Traditional Brussels sprout plants are dramatic but rarely described as beautiful. Two varieties change that.

• ‘Red Bull’, a modern introduction

Both develop rich purple foliage from early growth through to Christmas harvest, creating impressive, upright plants in the garden.

Carrots earn their place for their fine, feathery foliage. The soft texture contrasts well with broader leaves such as heucheras. All varieties offer similar ornamental value, so experiment with how you sow them. Instead of neat rows, sow in patches between perennials or annuals. This not only looks more natural but also helps confuse female carrot flies searching for plants on which to lay their eggs.

Latest on Garden News

Plants

Advice