Garden Answers June 2025

There is something heroic about herbs in our gardens – of course they do a wonderful job when it comes to preparing food, but they also fulfil other duties. Many are attractive to pollinating insects, while some offer up wonderful fragrance. And several, such as mint or rosemary, are perfectly hardy so they’ll give interest all year round. So it’s a bit of a mystery why more people don’t grow herbs – they seem to fall somewhere between traditional grow-your-own veg and colourful ornamentals. Well, in this copy of Garden Answers, we aim to put that right! Our allotment queen Olga Grieves is celebrating all that herbs do for us, with ideas on different plants for different spaces, growing tips and ideas for preserving and storing. If there’s one thing…

“I’m planning on sowing courgettes for an autumn harvest.” Louise Curley describes tree peonies’ ephemeral beauty, p14 “Cutting back Oriental poppies and aquilegias, for more fresh foliage.” Sue Fisher loves perfect poppies on p28 “Planting out wildlife-friendly annuals and perennials grown from seed.” Adrian Thomas, celebrates diversity of wildlife, p46 “Reading in the comfort of my allotment hammock." Olga Grieves explores how to grow all the herbs you need, p74 “Giving my roses a midsummer dose of granular food to keep them healthy.” Greg Loades on growing mini cucumbers, p78 “Going on pest patrols and dealing with them before they get of out of hand.” Geoff Hodge chooses barbecues, p94…

The freshness and generosity of June are summed up in this border, with bold splashes of orange geums, purple astrantia, deep purple salvias and powder blue echinops celebrating one of the most colourful months. But it’s the various shapes and sizes of fresh June foliage that make it all work so well. Soft, ferny fennel, soft new shoots of sage and lavender and billowing cosmos tie everything together to make the perfect scene.…

Patio project SUMMER SOFTNESS Soft shades of blue add a gentle vibe of relaxation in early summer, and these cottage garden favourites do it with style. Place your pots around patio edges so they can blend with other summer stars in the garden. This free-flowering catmint provides a wonderful hazy backdrop for a bold delphinium and lupin and perfectly complements the cool blue lobelia further down. Add a pop of brighter colour by choosing a shiny glazed container, to draw the eye towards the flowering display. Also don’t underestimate the usefulness of ‘filler plants’, such as ivy and Alchemilla mollis, at this time of year, for blurring the edges of paving around your pots and creating a feeling of fullness.…

The Wildlife Trusts’ British Rainforest Garden is to find a permanent home at Bristol Zoo. The garden, designed by Zoe Claymore, is a homage to the wild and wet woodlands that were once typical along the west coast. The garden is inspired by the 100-year mission of The Wildlife Trusts and Aviva to bring rainforest back to the British Isles. Kathryn Brown, director of climate change and evidence at The Wildlife Trusts, said: “How magical to rehome our little rainforest garden in a place already loved by generations of families. Children will love playing among the trees – and as their canopies spread and the moss and lichen green the rocks, it’ll come to feel like Harry Potter’s enchanted forest.”…

Do you have a shed and, if so, what colour is it? And is that colour the nation’s favourite? According to The Posh Shed Company, after surveying gardeners, sage green is the top colour. More than a quarter of those surveyed chose it as their favourite colour for a garden shed, with warm grey the second most popular. And the least favourite shade? Pale pink! Jenny Davis from The Posh Shed Company said: “Gone are the days when a quick lick of varnish was the finish of choice for shed owners.”…