Magazine

The March issue of Gardens Illustrated celebrates the burst of colour that early spring brings.

• Plantsman Mat Reese gives advice on growing flowering quince (Chaeonemeles) and we meet growers with a passion for crocuses and camellias.
• In the second of her plant series, Åsa Gregers-Warg, head gardener at Beth Chatto’s Plants & Gardens in Essex, shares her top seasonal stars.
• Planting designer James Hitchmough reveals how he created a magical spring flush of colour in his Sheffield garden using a layer of brightly coloured bulbs and self-seeders under the emerging summer-flowering layer – a technique that could be applied in any garden.
• And we visit a jewel of a spring garden in a Lancaster suburb that was the result of 30 years of collaboration.
• We take get a sneak peek at some of master plantsman Piet Oudolf’s most recent projects, with commentary from other leading designers, and get an insight into designer Andy Sturgeon’s transformation of a sloping country garden, including an ingenious and sustainable solution to transforming a vast patio.
• We also pay a visit to three innovative projects that fill a horticultural need while giving back to the community.