A simple jar test tells you whether you’re working with clay, sand or loam — and which plants will actually thrive.

Most gardens are watered little and often, which keeps roots shallow. Here’s the schedule we use instead.

Layering bulbs in the same bed gives you colour from March through May. This is the order we plant them in.

Shade doesn’t have to mean bare soil. These tough, handsome plants thrive where the sun barely reaches.

Natural stone, porcelain or brick? How to pick a patio surface that suits your home, your budget and how you’ll use it.

Food, water and shelter — the simple design choices that bring birds, bees and butterflies into any garden.