Potpourri Magazine

If you love gardening, our magazine will inspire you. It's a real magazine, not just a newsletter, and it's packed full of interesting articles written by professional gardening journalists. It's totally free and arrives once a month by email. Here is a selection of recent articles.

Top of the pots - planting for shade

Top of the pots - planting for shade
If you have a dingy lightwell or dark side return, using pots with a variety of shade-loving plants is perfect for adding a bit of fresh green and colour to...
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Body, soul and gardening - get into the flow

Body, soul and gardening - get into the flow
How many times have you wandered out to the garden to do a spot of deadheading and not come back for hours.  And, however wet or hungry you are, it...
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Podcast: The Plotting Shed

Podcast: The Plotting Shed
This is a useful podcast for those interested in designing their own garden and are new to garden design.  Presenter and designer Rachel McCartain discusses how her aim is to...
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Technology in the garden - self-watering pots

Technology in the garden - self-watering pots
Containers need a lot more watering than planted borders and can be a problem if you go away a lot or are busy.  Self-watering planters can be an excellent solution...
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Veg and recipe - green tomato salsa

Veg and recipe - green tomato salsa
Green tomatoes aren’t as sweet as red tomatoes, but they are safe to eat both raw in salads or sandwiches or cooked in sauces.  They have a tart taste and...
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Top of the pots - growing trees in containers

Top of the pots - growing trees in containers
Growing trees in containers is a fantastic and impactful way of bringing height, blossom and autumn colour into spaces with no planting beds, such as patios.  They can also help...
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Q&A with Nick Stewart, Head Gardener, Lambeth Palace (2022)

Q&A with Nick Stewart, Head Gardener, Lambeth Palace (2022)
What was your journey into horticulture? After completing my degree, my first proper horticultural experience was gained working in the historic Parc de la Ciutadella in Barcelona, which convinced me...
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Garden trends - the new cottage garden

Garden trends - the new cottage garden
Cottage gardens with their traditional mix of colourful flowers, fruit, vegetables and herbs have a nostalgic, romantic appeal.  This relaxed, wildlife-friendly style is having a resurgence of popularity, albeit with...
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Body, soul and gardening - colourful planting

Body, soul and gardening - colourful planting
Colours and their effect on our mood is subjective of course, but greens and cool colours in planting are often associated with well-being and relaxation.  Using reds, oranges and yellows,...
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Garden trends - dark foliage

Garden trends - dark foliage
Designers are predicting a fashion for darker, plummy-coloured flowers and foliage with accents of brighter colours in planting design.  This can add depth, drama and a touch of glamour to...
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Body, soul and gardening - get a stress-free break

Body, soul and gardening - get a stress-free break
Holidays are supposed to be relaxing, so you don’t want to be worrying about how your garden will cope while you’re away.  The most obvious solution is to enlist a...
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Top of the pots - Great combos for summer

Top of the pots - Great combos for summer
High summer is when tall perennials and soft wafty grasses are really coming into their own.  They add lovely texture, naturalism  and movement to a container display – ideal if...
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Garden review - Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden, Surrey

Garden review - Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden, Surrey
We visited this garden on a hot day last year and the mixture of woodland planting, dappled light, water and beautifully placed sculptures creates the most wonderfully soothing environment. The original...
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Veg and recipe - samosa

Veg and recipe - samosa
If you’re bored of steaming your runner beans, why not try something a bit more exciting by making tasty samosas?  Runners go well with Indian spices, and combined with fluffy...
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Podcast - Rich Pickings

Podcast - Rich Pickings
Garden designer friends Jo Thompson and Nina Baxter talk about gardening and much more besides in this enjoyable podcast. In a recent episode they discuss this year’s Chelsea Flower Show...
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Technology in the garden - sails for cooling shade

Technology in the garden - sails for cooling shade
Sails make a great alternative to umbrellas, creating a cool retreat in hotter weather without an intrusive pole.  They also have a graceful, contemporary feel. Most will stand up well...
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Q&A with Clive Nichols, garden photographer

Q&A with Clive Nichols, garden photographer
Q&A with Clive Nichols, garden photographer Tell us about your route into garden photography? After studying human geography at Reading University I got a job as a head chef of...
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Body, soul and gardening - good for children's well-being

Body, soul and gardening - good for children's well-being
Encouraging your children to garden or simply relax and have fun in your outdoor space is excellent for their wellbeing.  With one in eight young people suffering with a mental...
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Garden trends - rethinking weeds

Garden trends - rethinking weeds
Plants usually described as weeds are having their moment.  Show gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show were full of brambles, dandelions and thistles.  Instead of complaining about them, horticultural experts...
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Top of the pots - lightweight pots for balconies and terraces

Top of the pots - lightweight pots for balconies and terraces
If you’re thinking of greening up your terrace or balcony with beautiful planting, lightweight pots and compost will ease your mind by helping to combat challenges, such as weight restrictions....
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Veg and recipe - Asian shredded courgette and noodle salad

Veg and recipe - Asian shredded courgette and noodle salad
Shredded courgettes work well in salads.  And Asian salads with their spicy, tangy flavours and bright colours are fun and refreshing for the summer. If you can shred or spiralise...
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