What did plants do for us? A new Garden of Medicinal Plants, opened at Chelsea Physic Garden this week, tells us all about the importance of plants as sources of healing,from the garlic used in Ancient Egypt to current research into bananas for the treatment of HIV.

Like us on Facebook to enter a draw to win a pair of Boskke Sky Planters.

Hardy annuals are fast fashion for the garden: they’re cheap and only last for a season so they’re a great way to experiment and have some fun. You can use them as a quick fix for empty flower beds - so they’re perfect for new, rented and guerrilla gardens - but also to plug the odd gap amongst permanent plants and to add big bursts of summer colour to containers.

Check out the latest tools and accessories to make gardening quicker, easier or just more fun. This month: plant pots made from composted cow poo; a set for growing your own ladybirds and a handy propagation kit.

If you fancy a change from glitz and glitter this Christmas, why not opt for the natural look. The great outdoors is packed with potential decorations at this time of year and many of them are lovely enough to hang straight on the tree.

Helen Babbs takes up a challenge to forage for her five-a-day during one hectic week in London

1. The City Planter Boskke Sky Planter Competition (the “Competition”) is open to residents of the UK aged 18 and over. 2. No purchase is necessary. 3. The Competition is not open to employees or agents of Plantopolis Limited (“PL”), their family members or participating sponsors or their agents. 4. Entry into the Competition is acceptance […]

Ten lucky readers will each win a parcel of tulip bulbs To celebrate their involvement in Floriade 2012, which opens next spring in the Netherlands, the International Flower Bulb Centre is offering ten lucky readers the chance to win a parcel of mixed tulip bulbs. Held every ten years, the Floriade is a celebration of […]

Zelkova serrata ‘Green Vase’ Carpinus betulus Euonymus alatus Amelancmet lamarckii Aesculus parviflora Buxus sempervitens Alchemilla erythropoda Alchemilla mollis Aquilegia varieties Aruncus dioicus Bergenia ‘Abendglut’ Digitalis varieties Heucheta villosa ‘Brownies’ Hosta ‘Summer Music’ Hosta ‘Minuteman’ Hosta undulata albomatginata Luzula nivea Rheum palmatum Rodgetsia ‘Irish Bronze’ Lychnis ‘Jenny’ Euphorbia x martini ‘Baby Charm’ Matteuccia struthiopteris Miscanthus sinensis […]

Trees and shrubs Acer Palmatum Carpinus hedging Comus controversa ‘Variegata’ Euphorbia x pasteurii Herbaceous Achillea ‘Moonshine’ Alchemilla tnouis Allium stipitatum ‘Mount Everest’ Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ Camassia I ‘Alba’ Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’ Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’ Geranium sylvaticum ‘Album’ Geum ‘Mrs J Bradshaw’ Geum ‘Prinses Juliana’ Iris sibirica ‘Shirley Pope’ Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ Selinum Wallichianum […]