This month Richard Orton shares some advice for growing tulips successfully in our heavy Devon soil, his thoughts on whether or not to tidy your garden in winter and his delight at a spectacular display by his Ginkgo biloba tree. He also suggests a few final gardening jobs before the year comes to an end.

Our gardens can provide solace at times of loss or crisis, including for King Charles who sought refuge in his garden at Highgrove during the gruelling events of recent weeks. Here, Richard Orton reflects on a visit to Highgrove and how this influenced the development of his own garden at Lewis Cottage. He also reports on what to enjoy and do in the autumn garden, as well as gardens to visit locally.

Richard Orton reports on their plans for the new area in Lewis Cottage Garden as well as jobs to be getting on with in your own garden this month.

Some plant choices at this time of the year and some jobs for this busy month

Some less spectacular plants that still play a crucial role in the Lewis Cottage garden.

Compost, hedges, keeping you busy and suggestions of other garden visits.

The 2022 National Garden Scheme’s brochure features their beautiful garden Lewis Cottage garden.

As the year draws to a close, most gardeners are taking a well earned rest. But in the Lewis Cottage garden life is busier than ever. From gathering leaves and moving pots to planting hedges and ordering seeds, there are no end of jobs to be done in December, says Richard Orton.