Rachel Crow
Rachel is senior content editor, and writes gardening content for homesandgardens.com, Homes & Gardens magazine, and its sister titles Period Living Magazine and Country Homes & Interiors.
She has written for lifestyle magazines for many years, with a particular focus on gardening, historic houses and arts and crafts. Rachel started out her journalism career in BBC radio, where she enjoyed reporting on and writing programme scripts for all manner of stories, from the sublime to the ridiculous. Feeling constrained to fit everything she wanted to say on a story into a 1.45 minute radio slot, Rachel moved into regional lifestyle magazines, where the topics she wrote about, and people she interviewed, were as varied and eclectic as they were on radio.
Always harboring a passion for homes and gardens, she jumped at the opportunity to work on The English Home and The English Garden magazines for a number of years, before joining the Period Living team. Over nearly 10 years working on the magazine, as features editor and then deputy editor, she enjoyed exploring and uncovering the secrets of historic houses and gardens, had the pleasure to meet many inspiring artists and craftspeople, and was endlessly amazed at the stories of how homeowners transformed their often previously neglected gardens into beautiful, blooming spaces.
Now focusing on gardening content on homesandgardens.com and its sister brands, she finds every day is a journey of discovery, whether it is learning about new plants or gardening techniques, or sharing the advice of passionate horticultural experts and garden designers. She tries to put some of what she writes about into practice in her own modest urban garden, but with new inspirations on a daily basis, it is an eternal work in progress…
Latest articles by Rachel Crow
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Best spring bulbs – 10 bulbs to grow, and when and how to plant them
Discover the best to spring bulbs to grow to bring life and color back to the garden after winter, with tips on when and how to plant them
By Rachel Crow Published
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Keeping chickens – a guide to keeping hens in your backyard
Find out what’s involved in keeping chickens and enjoy a constant supply of freshly laid eggs straight from your garden
By Rachel Crow Published
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5 design ideas to inspire from this narrow and small garden
Feature patterned paving and bespoke trellis are among the clever design elements of this narrow and small garden
By Rachel Crow Published
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How to plant bare root trees
Find out how to plant bare root trees and shrubs in your garden or in pots in winter for the best results
By Leigh Clapp Published
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Victorian garden design – 5 key elements for your backyard
Use features of Victorian garden design to inspire the planting and for your modern home garden
By Rachel Crow Published
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Charleston House – 5 key highlights not to miss
Charleston House was the country retreat of the influential literary and artistic Bloomsbury Group and offers a wealth of inspiration for creative interiors
By Rachel Crow Published
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Backyard farming – a guide to homesteading for beginners
Embrace a more sustainable lifestyle through backyard farming with this guide to homesteading for beginners
By Rachel Crow Published
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How to design a sloping garden – key points when planning a sloped site
Experts advise on how to design a sloping garden and the main elements to include to create breathtaking spaces
By Rachel Crow Published
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A winter garden enhanced by decorative metalwork, brickwork and evergreens
This winter garden incorporates hand-crafted ironwork and brickwork to enhance the sculpted evergreen framework
By Jacky Hobbs Published
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Water feature ideas – 11 ways to add water to any backyard
Create a focal point in your garden with these water feature ideas, from dramatic fountains to tranquil ponds
By Rachel Crow Published
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This historic spring garden blends formal and naturalistic planting
This stunning spring garden, located on the site of a Norman castle, is a lesson in how to blend formal and naturalistic planting styles
By Rachel Crow Published
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How to plant snowdrops
Learn how to plant snowdrops and enjoy these dainty flowers – they will carpet the garden from late winter through to spring
By Leigh Clapp Published
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Aromatic herbs – 10 scented herbs to include in your kitchen garden
Add aromatic herbs into your garden planting to benefit from their fragrance, culinary and mood-enhancing properties
By Rachel Crow Published
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How to grow peonies
How to grow peonies to enjoy these glorious and long lasting flowers that add timeless elegance to any garden
By Leigh Clapp Published
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What to plant in November – the best vegetables and flowers to grow this month
Need inspiration for what to plant in November? Find advice on the best vegetable crops, shrubs, trees and flowers to grow now
By Rachel Crow Published
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Best indoor trees – to enhance your sense of wellbeing
Enhance your interiors with the best indoor trees and bring your home to life
By Rachel Crow Published
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Tomato blight – treatments the gardening experts swear by
Did yours suffer this year? These tomato blight treatments will help you avoid or deal with this dreaded disease that can wipe out your tomato crop
By Rachel Crow Published
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How to prune a cherry tree – and when to prune it
This expert advice on how to prune a cherry tree will help you to keep your ornamental and productive tree looking vibrant and healthy
By Rachel Crow Published
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What to plant in October – the best flowers and vegetables to grow this month
If you're wondering what to plant in October, discover the best advice on flowers, crops and more to grow now
By Rachel Crow Published
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How to prune tomato plants – and the best time of year to do it
Find out how to prune tomato plants for a maximum yield of this homegrown crop
By Rachel Crow Published
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How to grow nasturtium
Find out how to grow nasturtium to enjoy the colorful blooms in the garden, and as a tasty addition to salads
By Rachel Crow Published
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How to grow watercress at home
How to grow watercress at home in pots, in water and from cuttings to enjoy the peppery leaves year round
By Rachel Crow Published
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This beautiful 18th century walled garden is filled with glorious cottage garden planting
The walled gardens to this 18th century laundry have been created over the past 13 years
By Rachel Crow Published
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Monty Don says mulching is the most important gardening job you can do right now – and these are his expert tips
One of the most important spring gardening jobs is to mulch beds and borders, advises the celebrity gardening guru - so if you haven't yet, get mulching
By Rachel Crow Published