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The boot scraper is a handy tool to keep by the back door as the weather gets worse and gardens get muddier. It only takes a couple of hours to make and costs next to nothing.ChiselHammerSawLarge logThick slate tileWood glueall year roundtwo hours

of ponds in the wider countryside. So, gardeners can do their bit by creating their own wildlife pond, which will also look great and provide a year-round focal point.Make a start by marking out the position on the ground. Use a garden hose for an informal

will have turned into fine, dark leaf mould. Use it as a seed-sowing medium or mixed with equal parts of fine garden compost, loam and sharp sand for potting.Before you build your leaf heap, choose a position that's out of sight but easy to get at. It should

Monty demonstrates how to sow carrot seed and shares tips on protecting your crop from carrot root fly with a combination of physical barriers, companion planting and later sowings.spring-summerMore advice on growing carrotsAdvice on dealing with carrot root flyGrow carrots in a ...

Carrots can be stored for winter use in a number of ways. On well-drained soils they can be left in the ground, protected from the cold by a thick layer of straw, bracken or soil.Carrots stored in this way can be difficult to harvest, however, so it's better to make an earth clam...

Carrots need space to develop fully so, once germinated, go over your rows of carrots and pick out the weakest-looking vegetable seedlings to leave a 2cm - 4cm space around remaining seedlings. If you're very careful in extracting the seedling from the row, you could try transpla...

Learn how to grow your own crop of delicious, juicy dessert grapes, in this video clip featuring Monty Don. Monty recommends some high-quality, disease-resistant varieties and shares tips on soil preparation and planting depth.spring to autumnMore advice on growing fruitMake the ...

to its proper place in the greenhouse.More on greenhouse gardeningAdvice on gardening under glass.How to fit an automatic greenhouse vent opener.Learn how to sow seeds indoors.Browse our collection of tender plants.

vegetables, you will get a heavier crop if you grow leeks in a well-lit position, with soil that has been improved by the addition of plenty of organic matter. Leek seedsMulti-purpose compostPots or seed traysGarden forkStringBroom or large dibberWatering can

Learn how to hoe your vegetable patch effectively with advice and a practical demonstration from Monty Don. Find out about tool sharpening and how frequently to hoe your plot. all year roundMore advice on common garden tasksWeeding by hand