Search - Articles

of ground, to dig into the ground as fertiliser in springThrow a net over branches of holly berries to protect them from hungry birds

sheltered spot if conditions turn very coldTake root cuttings of oriental poppies and other perennialsLook for early-flowering snowdrops to pot up and bring into the housePrepare soil well before planting new rosesCover branches of holly berries with netting

for citizenship. The leaves are a little like holly, but without the prickles (hence the name Quercus ilex: Ilex is the botanical name for holly). The wood is very hard—it used to be used for wagons—and there are very chirpy acorns.However, as with all imports, it

of the lawn, then zoomed up and away. Several holly blues were skipping about over the ivy-covered fence at the weekend, all probably freshly emerged form chrysalides buried deep inside the tangled thatch.But what really caught my eye was the pas de deux dance

.AdamMake the decoration on a flat surface and attach the lights after hanging.More seasonal plant projectsHow to make formal Christmas plantersCreate a Christmas holly pot displayMaking a Christmas wreathCreating a winter display of aster and ornamental cabbage

, and sometimes better.SecateursKitchen towelPlastic or terracotta potGritty loam-based compostSieve (optional)autumn and early winter30 minutesChoose a healthy plant, such as sorbus, holly, cotoneaster or rowan, and check the berries are ripe by squeezing them

-pack containing six gorgeous, well-formed, compact, vigorous, perfect-looking shrubs, for planting in winter containers. It includes hollies, euonymus, variegated pieris, Choisya ternata, which look great in that sort of planting. But my point is, six fantastic

to time. There's a flash of yellow around April when a brimstone flitters quickly by. Then I'll see the occasional holly blue or orange tip, plus some cabbage white butterflies. Even they've been visiting less frequently.The wet weather must have played

.Many of these garlands were cleverly constructed from woven stems of willow or dogwood, with the same supple wands being used to tie in sprigs of evergreens, conifer and festive favourites like holly and ivy. Berries and seasonal fruits added colour. Angels were created

. Its preference for wild flowers (ladies’ smock, garlic mustard and hedge mustard) rather than cultivated brassicas means that it's less persecuted, but is also more easily overlooked.A few minutes later a holly blue, Celastrina argiolus, appeared