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to keep wearing the same size trousers. I could fly off somewhere hot, but sadly that's not terribly practical. Instead, my cheap and easy solution is to talk about summer flowers, with the only proviso being that they can be any colour at all except white

favourites. How much is each packet? How many seeds am I getting? Which ones offer the best value for money?Ptilotus exaltatus 'Joey' is an exciting new plant that I first saw at the Four Oaks Trade Show I visited in the autumn. Let's just call it 'Joey

wheelbarrow so you can quickly work your way through a pile of compost directly from the heap.8m of 25mm x 50mm treated timberWood stainWire mesh sheet with 1cm holes12mm x 40mm wood screwsTape measureSawSandpaperPliersScrewdriverall year round2 hours

and distorted, or swollen and cracked, that features small red or white pustules.Use secateurs to cut out all infected growth. Infected branches show dark staining of the creamy coloured wood inside, so prune back to healthy wood that shows no sign of staining

These tiny, sap-sucking pests may be only 0.5mm long but they can wreak havoc in a greenhouse or on houseplants indoors. For most of the year they are a pale green colour with two dark spots on their back; it's only in autumn and winter

So many of my favourite plants come from South Africa, a place that certainly feeds my appetite for bulbs. Moving on from the summer delights of agapanthus, gladioli, eucomis, galtonia, crocosmia and a host of others, I enter autumn with pots

iris). The flowers vary in colour from pale blue to deep violet, with yellow-spotted splashes down each petal.Some of them share names with the engines of Rev. Wilbert Awdry, so we have I. reticulata 'Edward' and I. reticulata 'Gordon' although, sadly

Christmas tree branches (cut from the base while preparing the tree for outdoors)Greenery, stems and seed heads (gathered from the garden)Garden twineFishing line20 white battery operated LED lightsGather your bunch of greenery together and tie tightly

, and Helleborus niger, the Christmas rose, which starts to flush pink in January and February.Januarywinteran hourHelleborus niger 10cm pot x3Carex buchananii 2 litre pot x130cm satin zinc cube potPeat free, multi-purpose compostElectric drillCrocksWatering can

This rich display has plum tones, which will bring comfort and warmth to a cold winter day. It's easy to plant up and will require no additional effort. For an extra splash of colour in late winter and spring, include a few snowdrop or dwarf