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available tube. We've got them nesting in an old bathroom overflow pipe and my parents once had them nesting in the metal tubular handle of the lawn mower. The easiest construction is to gather some short (20-30cm) lengths of bamboo cane, bundle them

into pieces, drilled holes in them and then arranged them in the box with some bamboo, sunflower and teasel stems, all from the garden. The last bit of the trunk went into the pond so frogs could enter and exit more easily.This year I'll use the whole tree

and bamboos as the new stars of the border and containers.They come mainly from South Africa where they're found on the fynbos, a rich and diverse habitat made up of bulbs, perennials, annuals and shrubs. This area is occasionally swept by fire, but smoke

at the front. Top up with compost and water well.To make the two bee hotels, drill several deep, 5-8mm wide holes into a 15-20cm long log, and fill an offcut of drainpipe with lengths of bamboo. Place among the plants.AdamChoose an open, sunny, sheltered site

should be able to buy all the ingredients for your plant support from a garden centre or DIY store for less than £10.Galvanised wire1.5m bamboo cane45cm terracotta potWire cuttersCompostIvy plantall year round30 minutesCut a 3m length of wire and bend

, on the other side of me, has a veritable riot of sweet peas rambling all over a bamboo cane plant support. My plot might be lush and colourful with runner bean blooms and courgette flowers, but it does lack that splash of summery colour. Besides which, a few

stems, Verbena bonariensis can be planted alongside a variety of different bananas, ginger lilies and bamboos.Design ideasSeeds can be sown directly in the ground in spring, or you can start them off under glass in late-winter, then pot them on to plant

container display of marginal plants Rachel de Thame's video project on planting up alpines in a potFern and birch containerCreate a bamboo and sedge display

of young bean seedlings an hour before planting. The roots of the plants should be well developed, but not pot-bound in the container.Erect a wigwam of long bamboo canes or sticks over an area of soil that has been improved by digging in plenty of well

soilTrowelLength of timber to use as a straight edgeWatering can or hoseMarch - October 30 minutesMake a shallow groove or 'drill' in prepared soil using the end of a trowel or bamboo cane. Use a length of timber to create straight drills. As a rule