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five pellets per 35cm basket).Give your plants a good water, making sure you fill the central reservoir with water, which will gradually soak into the surrounding compost.AdamChoose a sunny spot for your hanging basket, although some shade for part

animals are transient, they come, they go; but wild plants ... they come, they stay, they get in the way, they interfere, and they compete with the flowers and vegetables we choose to grow. I think this attitude to 'weeds' is grossly unfair, so here

Long handled spongeScouring spongewintera dayIf you're overwintering tender plants, choose a mild spell to empty your greenhouse completely. Cover plants or take them into the house, if necessary. Brush down framework and staging, then sweep the floor

SoilCraft knifeall year round1 hourUse a craft knife to make holes about 3 cm across in the sides and base of the bucket.Choose an area of your garden that will not be disturbed and dig a hole to bury the bucket so that its rim is just below soil level. Loosely fill

garden wire.Plant the ivy in the terracotta pot, then push the cane into the compost and wind the ivy stems around the frame. Use short lengths of thin wire to secure the stems as necessary. Water well.AdamChoose small-leaved ivy for the best effect

Liquid fertilisers are a great way to nourish your plants, providing nutrients in a readily available form, so they're quickly absorbed. There are many chemical fertilisers that will do the job but, by making your own using comfrey leaves, you

does the trick. Bin the bodies in the morning.most plants, seedlings, young plantsspring, summer, autumnMore advice on dealing with slugs and snailsProtect pot plants from slugsControlling slugs in your gardenChoosing plants that slugs don't like

Christmas is fast approaching, and perfume houses will soon be tempting us to buy fragrances for our nearest and dearest. No doubt they'll do a roaring trade, but to my mind natural perfume can't be beaten. Fragrant plants and flowers add another

. Follow our guide to deterring carrot root fly, below.Choose varieties that have been bred for their resistance to carrot root fly, such as 'Flyaway', 'Ibiza', 'Maestro', 'Parano', 'Resistafly' and 'Sytan'.Choose resistant varietiesSow seed thinly to avoid

, 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