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of damage to this tree trunk it is not adversely affecting fruit production. However, this will be weakening the tree, and branches may benefit from support to prevent them breaking or pulling down the whole tree. My friend decided to clean out the soft

, as they enable the birds to clean their feathers, insulating them from the cold and helping them to fly.The great thing is that from my kitchen I can see the birds are really appreciating my efforts, and at the same time they're providing my family with far more

.I must confess that I don’t refresh the soil in my greenhouse as often as I should (or as often as I might be heard to advise if, say, I was asked the question on Gardeners’ Question Time…). It’s such a tedious job – almost as tedious as cleaning behind

.December - Januarywinteran hourSnowdrop, Galanthus elwesii 10cm pot x3Ophiopogon nigrescens x2Convolvulus cneorumPeat free, multi-purpose compost25cm terracotta potMetallic silver paintPolystyrene or crocksCover your garden table with newspaper and spray a clean pot

them well watered in dry weather.Clean straw or synthetic mulch fabricProtective nettingSeep hose (optional)April - June 20 minutesharvest from June to JulyWeed around your strawberry plants and remove any dead or dying leaves. Lift the foliage

years of enjoyment. Now is the ideal time to plant trees, so follow our step-by-step guide to giving your tree the best start.Clean out bird boxesLevel out dips in lawns with loam-based compost and oversow with grass seedClear away debris that could

with a sharp knife. Remove lower leaves to ensure a clean stem is submerged into water.Push the base of the cuttings in a jam jar or glass of water. Top the glass right up to its rim with water and stand in a warm, bright position.Keep the water topped up

advantage of snow is that I cannot see the tangled mess of decaying foliage that I know lurks just beneath it. At the moment everything is clean and neat. This will not last.In the next week or so the rain will come, the air temperature will rise

Choose a healthy piece of stem at least 10cm long and cut it off cleanly with snips. Use tongs when handling spiny cacti. For plants without stems, remove whole leaves by hand (don’t cut them off). Sit cuttings on a window sill and leave them until the cut

interest and an instant snack for birds.Install a bird bath, where birds can drink and clean their feathers - essential for insulationBirdsFrogs, toads and newts overwinter in log and leaf piles, or beneath stones and plant pots. Some rest in the mud