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planting, simply chop down and dig in your green manure, leaving it to break down into the soil. As the plants decompose, they return nutrients to the earth, providing it with the perfect food for your crops. For best results, you should cut down the crop

.That’s the thing about gardening: it's important to always remain one step ahead. If you don’t sow it or plant it then you can’t pick it or enjoy its blooms.I’m always keen to find bulbs that deliver real value for money. Some varieties have a really short

, transformed for just a few short weeks, before all trace of the bulbs is mown away.Of course, once established, bulbs will readily multiply. Planting bulbs in my own small lawn somehow isn't the same, though - my garden doesn't have the breathtaking scale

with the April issue of Gardeners' World magazine have now been sown, and seedlings have germinated. This is one gardening activity that never fails to give me a thrill.There was a time when advice for sowing sweet peas did become quite demanding. It was claimed

materials - dry, wet, soft and woody - otherwise they become slimy. Don't add nettle roots, unless your heap is very hot.Nettles on the compost heapMore about using garden weedsMake a nettle feed in a containerHow to feed your plantsMake a comfrey feed

' that form part of my garden every year, such as coriander, salad leaves, dwarf sunflowers and 'Gardeners' Delight' tomatoes. I can't cut back on any of these, but then there are new varieties to try, as they all look so much better than my tried and tested

to the boss occasionally) but there is a close second.You may well have seen the words AGM on plant labels or in catalogues. This does not mean Annual General Meeting but instead refers to the Award of Garden Merit. This is the ultimate recommendation

, weekly feeding and frequent deadheading do create more work at a time when, to be honest, there are other things I'd rather be doing in the garden. Riding to the rescue have come a growing assortment of succulents - more unusual plants with very few

.Runner beansVarieties such as ‘lollo rossa’ and ‘Salad Bowl’ can be picked a few leaves at a time as they are needed, leaving the rest of the plant to keep growing. This lettuce is good for tubs or a small salad patch, also as edible edging for a potager.Cut

matting sheet, or use old carpet or old cotton sheets to prevent weeds – cut holes to plant through. This is useful for crops of sweetcorn, outdoor tomatoes, courgettes, pumpkins and squashes.Tips on saving effortUse mulchesSow rows of seeds straight