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Beech leaves are among the slowest deciduous foliage to break down, making them perfect for Christmas decorations. Combine them with elegant poppy seed heads and spray with silver paint to show off their intricate structure and add sparkle to your

in height its spreading branches cast quite a shadow over the bed below. Being a deciduous tree its full canopy doesn't really develop until later in May, so many early flowering plants have time to bloom before the shade takes over.My star performer over

and attract moss.Other garden items you can make yourselfBee hotelCone hanging basketTin can lanternsGreen roof for your bird tableBrowse trees with colourful barkView a variety of a deciduous trees

.The orange ladybird eats the mildew on leaves of deciduous trees, particularly sycamore. It appears to be becoming more abundant and is likely to have had a good 2012 due to all the rain (and therefore mildew). However, like the native two-spot, its success

At last, the warm weather has kick-started the season, and blossom is finally appearing.What a difference a year makes. Checking back at my diary, in 2012 the first 'Victoria' plum blossom opened on 28 March. One year on and the same plum tree only

aconites.Why, you might ask, does the aconite flower at this time of year? It is taking advantage of light levels in deciduous woodland, which are highest in late winter, before the trees come back into leaf. As the year draws on the plant ‘aestivates

, just as the new foliage emerges, as a preventative measure.shrubs, roses spring, summerCommon problems affecting trees and shrubsAcer tar spotLeaf miner flyReversionPowdery mildew

Rosa 'Rhapsody in Blue', heuchera and violas give the display a purple theme. This is gracefully lifted by the white highlights and scent of R. 'Boule de Neige'.November or MarchMay - September45 minutesRosa 'Rhapsody in Blue'Rosa 'Boule de Neige'Heuchera 'Licorice' x3Salvia x su...

Autumn leaves are mainly broken down by the slow action of fungi rather than by bacteria that decompose other compost bin ingredients quickly, so it's best to compost them separately in a simple cage.The leaves of all deciduous trees make good leaf

was cold but Kew was looking beautifully autumnal. We were wandering along trying to identify trees and shrubs, when I was stopped dead in my tracks by one particular plant: Euonymus alatus, the winged spindle or burning bush.I have fallen in love with many