Search - Articles

served their purpose (neatness, rather than anything else), but the subterranean portions have started rotting away to mulch. Armed with some heftier-than-normal pallet planks donated by a neighbour, I started digging.As usual, there were plenty

.We've all been out there, desperately trying to dig up weeds and compost them before they've done their worst. I have a small invasion of celandine from a nearby hedgerow, which I'm tackling straight away, while the roots are still pliable. There's also some

) digging interspersed with frequent short fag breaks. The film of the process can be viewed here.They then planted a whole load of stuff. Mostly without following any of the instructions, but who among us can say that we have always adhered religiously

-up views of an often regal and handsome beast. In other East Dulwich streets they are less welcome, playing havoc with lawns, and digging holes with seemingly malicious abandon, presumably to get at worms, one of their major food items at this time of year

condition - and you'll also save yourself some pennies when it comes to the annual service.Mow lawns and trim new edgesDig compost into borders to improve water retention Add copper rings to pots to protect plants from slugs and snailsAround the garden

be sheltering slugs and snailsAround the gardenCollect seed from allium and sow straight awayPlant evergreen shrubs and conifer hedgesCarefully dig up gladioli corms FlowersKeep harvesting root veg such as beetroot and carrotsOrder fruit trees and bushes

for ages. I remember being a very confused three-year-old when, in April, my dad started digging a huge hole in the garden "for Halloween", which seemed an awfully long way off. It transpired that the holes would be filled with well-rotted compost, over

. The ideal soil (loam) has equal amounts of all three, which make a fertile, free-draining soil that's easy to dig. There are six main types of soil: chalky, clay, loamy, peaty, sandy and silty. To test your soil, the first thing to do is take a look

to dig, spread a thick layer of compost, manure or composted green waste (like peat-free compost) over the soil surface. Worms will gradually work this in and the surface layer acts as a mulch to deter the germination of annual weeds.On the veg plot, I

tightly.Perforate an old piece of piping with drainage holes, using a needle. Push the pipe into the cradle so one end sits in the nest at a shallow angle, allowing the bees to climb in and out easily.Dig a hole deep enough to submerge a third