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Should snowdrops be planted in spring in-the-green (after the flowers have died down but when their foliage is still green and lush) or as dry bulbs in autumn? It's a question that divides opinion in even the most prestigious horticultural circles

with a foliar feed when the blooms have faded.iii) Mark the worst affected clumps with a short cane (ready to be divided and replanted in the autumn).This regime won't prevent delivery men driving (unwittingly) over inconspicuous plants, before and after

with a striking monotone contrast.SeptemberNovember - February20 minutesDogwood, Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea'Snowdrop bulbs, Galanthus nivalis x12Lilyturf, Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'Very large, tall potJohn Innes No. 3 compost

or ornamental mulch, then water thoroughly.AdamChoose a large, heavy terracotta or ceramic pot for greater stability.Plant a single hosta in a pot. A single plant will produce a more pleasing shape than a group of small ones.More advice on growing hostasDividing

violets; they'll bloom all spring in sun or shade and any type of soil.March - AprilApril - May20 minutesHosta, e.g. Hosta 'Royal Golden Jubilee'Male fern, Dryopteris filix-masJapanese painted fern, Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'Violet, such as 'Freckles

. You can buy ready-made sedum matting, which you simply cut to size and roll out.Bird tablePlastic sheetingWater-retentive mattingTape measureGalvanised tacks1m of 50mm x 12mm timber battenScrews and screwdriverSedum mattingSlow-release fertiliserspring

blocked.For the first 18 years living here there was never a rat in sight, but within a few months of setting the chickens up in their new home, the rats arrived. As chickens become popular in residential areas I wonder if anyone else is having the same

Abbey and published by Routledge in 1909. Abbey was obviously a practical man, he divides cats into two classes - ornamental and useful. He quickly glosses over the ornamentals, more or less dismissing them as docile, tractable and maybe even good

iris that develops into a tight clump within a few years. Mine hasn't been divided for some time, so when the weather warms up in spring I really must lift the whole clump and split it up before replanting. There will probably be enough to give away a

counted about 15, the same number we get every year, give or take. They're late this year; in 2007 it was May 2nd.Then it was newts, three of them paddling about at the bottom of the pond. They were easily visible against the new butyl liner I had to put