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It's really easy to extract and sow seed from fruits you've collected, and it's also free. Plants grown from seed aren't always exactly like the parent plant, unlike those grown from cuttings, so look forward to results that could be new, different

and easy to lift when full of leaves.Finally, the most useful tool of all is a rotary lawn mower. If you are short of time, simply sweep up as many leaves as you can into the middle of the grass and mow over them. This chops them up and, together

A contemporary twist on the hanging basket, these striking aluminium cones make a real statement, yet their chic looks belie the amazing simplicity of their construction. The aluminium sheets come in a variety of textured finishes and are easy

Sowing cyclamen from seed is surprisingly easy, but it's not a job for the impatient gardener: grown this way it can take a year or more before you are rewarded with beautiful blooms. To produce indoor plants you need to use seeds of tender large

stems are perfect for the bee hotel. Easy to gather and cut, they are available in a range of diameters, including 3-5mm, as preferred by the bees.Attracting insects and wildlife to your gardenPlants for beesWildlife-friendly plantsMaking a stag beetle

rake to mix it into the soil and to create a level surface for planting or sowing.AdamDon't attempt to do all your digging and soil improvement in one go. It's easy to overdo it and strain muscles, even if you are physically fit. Most importantly, do

The warmth of spring and summer allows you to sow vegetable seeds outdoors in the soil. Here they'll quickly germinate to produce crops to enjoy this season. Try easy-to-grow salads such as radish, spring onion and salad bowl lettuce. You can also

- during the day snails will cluster in upturned pots or grapefruit skins, making collection easy. Surround vulnerable plants with barriers: try copper tape, crushed stone or egg shells. Don't plant out seedlings until they're a good size, then protect them

's important that all of a plant is enclosed within the copper - if leaves hang down and create easy bridgeheads for armies of molluscs then the copper ring might as well be made of marshmallow for all the good it will do.Anyway, all that's certain

lovely idea for mint. Apparently herbs that are frozen do lose some of their flavour but it's a really easy way to store them and it's worth a try. But what I really want to do is make basil oil - it's a beautiful, bright green, tasty oil which looks