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It's been a good year for many crops, but there have been so many critters feeding on the fruit.Most years we lose a fair few apples to the local birds. I never really mind, although it is irritating when they peck small holes in fruits, which

creatures are likely to use your pond:Frogs need ponds to breed and tadpoles will feed on the algae in the water. Create an area of plants where frogs can shelter, to provide valuable shade and cover from predators.FrogsBirds will visit ponds to drink

have minimum disturbance the plants are not stressed and the crops get a good kick start.This is a wonderful time of year, everything is emerging after the winter and the birds are certainly feeding and singing. Our land here is surrounded by woods

few centimetres apart.Push three bird feeders firmly into the compost around the base of the pittosporum and fill them with sunflower seed. Water in the new plants thoroughly.AdamWater as necessary, and add a weekly liquid feed as soon as bulbs start

Some of my earliest memories are of going to stay with my grandparents in Scotland. Every afternoon my grandfather would wander off to sit on a bench and feed the birds. He had a tin filled with peanuts in his waistcoat pocket, and robins and tits

feeding, nesting and hibernation preferences. Tongue lengths determine which flowers the bees can feed on, so grow flowers with long corollas like red clover, honeysuckle and foxgloves to attract long-tongued bumblebees like the commmon carder (Bombus

Pears ripening on the tree are damaged by wasps excavating holes into the soft, juicy flesh. The holes are initially created by hungry birds, then wasps are attracted by the juice and move in.Pears that are still on the tree display hollowed out

Wasps love feeding on soft, juicy fruit. They can break through the skins of grapes, peaches and plums, and quickly nibble out sizeable cavities, but fruit with tougher skins such as apples and pears must first be broken open by pecking birds before

in the garden before you leave them out.Feed fast-growing plants with fertiliser Thin out congested pond plantsHand flower beds to prevent weeds establishing Around the gardenPlant out dahlias into well-prepared soil Regularly tie tall stems of delphiniums

Cut the foliage of daffodils and tulips down to the groundFlowersPlant out leeks and brassicas raised in a seed bedSpread mulch around crops to conserve soil moistureNet developing soft fruits to protect them from birdsFruit & vegTie greenhouse tomatoes