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on as they grow, keeping them watered so that the compost doesn't dry out. Give them a liquid feed once a week.Once they are large enough to handle, transfer individual seedlings to smaller pots. Handle by a leaf to avoid crushing the stem.Pinching out the tip

the bark.Leave the stems to develop shoots and form bushy new plants.Once the stem sections are well rooted, pot each one up in a small container. Water and feed regularly. When the plants are root-bound, pot up several plants of different heights into a

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the show.More garden bird projectsBlog on feeding birds, by Kate BradburyMake a hinged nest boxHow to help garden birds in springMake fat cakes for garden birds

Of the black, red and yellow ants that are commonly seen in the garden, only the red ones (from the Myrmica species) sting. Other than that, ants are more of a nuisance than a pest. They feed mostly on insects, including other ants, and honeydew

sprays are effective, but must come into contact with the pest to work.Avoid feeding plants with nitrogen-rich fertiliser, as it encourages soft, sappy growth that's especially vulnerable to aphid attack. There are many products available to control

'leatherjacket'. From autumn through to summer, the larvae feed on the roots of plants, eventually growing to 5cm in length before pupating and emerging as adult flies in late-summer.Grass growth slows down and yellow, dying patches appear in the lawn. Dead

. After a week they hatch into reddish-brown maggot-like grubs, and feed on the same parts of the plant as the parents. Possibly to deter predators or disguise themselves, the larvae cover themselves in their own wet, black excrement.Lily leaves

Both the 1cm-long black adults and 1cm-long plump, white, legless, brown-headed larvae are a problem. The latter hide in the soil, and feed on roots (severing them) and bore into tubers from autumn to spring. Container plants are most at risk