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I've had another thought about small trees. For a more formal look you should consider the classic topiary trees - a short list would include yews, box, beech, limes and holm oaks. All of them are terribly amenable and happy to be chopped and pruned

again within a couple of weeks) and stands there as upright as a guardsman all summer, before turning a gorgeous blonde at this time of year.Thirdly, Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'. A much shorter grass (reaching about 1.2m), it has a fantastic blueish

Christmas tree branches (cut from the base while preparing the tree for outdoors)Greenery, stems and seed heads (gathered from the garden)Garden twineFishing line20 white battery operated LED lightsGather your bunch of greenery together and tie tightly

those instead.Marchspring30 minutesCarex comans, bronze-leaves x1Purple aubretia, 7cm pot x2Narcissus 'Minnow', 9cm pot x230cm terracotta pot x1Peat-free multi-purpose compostPlace pieces of terracotta over holes in the pot's base to allow water to drain

.The Draughtsman's Contract (1983). Beautiful Peter Greenaway film about love and lust amongst formal gardens and sweeping landscapes. Filmed at Groombridge Place in Kent, which was also used in the 2005 film of Pride and Prejudice.Green Card (1990) starring Gerard

and algae.Water insectsNewts lay their eggs on pond plants. Good varieties to include are water forget-me-nots, watercress and reeds.NewtsMore on garden pondsHow to build a garden pond.Make a mini-pond.Top 10 pond plantsHow to maintain a Garden pond

The perfect symmetry of these two formal Christmas planters makes a rather grand frame for your front door. The box cones and lead planters might be a little costly, but you'll have them for life once you've made the initial investment. The display

spinning wheel and fell asleep for 100 years.But I learned about a different type of spindle on a field trip to Kew Gardens, in the autumn of 1984. I remember the moment of revelation very well. At the time I was enrolled on a 10-week gardening course (my

Crocks or polystyrene for drainageJohn Innes No.3 potting compost1 x controlled-release fertiliser tabletNoma 120 red outdoor static berry lightsAdd crocks to the pot, half fill with compost and pop in a slow-release fertiliser tablet.Position the holly in the centre

(this is Wales after all), play host to a string quartet on the day. There are also demonstrations of coppicing, charcoal burning and yurt building. This is a two-day opening, on 11-12 June.Many villages combine their gardens in order to make a proper