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, which can be planted out in March or April for a quick-growing crop. Sets are available from garden centres or by mail order, and although the range of varieties is not quite as wide as from seed, it's is an easy, reliable method of growing.Whether you

Shaping topiary is a fun and inexpensive way to create year-round interest in the garden. These plant sculptures contrast dramatically with flowers in summer, and bring structure, style and form to winter gardens.If you haven't tried topiary before

of humming birds or bats, although these plants are unlikely to be found in Britain. The hazel uses a much more basic method: anemophily, or wind pollination.So, very sensibly, the hazel catkins appear at a time of year when there is certain to be some decent

early in winter before. I’m sure my friendly BBC weather forecaster will provide me with plenty more weather statistics when I next tune in.So, what does this mean for our plants and gardens? Firstly, take very great care walking out into your garden

.Water the plants in well. Then, over the coming months, water them regularly, particularly during dry spells. For the best results, keep the soil moist.AdamPeas prefer rich, moist soil, so prepare the ground well by forking in plenty of garden compost or well

taste of what life was like before we built on the land. Green roofs on our sheds and bird tables don't provide such 'wild' habitats, but they do offer an additional source of pollen and nectar, as well as nesting opportunities.There are other advantages

and sleeker beast; it must have been a black variety of the much larger and squatter 'brown' Rattus norvegicus. It was sitting beside the stream, which bubbles down through the ornamental gardens, grooming itself in the drizzle when I trotted past

back bundles of branches that I then stick in the ground around the borders. Initially, the place appears to be colonised by enormous nesting birds, but this framework will soon be covered with plants which will, like matrons in whalebone girdles

, hordes of them. Now this is a puzzle. I hardly ever see sparrows in London. Admittedly there is a small gang of about a dozen in the block of back gardens in my East Dulwich street. I've come to pay them very close attention because I know sparrows

especially to gather the droppings (not, as in Europe, to eat the birds). In dry countries other types of manure are used as fuel.Pig manure has to be about the smelliest option but provides plenty of humus. It is better in light, sandy soils.Leather scraps