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over trees and soil in search of overwintering pests around the garden. Welcome them in with food and water, provide them with hedges and shrubs for shelter, and they'll reward you by helping control unwanted pests. What's a pest to you is food for them

There's only one thing better than receiving emails, letters and phone calls from readers and that's meeting them in person. And with Gardeners' World Live starting tomorrow (Wednesday 15 June, 2011) and running until Sunday I'm looking forward

The problem looks worse than it is. Miniscule mites secrete chemicals that cause blistering or blotches on the new leaves, which gradually turn blackish-brown. Although the mites breed prolifically, producing several generations over summer, the productivity of the tree isn't usu...

Sow onion seed under cover, and keep warm until germinatedCheck overwintering plants for signs of greenfly and other pests, and treat if necessaryBring potted strawberries under coverDig up clumps of rhubarb to force into growth in darkness under

Plant bulbs, corms and tubers like achimenes, begonias, gloxinias in potsSow coleus and other houseplantsWatch out for pests, like whitefly and red spider mite, and treat at oncePut a mouse trap in your greenhouse if you find seeds and plants being

, to attract beneficial insectsThin out seedlings from earlier sowingsEarth-up potatoes by pulling soil up around their stemsBuy pheromone traps to hang in apple and plum trees to control pestsSow seeds of the following crops this week if conditions are fine

, and damp down the floor every morningBe on the lookout for pests, including whitefly and red spider mite, and treat at once with a suitable spray or biological controlPot up rooted cuttingsPinch out the tips of cucumber sideshoots two leaves beyond a female

Water tomatoes regularly to prevent fruit splitting and blossom end rot Feed tomato crops with a high-potash tomato fertiliser every weekBe on the lookout for aphids, vine weevils and other pestsVentilate daily and add extra shading if temperatures

Hang up yellow sticky traps to monitor and control whitefly and other flying pestsFeed begonias and other plants in potsTreat red spider mite with a biological controlTie ripening melons to sturdy supportsPot on rooted cuttings to keep plants growing

watering a week to keep plants growing stronglyBe vigilant for pests like red spider mite and take action against any right awayBuy narcissus, hyacinths and lachenalias to plant for indoor displaysSow poor man's orchid (schizanthus) to produce flowering