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.AdamMake the decoration on a flat surface and attach the lights after hanging.More seasonal plant projectsHow to make formal Christmas plantersCreate a Christmas holly pot displayMaking a Christmas wreathCreating a winter display of aster and ornamental cabbageGrowing

Topiary box pyramid, buxus sempervirensRed pansies x10Mattress vine, Muehlenbeckia complexa, or dark green ivy x1Tall decorative pot or Long TomCompost, made from equal parts of multi-purpose and loam-based compostsCrocksTwo sets of LED battery-operated fairy

, and Helleborus niger, the Christmas rose, which starts to flush pink in January and February.Januarywinteran hourHelleborus niger 10cm pot x3Carex buchananii 2 litre pot x130cm satin zinc cube potPeat free, multi-purpose compostElectric drillCrocksWatering can

.December - Januarywinteran hourSnowdrop, Galanthus elwesii 10cm pot x3Ophiopogon nigrescens x2Convolvulus cneorumPeat free, multi-purpose compost25cm terracotta potMetallic silver paintPolystyrene or crocksCover your garden table with newspaper and spray a clean pot

smaller (only about 10m) and more slow-growing tree, try L. styraciflua 'Moonbeam'. It has creamy yellow young leaves that turn green as the summer progresses before transforming into fine colour.Best to ignore the variegated varieties as they are, I think

 I've never been able to grow a halfway decent crop of either of the two brassicas I do like: broccoli and cauliflower. But now I have managed it, and I'm so impressed with the results I feel inclined to boast!This year, I grew 'Ironman', an F1 variety

place at the top table because it has a French name and in spite of the fact that it is really just a pea in an overcoat.Pippa is not that keen on the brassicas and to a certain extent I agree: too many of us have vivid memories of grey school cabbage

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

-summerKeeping other moths at bayCabbage white caterpillars on brassicas and nasturtiums.Codling moth on apples, pears, quince and walnuts.Mullein moth on verbascum, buddleja and figwort.Caterpillars on any plants.

results with shallots in the past and they pickle well if there are too many to eat.For greens I'm sticking to cabbages (red, savoy and winter types) plus a couple of beds of leeks, because I love them so much. I'll also sow a few herbs and salads like