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the edges.Sit your topiary frame over the top of the ivy plants. if it's a standing bird or animal shape, try to create just one 'leg' at the base. Spread out the long trailing stems through the centre of the frame so they grow to fill out the shape

twine as it grows, cutting off any stray bits.AdamFor a different effect, try using variegated ivy. You'll still get that topiary look, but with a twist.More on plant supportsTips on using plant supportsConstructing a metal obeliskBuilding a hazel

Last Sunday was International Tulip Guerrilla Gardening Planting Day. To mark the occasion, guerrilla gardeners (so called because they grow plants on public or private land without permission), planted tulips all over Europe in tree pits, neglected

narcissi bulbs when planting up. SeptemberOctober - March30 minutesSkimmia IvyHeucheraEuonymusLarge potMulti-purpose compostCrocksPosition the container where you need winter interest, and place a layer of crocks at the bottom, then three-quarters fill

minutesTulip bulbs x4Primrose plants x2Sage plants x2Winter savoryIvy plants x2Thyme plants x2Honeysuckle plants x2Young pine plantLarge window box, compost and crocksPosition the window box in its final position, and place a layer of crocks at the bottom

Wash out flower pots and seed traysTrim back ivy, Virginia creeper and other climbers on walls that are close to gutters and window framesTest the pH of your soil with a kit and add lime if it's too acidicScoop leaves and debris from ponds and water

- OctoberMarch20 minutesHair grass (Deschampsia)Thyme plants x2Small euonymus plants x2Pansy plants x2Curry plants x2Ivy plants x2Large window boxMulti-purpose compostCrocksPosition the window box where you want it, place a layer of crocks at the bottom

from the local wild plants. We don't have hedgerows in Hackney, but we do have a canal, besides which grows the field rose, Rosa arvensis, common honeysuckle, Lonicera periclymenum, and ivy, Hedera helix. I gathered a few hips from the rose (leaving

, including African violets, cane-stemmed begonias, coleus, cyperus, impatiens, ivy, rubber plants and verbena.More on growing and caring for house plantsTaking stem cuttings from dracaena house plantsGrowing cactus plants from seedGrowing indoor amarylis

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