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to your garden.Banana plantSharp knife or secateursStrawRoll of rush screening or chicken wireTough string or ropeNovember1 hourUse a sharp knife or secateurs to cut away any frosted or dying lower leaves. This will prevent them from rotting when the plant

's better to make an earth clamp. Choose a sheltered, dry site to make your clamp, and only choose carrots in good condition. Prepare the crops by shaking off loose soil and removing any foliage.Home-grown carrotsStrawautumn1 hourDig a shallow hole and cover

staging or a dry shed.AdamIf your dahlias are in a warm, sheltered spot in the border and you don't want to lift them, add a thick layer of mulch for extra insulation in winter.Caring for your dahliasVideo guide to taking dahlia cuttings, with Sarah Raven

thing of the past.GreenhouseAutomatic ventilation kitScrewdriverScrewssummer2 hoursPlace the opener in the centre of a window vent and mark the position of the holes on the window frame and greenhouse frame.Screw the automatic window opener to the frame

or conservatory to plant outdoors again next season. SecateursBamboo canesStringHorticultural fleece or bubble polytheneStrawChicken wireLarge flower pot or crateBark chippings mid-October - early December 20 minutes per plantProtect palms by tying in the leaves

Forcing rhubarb by covering the crowns will encourage the plants to make early growth. These forced stalks can be harvested for use in cooking when they are 20cm - 30cm long and make a useful substitute for fruit when there is little else in store

, as they enable the birds to clean their feathers, insulating them from the cold and helping them to fly.The great thing is that from my kitchen I can see the birds are really appreciating my efforts, and at the same time they're providing my family with far more

Yesterday at a Gardeners' Question Time recording it was amazing to hear that Eric's Cumbrian plot had only had 5cm of snow. Not so here in Hampshire. The snow is 45-60cm deep and the icicles more than 1m long!What have I been up to during the snowy

in this pot as they'll happily mingle with one another. Just make sure the ivory thistle plants aren't too near the edge so they don't prick passers-by.AdamWhen using any metallic container, insulate the plants against extremes of temperature by lining

by a sea of blue campanula flowers. March - JulyJune - August20 minutesMyrtle, Myrtus communis subsp. tarentinaCampanula portenschlagiana x2Small window boxCrocksLoam-based compost, such as John Innes No. 3Cover the bottom of the window box with crocks