Search - Articles

-long, nocturnal caterpillars strip the leaves off fuchsias during the second half of summer. They hide under the leaves during the day. Keep a constant lookout, particularly at dusk, for the caterpillars and pick them off, moving them to a clump of wildflowers

Earwigs, which can be up to 14mm long, hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. The females lay eggs in late-winter, usually in the soil, which hatch in spring. Although earwigs can damage plants, they also eat small pests and their eggs, including aphids and codling moth...

Find out how to combine annuals and perennials of varying heights in a 'wave' planting, in this practical video guide from Carol Klein.springMore planting advicePlant a bare-root rosePlant a shrubPlant a bare-root treePlant a fig tree

on the speed of growth.AdamDon't forget to pinch out the tips of hardy garden fuchsias a couple of times. This will stop the plants becoming too leggy and promote masses of blooms right through into the autumn.Caring for fuchsiasCombat whitefly on fuchsias

Saving seed from your garden plants is easy to do and will provide you with plenty to sow next season. Leave a few seedheads on your plants after they've finished flowering, removing the rest to conserve the plant's energy. Alternatively the seedheads may be highly ornamental and...

Although, in some areas, dahlia tubers have survived the recent mild winters outside, it's well worth lifting and storing them. Discover how you can ensure a bumper crop of dahlias for next summer, whatever the weather.SecateursGarden forkDry compostStorage box or containerautum...

At this time of year dahlias are producing stunning showy flowers, but they lose impact if the stems flop forward under the weight of the flowers. To get the best dahlia floral display, tie their stems to canes as they grow to give them some support. Dahlia plantSticks or canesS...

Plants are able to make their own food by capturing the energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar. But in order to stay healthy and give the best results they take additional nutrients out of the soil or compost, so it's important to provide them with su...

Summer is the ideal time to take verbena cuttings. Overwinter the semi-hardy perennials in a frost-free place and you'll have a fresh, healthy supply of verbena plants next year to replace any in the garden that have been killed by frost

major 'Purpurascens' x3Multi-purpose compostTin bath or similar containerIf you're using a metal container, line the sides with cardboard to prevent it from heating up and drying out the compost.Half-fill with multi-purpose compost and add gravel