Search - Articles

It's been difficult to choose my 2009 weed of the year. Butercups and daisies continue to compete with grass in my lawn, as do those lovely rosettes of plantain. Then there are the dandelions. Oh dear, this isn't making my lawn sound very good is it

Learn how to hoe your vegetable patch effectively with advice and a practical demonstration from Monty Don. Find out about tool sharpening and how frequently to hoe your plot. all year roundMore advice on common garden tasksWeeding by hand

Mow lawns regularly, gradually lowering the height of the cut as spring progressesTreat problem weeds, such as nettles and brambles, with weedkillerTidy up hedges, but before you start cutting make sure no birds are nesting in them Keep large sheets

Plant tagetes with your tomatoes, to act as companion flowers which deter pests Scoop out floating pond weed and algae from poolsHoe bare soil and hand weed beds weekly to prevent weeds from establishing and setting seedPut soft tops on the tips

in no time. The best organic control is digging the plant out and trimming it to keep it in check if you don't want to remove it altogether. If it spreads onto the lawn it can be controlled by mowing. If you don't want to dig it out, you can spot

Spread a compost mulch around border plants to suppress weedsPut pond pumps and fountains back into pools, thoroughly cleaning filters firstLay turf or sow new lawns from seedClean out bird baths and top up with fresh waterCheck tree ties

of lawn with no weeds or moss to spoil the effect. The best time to do this is during a warm spring or autumn when plenty of rain will help the new grass establish roots in time for summer sun or winter frosts.TurfWheelbarrowSpadeTopsoilRakeSharp knife

, and most have evolved tactics to overcome whatever the weather throws at them.After such a 'challenging' year I'm treating my lawn this autumn to a combined lawn feed and weed. Autumn fertilisers are available with just the right balance of nutrients

Where has all the clover come from this summer? My lawn is simply covered with clover - I don't recall it ever being so infested in the past. I'm not one of those people who is really bothered about weeds in my lawn, but just look at how it has

Set up an automatic watering system to look after greenhouse crops, patio pots and baskets if you're going on holidayRaise mower cutting height to leave lawns longer if the weather is very dryTrim conifers and other garden hedgesTop up the water