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Thank heavens for winter-flowering plants. These hardy specimens often have tiny, inconsequential blooms, but they more than make up for them with their powerful, sweet fragrance. I rarely notice the flowers of Sarcococca hookeriana, but I’m always

- not the Orkneys. Many of the pots were only a year or two old. They’ve crumbled and shattered and are now only useful for using as crocks in the bottom of yet more pots!We’re all meant to be making more environmentally friendly choices and buying products

perfume. It's sharp, lemony and ever-so-slightly sweet - I love it.This year there seems to be a lot of grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) lurking about on cyclamen plants. Each time I make my purchases, I spend a good few minutes checking around the base

, and they’re showing signs of downy mildew infection, please help FERA and send samples in to: Dr Phil Jennings, The Food and Environment Research Agency, Plant Protection Programme, Sand Hutton, York. YO41 1LZ.To make sure that the samples are in good

The same thing happens every year. I buy my bulbs in good time, and then don't make time to plant them! I've got a huge bag of tulips and other bulbs to be planted, but it will soon be December.Other things got in the way during October, and then I

by post, make sure you set up the bin within two days, as the worms may not survive if they are not quickly transferred into their bedding.Worm bin kitBrandling wormsKitchen waste (see tip below)all year roundAttach the legs and tap, add a single tray

horticulture. The soil in about eight beds was chemically manipulated by adding lime to make it more alkaline or sulphur to make it more acid, and a hydrangea grown in each. As they came into bloom during July you could see the colour transition down the row

and algae.Water insectsNewts lay their eggs on pond plants. Good varieties to include are water forget-me-nots, watercress and reeds.NewtsMore on garden pondsHow to build a garden pond.Make a mini-pond.Top 10 pond plantsHow to maintain a Garden pond

on the foliage of trees can make the glass or plastic sticky and dirty, so it lets in less light. Tree roots can also upset the foundations and make planting directly into the beds inside tricky.Good lightAs you’ll be visiting your greenhouse or polytunnel

Winter wildlifeMost garden wildlife hibernates over winter, as food is in short supply and freezing temperatures make life difficult. Learn how to help wild creatures through the cold winter months, below.In winter, wild animals and insects hunker