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measure. This means that I must keep the hens away from the border when they’re roaming free. There is, it would seem, nowhere better to find hen snacks than in carefully mounded mulch.We might not have experienced the last of the cold weather

, with new shoots spreading outwards from the fringes. The soil they're growing in gets more impoverished as its nutrients become exhausted.So, what can be done? I do spread a good mulch of compost over the soil around them each year, and this is gradually

't often seen together. The Gardeners' World TV crew was camped outside it for a large portion of the day, so look out for it on tonight's programme (13 May, 2011).Talking of diversity, the warm spring has ensured that the plant marquee has a much greater

and dry in the compost bin.So instead of removing plant debris, digging over borders and mulching this weekend, I'll be out foraging leaves from the park to top up my leaf piles, planting snake's head fritillary bulbs, moving foxglove seedlings and taking

well during the summer. In colder areas protect the rhizomes from frost from January onwards with cloches, horticultural fleece or a thick mulch of straw or compost.Growing tipsLift and divide schizostylis rhizomes from mid- to late-spring every two

thrives where summers are hot and winters are cold. It's ideal for rock gardens or container displays. Flowers in late-April. Height 20cm.Tulipa linifoliaA sweet-scented and early-flowering variety. Flowers from March to April. Height 10cm.Tulipa humilis

, and then only when chopped.After a year, the leaves will have only half rotted, but will break up easily when handled. They can be used for soil improvement or for mulching around shrubs, where they will continue to rot down in situ. After two years most

don't waste this valuable resource.Watering can or hosepipeWatering can rose or fine spray nozzleWater-retaining granulesMicro-drip irrigation system and timerWater buttlate-March - early September20 minutesAlways water your plants in the cool

then run the mower up and down to collect them (thanks by the way, to my son Luke, 11, for taking the photo). The great thing about using a mower rather than simply raking them up is that they get chopped up in the process. I remember the late Geoff

to chalk up 15 of my 124 target actions. These are mostly by the simple expedient of not cutting the grass, not winter deadheading, clearing out the pond when I repaired it and by having more than my fair share of thickets.The thickets are obviously paying