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Evergreen trees and shrubs are tricky. They are a very important part of our gardens at this time of year, but they need to be used with great care and a light touch.I'm thinking about this at the moment because I'm planting a new woodland for a

was depressing to see from the window, especially remembering what a pretty garden it had once been.So, last season I decided to take a few short cuts on the allotment in order to give myself more time to change things at home. I cadged spare plants from friends

in the middle of nowhere.Having gone through the excitements of excavation, we then just have to do some planting and wait until the pond fills up. I have ordered plants and hopefully we will get them planted this week. In a year or so it will look as settled

, construction and planting. The planting is the most important and carries a possible 30 marks out of 100. In order for a garden to be awarded a Gold Medal it must earn 75 points or more.The next day the judges go round the gardens armed with the assessors

of Worms outlined the contribution made by worms to the decomposition of vegetable matter (fallen leaves, dead plant material etc) and thus to the fertility of the soil.Darwin kept worms in tanks in his study and spent many hours observing their behavior

The last few days before Christmas have different effects on different people. Some are smugly satisfied as all presents have been bought and wrapped, turkeys and other Christmassy foods have been ordered and it is their sister’s turn to entertain

, low-maintenance and rewarding. Considering their price at the supermarket, they are also inexpensive.Don't be tempted to impulse-buy those specimens stuffed into pots that you see in large garden centres. In my experience, mail order plants from

trimmed to within an inch of its wildlife. There are quite a few hereabouts in East Dulwich. They are so neat and manicured, so ordered, so precisely laid out and clipped to the millimetre, that I think wildlife would probably be enhanced if they used

in next door's pond; they have never had reason to extend their passions to her garden.That is, until now. Last summer I dug my mum a second pond, in order to photograph it for a book I was writing. In contrast to the 'deep pond', it’s a really shallow one

flower for cutting. This year we're growing 'Dazzler', which has gorgeous deep pink petals.Sweet peas are another must for any cutting garden. If you haven't got your plants going already, you could invest in some plug plants (mail order is much better