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'leatherjacket'. From autumn through to summer, the larvae feed on the roots of plants, eventually growing to 5cm in length before pupating and emerging as adult flies in late-summer.Grass growth slows down and yellow, dying patches appear in the lawn. Dead

I'm not ashamed to admit that I like dandelions. I think their flowers are beautiful, their leaves and form attractive (indeed considerably more so than many so-called ornamentals) and hoverflies seem to like them too.They can be a pain when

of each crinkled leaf and the reddish pink below is stunning. Who needs flowers when you've got colour like this?Many of my patio pots are planted for season-long impact, and that often means foliage wins over flowers. I've pots of ornamental grasses like

and sleeker beast; it must have been a black variety of the much larger and squatter 'brown' Rattus norvegicus. It was sitting beside the stream, which bubbles down through the ornamental gardens, grooming itself in the drizzle when I trotted past

, tomatoes, beans and peas. Ornamental plants, especially roses and delphiniums, are also affected. This abnormal growth has been attributed to a weedkiller, which is widely used by farmers on grassland to kill broad-leafed weeds, such as chickweeed, fat hen

to cut down on maintenance, so the remaining grass paths on the other half will be covered over with the same to eliminate mowing or strimming.The amount of permanent beds will be increased, so we will have more artichokes (can one ever eat too many

I recently visited the community orchard at Haggerston Park. It makes a lovely little wildlife sanctuary amidst the concrete of built-up Hackney: all fruit trees, wildflowers and long grass. It's also home to a few ornamental plants, including pot

and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. But they also attract and provide food for various forms of wildlife. Many herbs are easy to grow and have great ornamental value.Angelica archangelica is a tall, shade-loving herb most commonly used for making

. Don't overlook ornamental grasses, which can lift a border into the designer league. And don't forget to grow a few spare plants in pots, so you can slot them into gaps that may appear in a scheme.A diverse choiceAlso known as montbretia

.Sedum spectabileSnowdrops are the first of the spring bulbs to emerge after winter. They prefer heavy soils, and are ideal for naturalising in grass. Transplant them 'in the green' after they have flowered, as dry bulbs do not establish well. Height and spread 15cm