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I always have a dilemma in April, choosing the right plant supports for my tall border perennials, delphiniums in particular. Last year I used lots of home-grown sticks leftover from pruning my silver birch. Pushed firmly into the soil around clumps

use this technique to grow flowering perennials and biennials as well as hardy annuals to brighten up you beds and borders. Sow into weed-free soil that has been dug, forked and raked to create a fine surface structure or 'tilth'. SeedsArea of prepared

post-coital.But it is by no means all over as now the late summer perennials and shrubs (Rudbeckias, Asters, Ceratostigmas, Cimicifuga, Nicotiana sylvestris etc) kick in giving a second wind to borders.October comes and even the late

this may often be a weed, you never know what might pop up.And this is where self-seeders - flowers you love, and deliberately let go to seed - come into their own. By resisting the temptation to snip off every faded flower in sight you give some flowers a

, with yellowy pink blooms. Height 110cm.Dahlia 'Preference'Large-flowered cactus type, needs staking to support stems. Height 120cm.Dahlia 'Reputation'Giant-flowered semi-cactus dahlia. Grow in rich soil for best results. Height 140cm.Dahlia 'Rev P Holien

sturdy wooden stakesSledgehammerBow sawStrong wireall year round1 dayClear the area where you're going to put the compost bin and, if necessary, level the ground using a spade or a rake.Take a pallet and stand it on its long edge to form the back edge

It is December (already) and Christmas is lurking around the corner like a tinsel clad, benevolent bogeyman dripping with cranberry sauce and liqueur chocolates.You know that perennial question “what would you like for Christmas”? It was all so very

I have just ordered a whopping great pile of manure. A couple of weeks ago we finished cutting everything back and hunting down any perennial weeds that were hiding beneath the plants in readiness for mulching: had it not snowed we would have

it into something else. Rather than spend a lot of time (and client's money) digging out perennial weeds and scrappy grass, I tend to spray the whole lot off instead.I have tried burning them but that doesn't really work, so until someone comes up

(Joe-pye weed)Useful websites for wildlife gardeningGardeners' World wildlife blogsMake a bee hotelMore plants for beesWildlife gardening tipsButterfly Conservation Trust