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watering a week to keep plants growing stronglyBe vigilant for pests like red spider mite and take action against any right awayBuy narcissus, hyacinths and lachenalias to plant for indoor displaysSow poor man's orchid (schizanthus) to produce flowering

Line greenhouses with bubble polythene for insulation against falling night temperatures Clean staging and capillary matting to use next yearBring pots of tender agapanthus and eucomis under coverCheck all plants for signs of pests and treat

Prune wisteria sideshoots to 10-15cm from their base, and tie in leading shoots to create a frameworkRake up fallen leaves that could be sheltering slugsCut down dead perennialsPlant bareroot trees and deciduous hedges such as beech and privet

in the moist soil is a wireworm. I know these are supposed to be notorious garden and agricultural pests, but like so many insects, I can't really treat them as pests unless they reach pest proportions. A few of last year's potatoes had small holes in them

over trees and soil in search of overwintering pests around the garden. Welcome them in with food and water, provide them with hedges and shrubs for shelter, and they'll reward you by helping control unwanted pests. What's a pest to you is food for them

There's only one thing better than receiving emails, letters and phone calls from readers and that's meeting them in person. And with Gardeners' World Live starting tomorrow (Wednesday 15 June, 2011) and running until Sunday I'm looking forward

2007 will be remembered as a very good year for wasps. But before people start complaining about their vicious stings and bad tempers, I must point out that wasps are actually our friends. After birds and spiders, they are the most important insect

Jekka McVicar's 10 companion plantsJekka McVicar's organic herb garden achieved a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show 2009. We caught up with her at the show to discover her top 10 herbs for growing as companion plants.Companion planting

band to trees.Grease bandScissorsStringOctober - November10 minutesUnroll the grease band and measure how much you'll need around the base of your fruit tree.Cut off the length required, ensuring the ends overlap so there aren't any gaps

could be environmental, such as the weather, or a pest attack that causes physical damage to the plant. Some fasciated plants are actually quite attractive and have led to varieties known as cristates. These include forms of ferns, cacti and succulents