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them with a generous mound of compost. I will then hope that this winter is not too dreadful, and will worry about them until (with luck) the first shoot appears in May. Second, any tender perennials that you have in pots should really have been brought

bath is elevated, which will offer birds a better view of stalking cats.Terracotta potTerracotta saucerAll-purpose glue or ceramic tile adhesive suitable for outdoor useStonesall year round15 minutes (plus 24 hours drying time)Scrub clean the base

such as camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, pieris and more.And do remember that any bulbs, bedding or shrubs planted in pots on your patio can get waterlogged unless the water can drain away freely. Before planting, make sure your pots have adequate holes

Two years, I felt the need to grow a local, native plant in my garden. I gathered rosehips from a field rose at the edge of a nearby canal, soaked them in water and sowed the seed in coarse compost.The pots sat in a corner of my patio, doing nothing

'll find factsheets to print out and pin on the potting shed wall. If you haven’t done so already, you can sign up for monthly Seed Club updates here.So what are we all waiting for? Oh yes... spring. Before it arrives, I'm stocking up on seeds, seed compost

through my Seasonal Checklist…1. Wrap pots or bring insideI’ve lost count of the number of terracotta pots I’ve lost in recent years that have been cracked and damaged by frost. To avoid adding more to the tally I’m emptying any not in use and storing them

in the greenhouse:clear out clutterwash glazing inside and outget pots and trays readybuy seed sowing compostAnd then there's the propagator. I like to use electrically heated propagators with a thermostat for controlling the temperature. Mine also has a strip light

and cuttings if you can enclose a small volume of air around their pots and trays, using a covered propagator. An electric heated propagator or mat will increase the speed of germination and rooting. Prices start at under £5 for an unheated propagator

.The alternative was to sow plants in pots and modular trays in the greenhouse or on window sills.  This allowed plants to be sown at the right time under cover, raising robust young seedlings for planting out later. In fact, regular showers actually helped when

This autumn I intend to add to my collection of fruiting shrubs for birds. I’m going to take advantage of the fact that plants are available more cheaply now we’ve hit bare-root planting season.Unlike pot-grown specimens, bare-root plants are dug