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fallen leaves. When pruning, cut out any stems with blackspot on. In late-winter, spread a thick layer of mulch around the base of the affected plant to prevent rain splashing soil-borne spores on to new spring growth. Grow rose varieties

on the petals. Sometimes the flower stem collapses and the whole plant can end up covered in fungus, especially after heavy rain.Withered, distorted tulip leaves are covered in brown spots followed by a grey fungal growth. Any flowers that are produced have pale

thought: could this summer's heavy rain make a difference to next year's flower colour?).

gardening advice to the RHS members...but never before have I had my own. All of a sudden they cropped up, just down towards the bottom of the drive (which is basically soil that we compacted and then added scalpings to shortly after we moved in about 11

- never-ending you could say - period of rain, cold and cheerless, sunless days. My fervent enthusiasm after the excesses of Christmas usually fades as quickly as any glimpse of sunshine; the allotment lies abandoned until the first glimmers of spring

for clay soils and spring for sandy ones. However, I usually add compost to my clay beds now. It always bothers me that all the lovely nutrients in the compost are leached away by winter rains so I go against convention and leave composting until now.

After all the winds and rain that swept through earlier in the week (and which washed away poor Pippa's iris) a calm has descended on this part of the world.Wandering around this morning I've noticed that spring has been inching in under cover

Blustery crisp days and cold nights, north winds, sleet, hail, snow and cold rain. It's amazing with this mixture of weather that plants manage to plod their way into spring.I was very excited this week to notice that one of my favourite herbs

-topped stems have appeared over the last fortnight - I've watched them developing, biding my time, waiting for the moment to pounce. This week I judged that the sunshine and rain would have matured the spears just enough to warrant picking them.My judgement

wonderful thing this 'circle of life' is - as some things end, others begin to grow. And that's especially true on an allotment. My seedlings sown outdoors are starting to appear, thanks to the recent lovely rain, sunny days and warmer nights. The first