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things that they did not touch: a short list consisting of Taxus baccata (yew), Cornus alba (Dogwood), Euonymus europaeus (Spindle) and Buxus sempervirens (Box). Secondly things that they adored: Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese laurel), Roses, Hydrangea

In the words of Benny Hill: "I'll never know how a rose can smell so sweet and pure, And hold its head up high when it's standing in manure!".Old Benny cannot have been much of a gardener (a statement borne out by the fact that he lived all his life

mother, who got it from somebody else, etc. Such is the way with shared plants; they lose their smart Linnaean names along the way and become known as 'Granny's rose' or 'Auntie's violet'. If you know what it is, then I'd love to know.

... round shrubs, roses and flowers, along the base of the hedge, around fruit trees and bushes, and over the veg plot. Beans get a good, deep mulch of compost to help conserve soil moisture, too, but it's not just water retention that mulching is good for

My garden - like yours - is looking fantastic at the moment. Plants that were just poking from cold ground a couple of months ago are now enormous and luxuriant. Bees buzz, roses overflow and lawns are lush.Rather than just brag, I thought I

leather. Sadly, I don't have manicures or baby-soft palms that require protection, but I do need gloves that aren't easily pierced by rose thorns.The very best pair I've ever owned was given to me by my brother, who found them in a truckstop somewhere near

admiringly at roses and bob deferentially to paeonies. One of my favourite combinations is Geum 'Mrs J. Bradshaw' with Stipa tenuissima.As we reach the dog days the grasses step from the shadows and become stars. I could drone on for ages but I'll give you

us to another problem. There are certain things that don't agree with either compost heaps or shredders. Diseased plant material shouldn't be composted, as the process might not kill the spores of, for example, potato blight or rust. Rose clippings

perfect. Other indispensible tools include my plastic leaf rake that is excellent for leaves, borders and paths. Much better than the wire tined version.A large plastic dustbin. Perfect for hedge clippings, rose prunings and anything else (provided

was not matched by my host's fiancée. She was on the phone when I came into the kitchen and her voice rose to an anxious crescendo squeak when she saw what I was carrying.I was told, in no uncertain terms, to get rid of it immediately. An hour later the logs had