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grass seed - one mix for shady areas, one regular blend and one with wildflower seeds - and watched the pigeons eat it all up. We made a scarecrow with a mop, a garden fork, an old shirt and some plastic bags and sowed some more. The pigeons didn't like

A client of mine said something curious to me this week, as we were discussing what to plant in her newly-landscaped garden: "I hope you're not going to give me any of those ghastly cabbagey things".Strangely, I instantly knew that she was talking

of space to grow and thrives in sheltered, sunny sites with well-drained soil. Avoid growing asparagus in shady spots, heavy clay soil or containers.Asparagus crowns (normally one year old)Fork or spadeFertiliser granulesOrganic matter (e.g. well

. Sarcococca hookeriana: I drove to Devon last week with nine of these in the back of my car. The scent was amazing and, even though the plants are now happily planted in a client’s garden, the smell is still there. Plant them close to pathways6. Chitting

and place it in a bucket of water in a cool, shady spot outdoors. This allows the branches to settle and rehydrates the tree.Give your tree a vigorous shake before taking it inside, to dislodge any loose needles.Saw a few centimetres off the bottom

I might move house this year. It’s very early days, but the possibility of having a bigger garden is sending my plant-collecting gene into overdrive. I currently grow plants in my small, shady courtyard garden. But after four years of this, I long

the rest have clambered over the walls, in search of sun. (The rose, sadly, has done very well.) I need to face facts: my garden is just too shady for most climbers.Whenever I walk around my garden and lament the mildew-infested clematis, limp passion

off in summer.
Chives, which refuse to grow in my shady garden; I miss them in potato salads.
Borlotti beans, for drying and storing in jars, then adding to winter stews. Butternut squash and several varieties of pumpkin, for hearty autumn soups

butterfly populations and identify any changes, which could indicate wider environmental problems.I've always gardened with butterflies in mind, but so few come into my shady London plot that I've never given them much attention. After working on content

Small lawns needn't be plain and uninspiring. An emerald green, healthy lawn will give any garden a lift, big or small, and there's a lot you can do to keep it looking good - from choosing the right grass seed, to aerating. You can even make a