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the window at back gardens whizzing by at 70mph. It's also always interesting to see which plants flourish in the no-man's-land of railway embankments. At this time of year there's a dense covering, largely undisturbed by man (apart from the occasional

This modern take on the traditional hanging basket will liven up any a dull wall. This stylish lead planter looks elegant, but it's surprisingly easy and quick to make. Plant it up to suit your location: ferns on a shady wall, succulents in a hot

and cotoneaster. But what I’d really like is a crab apple. It’s probably not the best option for my small, shady plot, as it requires a fair amount of sun, but I think I might chance it. A friend has one growing in her garden and I always feel a pang of jealousy

“I heard some growling from the shallow pond”, said the text message, from my mother. Frogs have been hiding under rocks and shrubbery in my mum's garden since she moved in nearly 17 years ago; but this is the first time there has been any 'growling

Are you snowed under with seed catalogues? It seems that even before the summer stutters to an end we have to start thinking about next year.I don't usually grow much in the way of annuals in my garden (apart from dahlias and poppies, of course

perfectly suited to the smaller garden. It has pure white star-shaped (hence the name 'stellata' as in 'constellation') flowers. It grows very slowly and will reach only about 1.5m after 10 years: given perfect conditions it will eventually top out at about

of your variety. Avoid wet or shady sites, and dig the area over deeply before planting, incorporating lots of compost, to keep these hungry plants in top condition.Wooden stakesWell-rotted manureGarden twineSecateursMarch - MayJuly - SeptemberOnce all

and water to taste• Lie back and ignore the weedingAlthough they're generally unwelcome, there are two really good ornamental elders that deserve a place in most gardens. The first is Sambucus racemosa 'Plumosa Aurea', which is the glorious golden

tomatoes' flavour). Strong-smelling basil and flat-leafed parsley deter whitefly and, when in flower, coriander attracts beneficial insects.Most of these herbs prefer full sun, but they don't get that in my shady garden. And a bit of shade can be good

Small treesSmall trees can be used to create impact in gardens of all sizes, adding height, structure and year-round interest. We caught up with David Hurrion, Acting Horticultural Editor of Gardeners' World magazine, to discover his top 10 trees