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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

pathetic, at the front of the border. Will I be more ruthless this year? I doubt it.I also, didn't grow enough shrubs, so my border lacks structure. I can see this clearly now in winter, as my herbaceous plants have gone to mush and there's nothing left

moved towards more sustainable options in their municipal displays, growing shrubs and perennials to provide a long season of interest, and merely filling gaps with bedding rather than planting short-term annual bedding displays. A good example

the drain, but I'm hoping the addition of a small tree and some shrubs and wildflowers will bring in a range of birds and insects.I was excited to discover which plants are native to my postcode. It turned out some familiar plants, such as foxglove

lack of moisture.If you're worried about branches breaking or becoming disfigured on your shrubs and trees, shake excess snow from them. You can support branches too - you're probably not using your washing line prop this week, so place it under a laden

Garden Birdwatch.Birds will only visit gardens where they feel safe. The ideal bird-friendly garden has a mixture of trees and shrubs for birds to shelter in, a lawn from which ground-feeding birds can forage for ants and worms, and a wild, grassy area

grown, will provide cover for birds. The shrubs are tiny and don't yet provide any structure or sheltering opportunities. The teasels, cosmos and sunflowers I've left to seed stand like skinny stalks above flat, lifeless foliage. And I don't have a tree

. It was with a big gang of long-tailed tits that darted one by one between the shrubs with a little “deet deet deet”. I love long-tailed tits, and stood watching them for a while, when these tiny mouse-sized birds appeared. Their behaviour, shape and size were so

garden. Unlike climbing varieties, including Lonicera periclymenum and Lonicera japonica, it’s not a climber but a shrub, bearing honey-scented white flowers along its branches. If you do invest in winter-flowering plans, grow them where you can take

crucial time of year for wildlife? And it's not just ponds. In February I witnessed the clearing of shrubs and ivy by some councils - which were surely providing shelter for numerous hibernating creatures - and I've also seen contractors trimming hedges