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A local cat has found my garden. It was only a matter of time, I suppose, after I had made the frogs, birds and mouse so welcome. And what a lure they must be, for the cat has to scale a six foot wall to reach them, as well as face my wrath each

with dry silver sand when making initial sowings, so you can see exactly how far apart you're sowing the seed.If you don't mind small carrots, make just one thinning to leave seedlings 4cm apart.Advice on growing carrotsMonty Don's video project on growing

peel and glossy paper or card.Only add small quantities of waste at a time. Worms dislike acidic conditions, so avoid adding citrus peel and add plenty of cardboard pieces and crushed egg shells to the mix. Water sparingly if the worm bin looks dry

These cold, dark winter evenings are costing me a small fortune. Not in heating costs for my greenhouse, or for electricity to light up the front of the house with decorations bright enough to be seen from the International Space Station.No, it

I've always been rather sceptical about the benefits of bug boxes, ladybird and lacewing hotels and other artificial constructions marketed to improve the roosting conditions for helpful insects in the garden. I was once given a solar-powered insect

After the wet and dismal weekend, I take a tentative stroll in the garden on a clear and bright Tuesday morning, and discover the first newt of the year sitting motionless at the bottom of the pond. I know it has been down there all winter

in many different ways. Do you want a tall standard tree or a dwarf one, a screen of single-stemmed cordons or a beautifully trained espalier? You can even plant an apple tree in a small garden - perhaps fan-trained against a warm wall or fence. Apple

skips for more wood and was experimenting with designs for robins, wrens and starlings. In the wild, birds nest in a variety of situations such as holes in trees and hedgerows, which tend not to be that abundant in gardens. A snug box with an appropriate

-petalled Nigella 'Miss Jekyll', with fiery Calendula 'Princess Orange Black' woven in for a sizzling contrast (both from the Blooms for Bees pack).To make your drifts, all you need is a small drinks bottle and some silver sand (available from most garden centres

Winter wildlifeMost garden wildlife hibernates over winter, as food is in short supply and freezing temperatures make life difficult. Learn how to help wild creatures through the cold winter months, below.In winter, wild animals and insects hunker