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.Deep rooted plants such as buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) bring nutrients from the subsoil, while leguminous manures like clover (Trifolium sp.) carry nodules on their roots, which fix nitrogen in the earth. In spring, a couple of weeks before you start

by slugs and snails, and I spent many hours watching blackbirds foraging among the debris.In spring I tackled the garden in one go, removing leaves spiked on emerging bulbs, clearing spent stems and staking perennials. Only the still-sleeping frogs

this invasion to be extremely unfair.So what to do? Pesticides applied every spring and autumn will kill the larvae. But I worry that the active ingredient (thiacloprid - a nicotinoid compound related to imidacloprid) also kills bees and other wildlife (you can

flower beds, traffic islands and even motorway service stations. Some came to Hackney and planted up concrete troughs around the corner from where I live.In spring, the tulips will provide a dash of unexpected colour, as a cheerful surprise to passers

There are so few plants that do well in my small, shady garden, but those that do thrive deserve a medal. This week, honesty is taking centre stage, with its tall spires of brilliant white flowers, towering above more subtle spring blooms.I love

are continually on the move. I hope the BTO is able to keep an eye of all five of them over winter and track their return journeys to the UK in spring.In the meantime, we gardeners can take a few steps to ensure this autumn's hibernating butterflies, moths

is full. Hurry up spring. My compost bin fills up every winter. It’s a lovely wooden beehive type that looks perfect in our tiny garden. It’s sited against the south-facing wall and gets really hot and steamy in summer. The frogs love it and it’s full

plants, for a start. I got a bit too excited last spring and sowed hundreds of seeds. Many of these, such as the cosmos and zinnia, grew well. Others, like the Eryngium leavenworthii and Nicotiana suaveolens struggled, but I let them limp on, looking

. They are mainly encountered in October and November, but you may occasionally come across one in December and even further into winter or early spring as these tiny hedgehogs struggle to survive.If you spot one out now - during the day or night - it’s almost

grown hemp agrimony before, but it’s apparently a hit with butterflies, so I’m keen to give it a try.A lawn dotted with cheery crocuses in spring.A silver birch, if I have the room.The mountain cornflower, which grows so well in my mum’s garden