Search - Articles

Summer prune apple trees To give yourself the biggest apple crops from established trees, it's time to tackle summer pruning of spur-fruiting varieties. This encourages the development of short flowering shoots or 'spurs' that go on to bear clusters

Plant a small treeNo matter how small your garden, choose your variety carefully and you'll find there's always room for a tree. A tree will add height, colour and architectural interest to a garden and, if planted properly, should provide many

with cloches or sheets of polythenePlace a ball in a pond to prevent it fully freezing overTake your petrol mower to a dealer for maintenanceAround the gardenPlant bare-root roses in well-prepared groundTrim away unwanted suckers from tree basesClear borders

Protect tender plants for winterThe trend for growing exotic looking plants in our gardens means that some of them may need protection from the worst of the winter cold and wet. Wrap half hardy bananas, palms and tree ferns with fleece, straw

.Clean and sharpen knives and secateursPut up nesting boxes for birds on suitable treesMove shrubs growing in the wrong placeAround the gardenCut down willows and dogwoods to their baseFinish taking hardwood cuttingsPlant bare-root roses, hedging, trees and shrubs

it into growth up to eight weeks early. Top up bird baths with fresh water dailyRecycle your Christmas tree at the local council tipCheck closing dates for any seed catalogue discountsAround the gardenSquash mistletoe berries into apple tree branchesCut down old

Forcing narcissiEnjoy an early scent of spring by forcing narcissi. The bulbs are in the shops from late-August and if planted immediately you can have them in flower by Christmas.Remove suckers from roses, shrubs and treesTrim box hedging

an impressive spring display that will flower for weeks.Prune suckers away from the base of ornamental treesCollect watering equipment to store in the shedProtect glazed pots from frost damageAround the gardenPlant out spring beddingPot up tender perennials from

-rooted hedging, roses, trees and shrubsFlowersPrune gooseberry bushes Fork over vacant beds, mixing in compost Plant fruit trees trained as cordons, fans or espaliersFruit & vegClear leaves from greenhouse gutters Check heaters daily to ensure they are working

off shrubs and conifersPlace rabbit guards around trees to protect barkFirm down plants lifted by frost or wind rockAround the gardenDeadhead winter-flowering pansies and bedding plantsDivide congested herbaceous perennialsPrune winter jasmine to cut