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the beginning of the tree planting season and I want to state the case for one particular tree. A tree that, if you want your autumns to always be as sparkly as an Maharanee's tiara is indispensable. Ladies and Gentlemen (drum roll, please)...I give you

there - the trees are blossoming like there's no tomorrow. My children and I gave my wife a small orchard for her birthday in 2000. It always looks gorgeous at this time of year, and gets better every season as the trees mature.We planted young, whippy trees - a

of apple trees to swell, flushed with pink, before the pure white flowers burst open. As my main reason for growing apple trees is for their fruit, I'm keen that the trees produce abundant blossom, and also that there will be plenty of bees to enjoy it

I'm not usually lost for words, but the other day a tornado arrived (yes, a real tornado) and I sat in the bay window, gawping silently. It was like watching two minutes of a particularly scary Hollywood film.The huge horse chestnut tree opposite

.A more usual use for squirrel teeth is visible on several of the sycamores in the park. I've been watching these trees all year; they looked a bit peaky earlier and they are now completely dead, killed by a sooty bark disease, the fungus Cryptostroma

Many years ago I planted a palm in a pot and popped it on the newly constructed steps by our outdoor seating area. It looked great, for a while. The palm was a good size, and so was the pot.But the palm has grown and, sadly, the pot hasn't. Over the last couple of years the palm ...

Monty Don demonstrates how to plant a fig tree by lining a hole with paving slabs to curtail the roots and stimulate fruit production.spring or autumnAdvice on growing ornamental fruit Growing citrus plants, with Monty's video adviceTraining a

Once apple trees are established it's best to summer prune the spur-fruiting varieties. This will encourage the development of short flowering shoots or 'spurs' that go on to bear clusters of fruit. Summer pruning is ideal for keeping the trees

was distracted by an extremely industrious bee working away at a particular blossom on one of their apple trees. Intrigued and a little captivated by this particular bee's tenacity she marked the spot with a piece of ribbon.As summer turned to autumn, the fruit

You can't beat a real Christmas tree, but fallen needles and bare branches don't look particularly festive. Find out how to avoid Christmas tree needle drop, below.Christmas treeChristmas tree clampBucketSawSecateursDecemberWhen buying the tree