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to look a little perkier  - but it didn’t put on any new growth. Eventually, with a little TLC, and extra watering, my cherished magnolia did eventually grow up and outwards. Eventually, every spring it bore (and still bears) masses of beautiful flowers

of cress.I love growing cress. The seed is ridiculously cheap, and incredibly quick to germinate. And, of course, growing cress is a great way of introducing children to the pleasures of gardening. Just buy the packets of seed, get sowing and you'll see

and watering the birds. Recent visitors include 32 sparrows, three robins, masses of assorted tits and hordes of blackbirds, all happily feasting on the hedge in front of our house.Before light the blackbirds are feasting on the cut apples, bird seed and fat

evening when recording some Gardeners' Question Time programmes, we were tucking in to the food laid on by the host horticultural society. The sandwiches were lovely, but Bob Flowerdew and I found ourselves feasting on the salad 'garnish' on the generous

If, like most people over Christmas, you've eaten too much and not had enough exercise or fresh air, it's time to shake off your lethargy and get back out into the garden.The New Year is a good time to re-evaluate our gardens, whether they

I'm passionate about growing garlic. I successfully grow lots of garlic at home, despite the fact that I garden on a very heavy, clay soil.Garlic thrives in a well-balanced soil that is fairly loose, so the bulbs can expand properly. It does less

I hope you had a good Christmas and a break from your normal routine - maybe a little extra sleep and a lot of extra time in the garden or greenhouse. I’m enjoying the post-Christmas peace and quiet, and the chance to spot some winter birdlife

between the panes in the last year. A jet wash with a hose attachment is all it took. The secret is to do it once, allowing the water to loosen everything up, then repeat the process an hour or two later.All that remains is to write myself a reminder

dashing around watering my newly planted garlic and onion sets, opening cloches and rolling back the vent covers on my new brassica frame.I recently planted overwintering brassicas, so I rigged up some temporary shading for them, using old netting from

-free this year. Last year they wreaked havoc, unearthing seeds and decapitating young plants.Red spider mite can overwinter in tiny cracks and crevices, so I’ll be sure to scrub the whole greenhouse structure with a brush and soapy water. I didn’t have any