Search - Articles

The evaporation of water from a plant through the stomata of the leaves and stem. The rate of transpiration is determined by external factors, such as temperature, light and humidity.

canLiquid plant foodJune - August15 minutesJune - September Water pots daily, particularly bedding plants, and twice daily in the heat of summer - morning and evening. Water with half-strength feed twice a week to ensure plants have all the nutrients

Follow Monty Don's video guide to planting courgette plants, which includes advice on planting depth and watering.summerMore on growing vegetablesMonty's video project on planting broccoliHow to plant sweetcornPlanting runner beansPlanting brassicasPlanting

Joe Swift demonstrates how to introduce fish into a garden pond, having first checked the cleanliness of the water using a pond testing kit. spring to autumnMore on ponds and water featuresHow to grow marginal pond plantsGrowing marginal plants in a

and summer bedding plants can also be propagated by this method.Plectranthus house plantScissorsJar of waterPlant potsMulti-purpose compostall year roundan hourChoose healthy shoots of new growth and cut lengths of roughly 10-20cm. Cut below a leaf joint

. Wind can scorch leaves as well as sun (and we’ve certainly had plenty of wind in Hampshire). Heavy rain and hail will also damage plants, peppering leaves and flowers with tiny shot marks.To make matters worse, water droplets on foliage can magnify

. During the worst weather I've needed a whole kettle of boiling water to melt the ice completely.It's surprising how quickly birds find this fresh supply of water, but anyone who doesn't have a bird bath can simply fill a plant saucer or bowl with water

Trim hedges to keep them neat, then shred and compost the clippingsTop up compost or bark mulches around heathersHoe and hand weed bordersWater hanging baskets and patio containers regularlyPlace orders for bulbs to plant this autumnDeadhead flowers

What a spring we're having. Provisional Met Office reports suggest April was the warmest on record. It was also the 11th driest, based on average rainfall across the UK. Scotland's rainfall has been 110% above normal levels, while the South-East has

Learn how to plant up a traditional hanging basket, with Sarah Raven's advice on choosing a basket and plants, as well as tips on retaining water. springMore advice on hanging basketsRachel de Thame demonstrates how to plant up a traditional