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Are your roses martyrs to disease? Are their leaves covered with black spots or a white overcoat of powdery mildew? Well, I'll come clean and put my hand up on both counts. Much depends on the time of year and whether it's wet or dry - but, most

Breathe deeply as you enter my sitting room this month and you’ll take in the powerful, almost intoxicating fragrance of paper-white narcissi.I planted the Narcissus papyraceus bulbs last autumn, in a glass bowl layered with gravel. All I've done

, and is offered in a range of colours. New for 2010 is the pure white 'Double Click Snow Puff', which has been approved as a new novelty variety by Fleuroselect (a European variety trial organisation looking for the best new bedding plants). Many cosmos come

.T. praestans 'Unicum', with bright red flowers, dwarf habit, and variegated foliage.T. 'Weisse Berliner', with pure ivory white flowers.Tulip bulbs can be planted far later than other bulbs and will still flower well in spring. Get daffodils and others planted

.By keeping an eye on the weather forecast, I can get outside and throw a large sheet of white fleece over my wisteria, plum and cordon apples to protect the flowers when frost is due. It's not much of an effort, but it will reward me with longer flowering

I'm always looking for plants that make an impact - things that will grab the attention and put on a good show. Seasonal bedding and bulbs are always popular, but many shrubs also grow well in patio pots.Over the years I've tried all sorts, from

Flowers are not the only attraction in winter gardens. Biennial honesty (Lunaria annua) is a good example of a plant that keeps delivering after its flowers have passed. Once the petals have fallen, enchanting disc-shaped seed-pods are formed

their thick, white, fleshy roots completely fill the pot. I'm never sure quite where the compost goes, but remove the pot from the rootball of an established plant and almost all you'll see is roots, with little compost remaining - just what's required

The same thing happens every year. I buy my bulbs in good time, and then don't make time to plant them! I've got a huge bag of tulips and other bulbs to be planted, but it will soon be December.Other things got in the way during October, and then I

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