Search - Articles

Find out how to prepare brugmansia for the winter, by following Chris Beardshaw's video guide, including advice on how to take cuttings after moving the plant into a frost-free greenhouse.autumnMore advice on propagating plantsHow to take root

Sarah Raven demonstrates how to use ornamental kale in borders, to bring colourful interest over winter, with information on the different varieties available.autumnMore advice on growing brassicasHow to plant brassicasMonty advice on planting

The culprit is Trionymus diminutus, a 4mm sap-feeding mealybug that breeds relentlessly when the weather is warm and isn't killed by winter frosts. It deposits a white, waxy substance at the base of the sheathed phormium leaves. A mild infestation

, to promote new growthLift and divide large clumps of hostaTrim winter-flowering jasmine and tie in new shoots to supportsSprinkle granular fertiliser around clumps of spring bulbsFinish pruning roses as soon as possibleCut down all previous year's growth

with low-growing stems can be propagated by layering, such as honeysuckle, mock orange (Philadelphus), rhododendron, magnolia and forsythiaDig up and divide clumps of winter aconitesPlant new shrubs and hardy perennialsCut away old foliage on Christmas

cuttings from dogwoodsPick off faded flowers from winter-flowering pansies to prevent them setting seed

greenhouse tomatoes to deter whiteflySet up a 'watering bench' using capillary matting to look after pot plantsSow seeds of Christmas cherry (solanum) to grow as winter pot plantsHang yellow sticky traps in the greenhouse to help control whitefly Thin out

strongly rooted plants that will survive the winterFeed crops in growing bags and pots every weekWatch out for vine weevil beetles and larvae, and treat compost with a suitable product such as Provado Vine Weevil Killer 2

Buy pansies and other winter bedding plug plants to grow on under coverDamp down the greenhouse floor every morning on hot daysWater plants in pots and growing bags every morning, and again at night if necessaryAdd liquid feed to at least one

hedgesMow lawns every weekApply lawn feed to promote strong root growth and prepare the grass for winter