Hardwood cuttings
Taking hardwood cuttings is easy and often the only way to propagate many trees and shrubs. Follow our guide to turning a hardwood stem into a vigorous new plant. In early autumn, select strong, straight shoots on the current season's ... [... more]
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Build a green roof
Adding a green roof to garden buildings such as sheds and storage areas reclaims the space they take up, as well as improving air quality and encouraging wildlife into the garden. Joe Swift shows how to green up your shed. Assess the roof you are ... [... more]
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Grow your own winter salad
Fresh salad can be grown through the winter - in the garden or in a window box. With careful planning you could be picking fresh leaves to garnish your Christmas dinner. Sow seeds between late August and mid-November. Regular sowings will ensure ... [... more]
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Growing beetroot
Freshly picked beetroot are wonderfully tender with a delicious earthy taste. Best of all, they are really easy to grow from seed. Follow our guide for the perfect crop. Prepare soil for sowing by digging. Remove weeds, large stones and rake to ... [... more]
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Building a pond
Ponds are probably the single most important wildlife feature that can be added to a garden, attracting a host of creatures from birds, to frogs and beneficial insects. Spread a layer of sand and carpet if it's available, under the butyl ... [... more]
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Growing broad beans
Broad beans are an ancient favourite with evidence of cultivation from as early as 6,000 BC. Easy to grow, high in protein and rich in vitamin C they're still a must for today's vegetable plot. Prepare the planting site by digging over and adding ... [... more]
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Protecting your plants over winter
As cold winter weather approaches choose the best method to help protect your plants survive frost and cold with our easy to follow guide. Transfer succulents into grit and overwinter in a mini green house in a sheltered place. Add an extra layer ... [... more]
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Grow pumpkins
See how to grow the best pumpkin for Halloween. Follow our guide to ensure your pumpkin is the biggest and tastiest. Keep moist and when roots begin to show through the bottom transfer into a 12.5cm (5in) pot. Plant outside once established, ... [... more]
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Create a mini pond
Brighten up your patio and encourage wildlife to visit your garden with your own container pond. Select a combination of marginal, aquatic and oxygenator plants. Plant marginals in aquatic baskets filled with garden soil and top-dress with ... [... more]
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What to put in your tool kit
Head to your local garden centre and the choice of gardening tools is bewildering. Fortunately you don't need them all and most gardens can be looked after with just a handful of tools. Here's our guide to the essential kit. Choose tools with ... [... more]
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Pond care
How to maintain your pond throughout the year and deal with problems like water loss and algae. If you are losing water, first check the edges are level and the liner hasn't slipped below the water level. If the pond is leaking, it will need to ... [... more]
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Living with Arthritis
Whatever your age, arthritis presents problems that can significantly affect your life. If arthritis means you have increasing difficulty using public transport, or driving a car, there are many ways of maintaining your mobility. Some local ... [... more]
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