Pruning Climbers
If you are not sure when a climber or wall shrub is best pruned, a useful guide is to prune spring and early summer-flowering plants when their blooms fade. Those flowering in late summer usually do so on the current year's growth, so encourage ... [... more]
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Winter Houseplants
Bring the garden inside this winter with a selection of bright, beautiful winter-flowering houseplants. We reveal our top choices for every room of your house. The classic winter plant, the poinsettia, should be chosen with care to ensure your ... [... more]
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Growing Artichokes
Globe artichokes are one of the tastiest vegetables you can grow, and are as much at home in the flower garden as they are in the vegetable patch. Follow our guide to growing your own. Improve the soil by adding well-rotted manure and sprinkle ... [... more]
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Growing Peas
Sow seeds in a flat trench, 5cm (12in) deep and 25cm (10in) wide. Water the trench first, then sow the seeds 5-7cm (2in) apart in three rows along the trench. Do not pull the plant after harvesting, as the roots are full of nitrogen-fixing ... [... more]
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Growing Cucumbers
Some varieties have both female and male flowers on the same plant - remove the male blooms and leave the female - these can be recognised by a swelling fruit behind the flower. If you enjoy the taste of fresh cucumber, sow some seeds in spring ... [... more]
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Growing Currants
Plant a currant bush and you'll soon be picking lots of plump berries. White, red and blackcurrants are perfect for a sunny or slightly shaded spot, and once established are really easy to look after. Dig a hole. It should be wide enough for the ... [... more]
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Growing Raspberries
Raspberries are expensive to buy in the shops, but are really easy to grow if you can give them a sunny or partly shaded spot with well-drained soil. Plant in the autumn and you'll soon be tucking into lots of tasty fruit of your own. Prune ... [... more]
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Growing Asparagus
Place crowns, 30cm apart, on top of the mound and spread roots out either side. Cover crowns with 5cm of fine soil, which has been sifted through a riddle or sieve to remove clods. As stems grow, gradually fill the trench with soil - it should be ... [... more]
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How To Create A Wildflower Meadow
Plant wildflower plugs in autumn. Make holes about 15cm (6in) deep and 5cm (1.9in) in diameter, drop in a handful of compost and plant plug. Water well. Cut grass at the end of summer. For small areas use a strimmer or scythe (a power scythe can ... [... more]
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Ideas For Colourful Winter Pots
Keep the winter blues at bay with our recipes for colourful pots of seasonal colour. Choose a pot that is large enough to support your plants and has drainage holes Feed plants by adding controlled-release fertiliser granules to compost Water ... [... more]
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Feeding Plants
Fork organic matter into soil before planting in the spring and mulch existing permanent plant displays with a thick layer of organic matter. Help your plants to thrive by giving them a healthy diet, full of the right nutrients. Here's our guide ... [... more]
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Growing Tomatoes
Growing tomatoes from seed is easy and there's a huge range of delicious varieties to choose from. Follow our easy care guide and sow during March and April for a good summer crop. Scatter seeds thinly across the surface of 7.5cm (3in) pots ... [... more]
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