My own views on the correct season for planting open-ground-raised shrubs fluctuate with the weather. In a wet season I have successfully moved rhododendrons, junipers, and laurel in June and July. However, pinned down to a single season I would settle: for early spring. Winters on my exposed garden can be brutal in the extreme and linked with a cold wet clay soil the shock is too much for all but the most robust genera. I prefer to let .the nurseryman carry my charges through the worst months, then as the soil warms give me the responsibility.

In fact, I proved to my own satisfaction that just five minutes exposure to a drying March wind reduces the viability of woody plants appreciably. In the case of conifers the dehydration proved fatal in one out of every four seedling thuja lined out as a hedge.

Choose a day when the stubbornest clay runs like silk from the spade, then fine root hairs can be firmed into position with the least damage. I prefer a dull humid day if there are several shrubs to plant up as strong winds or bright sunshine will dry exposed roots in a matter of minutes.

Having a new baby in the house is wonderful. And if you’re a parent bringing home your first baby you are soon to discover some of the wonderful ways your life has changed forever. And some of the inconveniences too. All of a sudden going out has just got a whole lot harder. You’re going to need to consider buying a baby stroller.

And you’ll find that there are some practical problems getting around with a new baby too. Suddenly you can’t rush out at the last minute, jump in the car and go. Getting in the car with baby has become a longer more drawn out process.

Probably your mum and dad had a pram for you. Probably a steel pram that weighed a ton and wasn’t easy to get around. Or to get into the car. Your parents probably struggled to get pram and baby into the car and away in under 20 minutes.

But modern stroller manufacture processes allow for the manufacture of baby strollers that are way more user friendly. They are way lighter and so easier to push around, which takes the strain off, and often have larger wheels. They are usually made of plastic and fold up extremely well to go in the car.

A small prostrate yew, Taxus baccata horizontalis, performs a similar function under a solitary Field Maple on the lane border in this garden. Strange that it took a friendly visitor’s appreciation to draw my attention to the service the native Blaeberry, Vaccinium myrtillus, gives as sub-scrub in the woodland.

To prevent primulas seeding under some shrubs growing only a path’s width away I carpeted the soil beneath the shrubs with Lithospermum Heavenly Blue. The mat of leaves was covered with a mass of blue flowers in early summer. Indeed, these continued intermittently until the autumn. This plant is difficult to root and started to take extra care with the cuttings. I lost all but three from one batch so that now I continue my old practice and once again the cuttings root with perfect composure and no difficulty.

The growth of the Butcher’s Broom, Ruscus aculeatus, is closely packed, and the spine- tipped leaves appear highly polished as if they were varnished. Though extremely shade tolerant it resents a very wet acid soil, and berries sparsely in poor light conditions. Only once, in Northumberland, have I seen the bright red marble fruits really thick on a bush which was sited on the west face of a low wall.

Few shrubs can amass such an array of blackfly as the viburnums and these must be dealt with, for over two or three years the shrub will be reduced to a mass of stunted twisted twig-like growths.

Possibly the safest general feeds are those based on organic substances which in addition to feeding have no detrimental effect on soil texture. The release of the nitrogen, phosphates and potash takes place over a long period so that very little is lost by the plant through being leached away in soil drainage.

Bonemeal, hoof and horn, and fish meal, together with mixtures based on seaweed can be used over almost the whole garden without fear of harmful side effects. Usually, as well as the nitrogen, phosphates and potash, they contain a whole series of trace elements which though required by the plants in parts per million rather than ounces per square yard are never the less essential if the plants are to grow well.

There are, of course, the paraquat-based chemical weedkillers which can be used amongst established shrubs if the border is very dirty. Providing these do not come into contact with the leaves they will not harm the cultivated plants. The chemical acts only through the chlorophyll in the leaves so it can be sprayed right up the stems of the shrubs.

I would consider a garden without evergreens, especially conifers, to be incomplete. Throughout the year they play an important role in providing a subtle contrast in shape and foliage texture and they are very valuable when the cold ngers of frost have stripped the foliage from -deciduous trees.

There are species and varieties so slow growing that they will grow contentedly for a generation with the modest dimensions of a trough garden. At the other extreme the family includes trees mat soar, 100 to 120 ft., majestic in their perfect -Fymmctrical outline. No matter the size of garden - be the landscape formal or designed to Iarmonise with the natural scenery around are conifers of the right shape and foliage colour to fit and enhance the picture.

I would hesitate to suggest planting bamboos in a small garden were it not for the fact that one of the finest specimens I know grows in a small garden where the soil is so well drained even the worms carry water bottles.

The species in this case, and my own favourite, is Arundinaria nitida. The long gracefully arched branches are the epitomy of elegance and the canes which are flushed purple are furnished with long thin foliage.

Nothing will make a newcomer to gardening an outcast of society quicker than to be continually borrowing tools. There is no need, however, to rush into buying one of everything and a good collection can be built up slowly as required ; some being needed immediately while others can wait for a birthday.

The tools described will make up a modest collection and they will certainly be adequate to maintain the largest shrub border. To the basic outfit could be added a manure fork and shovel which would make the annual mulching of the border with manure or compost rather less of a labour.

At long last the gardener can don heavy boots and take a spade in hand to make a start on preparing the soil to receive the chosen shrubs. Newly planted shrubs will establish rapidly if they are provided with a soil. which has been worked some fifteen inches deep. First take out a trench across one end 15 in. wide, placing the soil to one side for filling up the final trench when the work is completed.

There are many advantages of owning a gazebo and displaying it proudly in your yard. For one thing, it adds outdoor living space. It’s wonderful to have a sheltered, shady spot outdoors to enjoy a nice meal or just sit back and enjoy a cool breeze and a glass of lemonade on a hot summer day. A gazebo is just that kind of place.

A major advantage of having a gazebo is that it enhances your landscaping by providing visual interest to your property. A beautiful yard with trees, flowers, plants and a lovely gazebo can transport you into a peaceful, tranquil place.

As compared to a deck, an outdoor gazebo is more flexible since it can be located just about anywhere in your yard. Another example of the flexibility of owning a gazebo is that it can be moved if you do not like its location. You can’t do that with a deck or a sun room. And it’s much less costly than adding a sun room to your home, but you’ll still enjoy the advantages of more outdoor living space as well as protection from the weather.

Home security products are available from various suppliers in the Bedford & Milton Keynes areas ranging from DIY stockists to large security companies. Many suppliers specialize in one or two areas of security, whereas “Inside Out” tends to deal with quite a wide range of products and services providing their customers with collapsible security grilles, vandal protection screens and shed bars to name but a few.

Home security is becoming more of an essential rather than a “nice to have” in these uncertain times. That is exactly why you should ensure that the security you have installed, will do the job it is intended for. For example if you are going to have collapsible security grilles on your windows and doors, make sure they carry the “secure by design” or the “LCPB” logos. These logos let you know that the products are police preferred or insurance standard grilles. So if you want good quality security give “Inside Out” a call and they will make sure, your security is up to a standard, not down to a price.

Grape and grapevine motifs stenciled onto walls are a feature of the popular Tuscan style in home decor but can also be an attractive complement to other styles that embrace an old world look. Stencils today come in a wide variety of designs and are reusable. A grape or vine leaf motif could be just the thing to finish off your kitchen decor. If you like relaxing with a glass of wine on your patio, grapes and vine leaves might be the perfect image to choose.

Applying Stencil Motifs

The grapevine motif is ideal for borders that run all around a room and can add a unique finishing touch to your room. Depending on the room, you could use a grapevine motif high up, at picture rail or cornice level. They can also be applied above a skirting board or halfway up a wall, like a dado rail.

You could also consider stenciling your grape motif around features of a room, either because they are too plain or need jazzing up or as a way of directing attention to attractive features. If you have a wine rack, you could highlight it with a grape or vine surround.

Two kinds of people use the stars. The first romanticize their beauty and dream by them, the second use them to steer their course by. It is much the same with roses. There is much to be done in this world to beautify both the garden and spirit of our fellow man with roses.

We can devote our time to simple enjoyment of the joys we have found in roses or we can set about the vitally important task of bringing this pleasure to more people. With a new year unfolding before us we might well take stock and see which path we have followed in the past and if we are willing to enrich the lives of our fellow men by following the second course.

If we find the challenge of the latter course inspiring there is one factor which will help greatly in gaining successful results. That is the importance of retaining an affirmative attitude. I used to hate the fact that my garden soil is full of rocks until I found these came in mighty handy when I issued forth with my trusty sling-shot to ward off the innumerable rabbits which plagued our new rose plants.