Peppers are an extremely popular plant to grow indoors or outdoors anywhere in the world whether you’re in a hot or a cold climate, there is always a chance you will be able to grow peppers successfully and get great tasting peppers all year round with no expert tips needed.

The choice of peppers in unbelievable at the moment, and with at least 2,500 new species of pepper being created each year and with many of them not even getting time to be named, your perfect pepper cant be far away and there will always be something new to try each year for all tastes.

The best place to get hold of peppers is normally at garden centres or seed specialists if you’re lucky enough to have on close by. These areas will give you a huge choice of seeds for different peppers to grow and each should have a good description on the back of all the things the pepper will need and what the pepper is like taste wise, but in case you haven’t got all the time in the word to scour through endless packets of seeds reading which will be best for you, here are some popular options which should suit most peoples needs and tastes.

Habanero Peppers

These orange or red peppers are extremely hot; if you’re looking to get some really hot and spicy peppers then these are for you. At about 200,000 - 300,000 scoville units you wont be able to taste too much after eating one of these.

Jalapeno Peppers

These are a very popular choice in bottled salsa due to the strong flavour of these peppers, a good choice to grow if like something with bite but not as hot as the habanero, a great tasting pepper.

Bell peppers

These are the sweetest peppers available, very easy to grow and do not have a hot of spicy flavour to them at all, these peppers are great for family meals for kids and within salads, advised for first time pepper growers.

Cayenne peppers

Another very hot pepper just falling short of the hot and spicy habanero, cayenne’s have 5,000 - 30,000 scoville heat measurement making them the second hottest of the popular peppers, a very nice strong tasting pepper great for salsas.

Serrano peppers

These peppers have very thin walls making them easy to cook and prepare. a good peppers to grow for all round taste, heat units, and ease to grow. Best eaten when green and not left to ripen.

For more information on Growing Peppers take a look at this Growing Peppers website .www.growing-peppers.com

The pleasurable experience off Bonsai gardening is gaining in popularity increasing numbers of people in all ages and cultures are experimenting and learning the art. Once practiced by only the elite class of royalty, bonsai are now easily affordable on nearly any budget. But proper bonsai care does entail considerable planning and patience. If you want to create your own bonsai garden, then it is important you understand that bonsai care is a time consuming art and patience is required to slowly produce the wonderful little work of art that you will envision. Bonsai gardening is not ideally suited to anyone who spends much of his or her time away from home. Your Bonsai tree will require constant care.

Bonsai Care Basics

There are four main elements of bonsai care that you should fully understand before you decide whether or not to purchase your first bonsai tree. Your bonsai tree will require constant monitoring of the moisture in the soil. A bonsai tree will not tolerate dry soil conditions. There must be moisture at the root level at all times or the fine root structure will die quickly. Proper bonsai care entails watering your tree at frequent intervals that will be determined by environmental conditions. You must not allow the roots to become dry and brittle or the tree will quickly wither and returning your Bonsai to health will be very difficult.

Another important fact that you need to know about bonsai care is that your tree will require regular feeding. A liquid fertilizer, the physical elements balanced especially for bonsai trees is highly recommended. The solution should be diluted with water rather than applying at full strength. You can purchase fertilizer that is specially made for bonsai care at nearly any home and garden center or one of the many online gardening stores dedicated to bonsai care.

It may seem obvious to some but not understood by others, your new bonsai tree is just that. It is in fact a tree and not your ordinary house plant. You may wonder about the significance of that small difference. Being a tree, your bonsai will require a dormant period each year. This will occur naturally for those who keep their trees outside in a bonsai garden. For those who grow their bonsai indoors, you will need to be sure to give your tree a cool and dark place to complete the normal life cycle of a typical tree. That should occur over a period of a few months during the winter.

An essential but pleasurable element of bonsai care is the pruning. In order for your new tree to grow into the work of art that you have envisioned, you will need to prune your bonsai on a regular basis. Even if you have purchased a bonsai from a home and garden center that has previously been trained to a shape, you will still need to regularly trim off the new growth in order to maintain the desired shape. If you creating your own shape from a young tree, you will need to prune it regularly until it is growing takes the shape you are looking for. After that shape has been established simply trim on a regular basis to manage the new growth.

Bonsai care can be very time consuming, but it can also be very rewarding.

For more information about Bonsai Gardening please visit Bonsai Gardening

For more information about Houseplants and Gardening please visit Houseplants and Gardens

Maintaining Healthy houseplants is not extremely difficult and in fact many houseplants will provide you with big returns on a very small investment. In fact sometimes a little too much care is applied yielding negative results. Plants have developed naturally to survive under inherently poor conditions and sometimes too much of a good thing is in fact not good. Keep it simple but provide the basics.

What Are a Plant’s Basic Needs?

Similar to any living thing, a plant needs water, food, environment and occasional grooming. That is basically the program in a nutshell. Learn how to best satisfy these needs for your particular plant and by routinely satisfying those basic needs you should be rewarded with healthy plants.

Potting and soil mix: To permit adequate drainage, it is recommended that you grow houseplants in either clay or plastic pots with drainage holes.

You can place the growing pots inside attractive outer pots but do not let extra water accumulate in the bottom.

Most houseplants do not require frequent transplanting. Transplant when you see the plant being forced out of its container or you see roots showing at the drainage hole. Use houseplant potting mix, and replant into a container that is just a little larger than the roots.

Light: Flowering houseplants and those with colored leaves need more light than green-leafed plants. These houseplants may require supplemental plant lighting supplied by either a specialty grow light or a common flourescent light.

Water: Over watering is the most common mistake of new gardeners. Wait for the soil to become almost dry, but do not allow the plant to become wilted. Water until the water just begins to appear at the drainage holes. Test for moisture by touch or by using a moisture meter every five days. If it feels dry or meter registers dry, it is time to add water.

When watering your houseplants look at the top and underside of leaves. If you see bugs, try washing them away with water and a mild dish detergent solution. Test the water and soap mixture on a small part of the plant first, to be sure there will be no damage to leaves. If you find that is not successful, you will need to apply a chemical insecticide.

Throw away dead plant matter and discard the soil to prevent diseases spreading to your other houseplants.

Humidity: Place a layer of marbles in bottom of saucers; fill with water and place plant pot on top to capture evaporation. Consider a room humidifier if you notice your house humidity levels are to low for your houseplants.

Temperature: Daytime temperatures of 64 to 73F (18 to 23C) and a little cooler at night are ideal. Avoid placing houseplants near heating ducts or drafty areas.

Fertilizing: A great deal of fertilizing is not necessary. Fertilizing of houseplants should be further reduced during slowed winter growth. Begin fertilizing about February with all-purpose fertilizer diluted to half strength. All-purpose fertilizer has nutrient ratios that are balanced or in equal concentrations, e.g. 15-15-15 or 20-20-20.

Trimming

Remove leaves that turn off color or yellow yellow and dead leaves. If more than half the leaf is affected, remove the entire leaf. If only a small portion of the leaf is discolored, trim that portion to the natural shape of the leaf. Use sharp scissors for best results. The leaves of some houseplants may continue to grow at the leaf base. Remove both the flower and the stem. Remove faded and discoloured flowers.

Pests and Diseases: Healthy houseplants are less susceptible to disease and less than ideal conditions. For the best success, only purchase healthy vibrant plants. Plants purchased at reduced prices are have often deteriorated badly and will require a lot of care to return them to health.

Grooming: Dust plant leaves on a regular basis to keep breathing pores open. Remove dead or dying leaves and flowers. Dust and dirt that collects on plant leaves will act as a filter to the ambient light. A clean plant converts energy from the sun more efficiently for photosynthesis to produce food. Cleaning also keeps leaves free of insects and diseases. When you wipe leaves, you often wipe away unwanted pests as well.

Use a feather duster to remove light dust. Dampen paper towels, cloths or sponges with water to wipe leaf surfaces. Carefully wipe both upper and lower surfaces of the leaf at the same time. Although they provide a nice appearance, leaf shine products tend to inhibit leaf transpiration and are not recommended for good houseplant health.

That basically concludes the practices required to maintain nice healthy plants inside your house. The principles are not difficult to apply. Simply develop a routine and follow it.

For more information about Houseplants please visit Houseplant Care

For more information about Gardening please visit Plants and Gardening

If you’ve spent a lot of time and money on plants and patios etc, you’ll want to be able to show everyone, even when night falls. One way you can do this is by buying landscape lighting. Lighting is a great asset for any garden and can help create a magical and romantic feeling.

Ways to Create Landscape Lighting

You can approach lighting your garden in two different ways. It can either be very functional and used to deter burglars. Whilst on the other hand it can be used in a decorative and fun way to highlight particular features in your garden, such as a statue or rose arbour.

If you have never bought lighting for your garden before, don’t worry, there’s loads of lighting products that will give you the look you are after. Simply look into what types of lighting is available and understand how they should be used. Lighting can be very creative so think about where you’re going to place them.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer choice out there but don’t worry. There aren’t that many, the most popular ones you’ll find in the shops are:-

Pathway lights
Recessed lights
Decorative lanterns
Floodlights
Spotlights
Accent lights
Submerged pond lights

When you’re garden is plunged into darkness, think about what features in your garden you particularly enjoy looking at during the day. This will give you an idea of where the lighting should be situated and what product to buy.

Be Imaginative

In the warmer months and you have guests over make sure the lighting you choose sits in well with the atmosphere you are looking for. Using lights which are too bright can make people feel uncomfortable. You’re garden isn’t an airport, you don’t need landing lights!

How Can You Achieve This Look?

* Accent lights will work area along flower beds or under an archway.

* For garden features such as sun dial or pond, using lighting will really help bring these features out.

* For eating areas you’ll want flood light which are stronger, so that you can see what you’re doing.

* If you want a feature to be silhouetted, simply place a light behind it.

* Lights in amongst foliage will help create a subtle glow.

* Although white or cream lights will give a more classic look, there are other colours such as green and yellow to experiment with.

* You don’t have to be conservative with you lighting. If you want a party atmosphere, choose lighting which is colored.

There are almost endless ideas of what you can do with outdoor landscape lighting. Just be careful you don’t get carried away and buy every type of lighting under the sun. You just want to be playful with lighting, not make it look like you plan on holding an Elton John concert in your garden.

April often writes articles for home and garden site which also has articles relating to buying patio covers and deck railing ideas.

Calanthe
Winter-flowering Calanthe can be potted in a soil mixture of equal parts of loam, leaf mold, and sand, and grown in semi-shade in a 65-degree house. When, in the fall, the leaves turn
yellow and drop, it is time to rest the pseudo bulbs. Flowers, small and borne on long stems, are white or rose, sometimes blotched with crimson or yellow.

Cattleya
Cattleya is the largest orchid grown by professional florists. It is the one most people think of as an orchid. The cattleyas have large showy blooms of white, rose, yellow, and purple. Grow them at 60 to 80 degrees. Propagate by separating the back bulbs and placing them in a shaded pot until growth starts. Some of the most popular florist varieties are Cattleya alba, pure white; C. caerulea, pale violet-blue; and the white or yellow C. Wageneri.

Cymbidium
Cymbidiums keep the longest of any cut flower. No wonder they are so popular for corsages. They may be epiphytes or terrestrials—with flowers of white, green, red, or brown. Grow them in a medium of equal parts of loam, leaf mold, and shredded bark or osmunda fiber. Many species of these orchids need temperatures lower than 60 degrees F. for bud-setting.

Cypripediums
These, called cyps or lady slippers, are favorites for window garden or greenhouse. You can grow them in a cool or intermediate house (55 to 60 degrees). They come in many colors.

The pouchy flowers of some of the green and brown ones have a varnished look. Cypripediums do well in a soil mixture of 2 parts peat moss, 1 part sphagnum moss, ½ part loam and ½ part crushed pot chips, and in a light position, near the top of the greenhouse.

Place at least ? drainage material in each pot; insert some of the potting mixture—then be relatively firm about potting. Be careful, too, not to over water, at least until roots have taken hold.

Propagation is generally through division. Cypripedium viridissimum has yellow-green flowers; C. Maudiae is a cool green; C. aurobe is brown and yellow, alladin is pink. Green and white C. Sanderae and C. giganteum are favorites with professional florists.

Dendrobium
Dendrobiums are epiphytes, producing their 3-inch flowers in pairs or triplets. The flowers have firm substance, are easy to ship, and will keep a long time in storage. The plants grow rather tall and must be staked. Give them full light, keep them warm and humid during the summer, cooler and drier in the winter. Dendrobiums come in white, orchid, purple, red, and orange.
Species Dendrobium nobile produces white-petaled, amethyst-tipped flowers; D. album, white; D. Colmanianum, large white with a yellow marking (disk) on the lip; D. aureum has yellow sepals and petals, and Arundel is yellow.

Laelia
Laelias, originating in Mexico, are a delightful group of fall-and winter-flowering orchids, closely related to cattleyas. Give them strong light and a 60- to 65-degree temperature. This plant is often used to cross-pollinate cattleyas. Laelia anceps, with yellow-marked, red flowers, is a favorite; L. alba is white with a yellow marking on the lip; L. purpurata has large flowers with sepals and white petals flushed with rose and a purple lip.

When people think of growing plants using the hydroponic system they think of marijuana. However this is very unfair. It’s been used to grow plants for centuries; as far back as the gardens of Babylonia actually. There are a huge range of plants that can be grown using this technique.

Basically it’s a technique used to grow plants in soil-less conditions. Let’s say you want to grow pumpkins, you would grown them in a substrate other than soil. Then you’d feed them with a liquid feeder. The benefits of using this technique are that it reduces disease and pest problems and produces larger, healthier plants.

Benefits of Hydroponic Growing

Weather: The problem with growing outdoors is that you have no control over the weather. Too much rain or heat can spell disaster. Luckily with hydroponics you don’t have this problem which is one of the reasons it’s so popular with private and commercial growers alike.

Pests and Diseases: Soil can contain unwanted organisms which can badly affect your produce. With hydroponics you don’t have this problem because it is much cleaner. This results in a bigger, healthier crop which produces a higher yield for you. Also there’s not the hassle of weeding.

Eco Friendly: Because less water is used, diseases, pests and weeds are less of a problem. This means you don’t have to use environmentally unfriendly pesticides and herbicides.

How to Start Growing Hydroponics

Do as much research as you can before you rush out and buy any equipment. It may seem pretty simple but there is a great deal to learn. You have to consider growing mediums and nutrient systems. Plus of course that actual system to use.

If you are inexperienced with hydroponics your best bet is to buy a starter kit. They are designed for people like you and everything is there ready to go.

Although there are many systems available, the most popular is the Ebb and Flow type. It’s easy to use and maintain and is used by both beginners and advance growers. Described by its name, the Ebb and Flow system does just that. The plants grow in their medium whilst the other container contains water and a nutrient solution. Every so often the liquids flood the plant roots and substrate causing the roots to absorb the water mixture. As the water recedes back to its container, the roots are exposed to air.

Selecting the most appropriate substrate is essential because they all have different properties. Rockwool, perlite, gravel and sand are to name a few. They all absorb water at different rates so you need to match the substrate to what you want to grow.

What to Grow

You can grow pretty much anything including, vegetables, herbs and houseplants. It’s a great way to enjoy such produce at anytime of year; even if it isn’t technically in season.

When you decide on a crop to grow you will need to research what growing conditions are best, such as nutrients, light and temperature. There are some terrestrial plants that will do better than others. You will also learn a lot just by giving it a go to see what works.

April often writes articles for gardening site Gardening Content which also has articles relating to caring for your lawn and ornamental vegetable gardening.

To make your gardening gifts really unique, wrap them in love and show your loved one you really care. You can gift wrap gardening gifts the traditional way, or you can get just a little more creative with your gift wrapping. Here are some ideas to give your gift-wrap a personal touch.

Garden Statues and Other Large Gardening Gift Items

For large gardening gifts such as full-size garden statues, birdbaths, arbors, a garden trellis, garden fountains, or patio furniture, use creative party decorations instead of gift wrap. You can tie big bows and balloons along with a card attached to decorate the gift.

Or, decorate the garden statue or fountain in plant or vegetable seed packs. To do this, use a hole-puncher to punch small holes in the very corner of each seed pack. Be sure not to puncture the pack where the seeds can spill. Then, thread ribbon through each of the holes and tie them around the statue, birdbath, or patio furniture with excess curly ribbon hanging for extra decoration.

Gift Wrap for Bird Houses or Bird Feeders

Bird houses and bird feeders are smaller items so you can easily place them in a gardening gift basket along with other gardening items such as bird seeds, vegetable or flower seed packs, unique garden tools, and other small garden decoration items. Fill the empty spaces in the basket with colorful cut shreds and fillers. Wrap the basket in a clear or colored shrink dome bag, and finish with a beautiful bow assortment and gift card.

Small Garden Sculptures and Other Lawn Decorations

Gift wrapping small garden sculptures and other lawn decorations is a cinch with themed gift boxes. There are garden-themed gift boxes that give your loved one just a “hint” of what’s inside. Fill the box with several of their favorite gardening decor items - a small garden sculpture, a wind chime, a sun catcher, along with some seeds, a small bag of soil, and a decorative planter. It’s sure to fill their heart as well!

Other Gift-Wrap Ideas

Gardening gifts can also be complemented by other items that are not particularly for gardening or lawn decoration. These might be a new coffee mug with a special-blend coffee, gourmet chocolate treats, baking mixes, or pampering products for women such as lotions and bath oils. The male gardener might enjoy some new household tools, tickets to a ball game, or some new work shoes. Items such as these make great “extras” along with gardening gifts during the holidays or for any occasion.

You can use decorative garden-themed gift bags instead of wrapping paper for a quick, easy gift-wrap alternative. There are also tie-up gift bags that are colored or decorated for convenience. Wood crate baskets are also popular for gardening gifts. These are small, decorative crates made of wood that are great for giving jars of jams or preserves, small potted plants or flowers, and other small gardening items.

Use these gardening gift wrapping techniques to make a great first impression when you present gifts to your friends and loved ones!

Linda Cain at Rain Shadow LLC and Rain Shadow Gardens. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2007

(NOTE: Article shown above may be linked and circulated freely on web sites, as long as ALL article content, links, author and copyright information remain UNCHANGED in any way whatsoever.)

Choosing gardening gifts that attract birds or gifts that can enhance your friend or loved one’s bird-themed garden and is a great way to show that you care. Gardening gifts come in an assortment of designs, materials, and colors so you can easily find useful items for your loved ones. They make great gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, “thank you” presents, co-worker gift exchanges, Chinese auctions, or the Christmas season.

Birds are attracted to flower gardens, especially those packed with all the plants, foods, and accessories they love. For your bird-watcher friend, look for gifts that will complement their garden decoration as well as provide an easy place for bird seeds and accessories that attract an assortment of birds. Here are some gardening gift ideas to get you started.

Hanging or Statue Bird Feeders

Bird feeders attract hummingbirds, cardinals, wrens, and many other types of amazing birds. Bird feeders can be decorative or practical, or both. You can choose a plain bird feeder, which is basically a plastic see-through tube filled with birdseed with a dispenser at the bottom. These are great for hanging in trees or on the patio. They are simple and effective. Or, for the bird watcher who also loves lawn decorations, you can choose from a variety of styles and themes of statue bird feeders such as the garden fairy bird feeder, cherub bird feeders, flower bird feeders, and animal-themed bird feeders.

One particular company that makes excellent bird feeders is Droll Yankees. They make quality bird feeders that last and also guarantee their products.

Stone Bird Baths

Your loved one can accent their yard with a stone bird bath and watch as beautiful birds play in the water on those steamy hot summer days. Birdbaths are decorative and great for attracting an assortment of birds throughout the year. Stone birdbaths are exceptionally durable and can last for years and years. They come in various designs such as prairie, koi pond, flower designs, and English. There are even animal-themed birdbaths and brass birdbaths to suit every gardener’s taste.

Cedar Bird Houses

Birdhouses also attract many types of birds. They enjoy playing in them and peeping through the holes. Cedar is an excellent choice because it will not warp or rot, it stays cool in the summer, and it gives off an alluring cedar wood aroma. The good news is that pesky insects and moths hate the smell of cedar! Birdhouses are lovely additions to any yard or garden, and bird watchers often love receiving them as gifts.

Other Complementing Gardening Gifts

Bird watchers who love decorating their yard or garden will also appreciate other gardening gifts such as an arbor or garden trellis, garden sculptures, garden fountains, patio furniture, or unique garden tools.

You can find these items and many other gardening gifts online, which enables you to shop from home any time of the year for holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions.

Linda Cain at Rain Shadow LLC and Rain Shadow Gardens. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2007

(NOTE: Article shown above may be linked and circulated freely on web sites, as long as ALL article content, links, author and copyright information remain UNCHANGED in any way whatsoever.)

As Spring approaches many people start thinking about getting their gardens in order for the Summer. The garden is often seen as a place to escape the stresses of everyday life and leave the cold winter behind them. Thinking about a design of patio is a great idea if you want to enjoy your garden to its fullest. Not only having the pleasure of designing your outdoor paradise, but also seeing it come it life.

Where to Begin

Ultimately you need to decide what you want from your patio. Do you want to entertain lots of friends and family? Do you want to BBQ? Do you want decking or pavers?

By drawing a plan of your patio area you’ll have a better idea of how many pavers you require. Also include in your plans other details such as plants, cooking area or built-in seating.

After you have decided what your new patio will look like, you will need to think about materials. Garden supply centers are a great place to start because you can see first-hand what they look like. Also find out if there are any “how to” classes on how to install the pavers or wooden decking.

Different Options

You will find that there are many different options when it comes to patios. You can have a concrete patio, bricks or wood decking. Each have their pros and cons.

Wood decking can look stunning when newly laid but the elements - sun, rain and snow - can take its toll. The wood decking will need to be re-stained and sealed every now and again to keep it looking good.

Concrete is another option for a patio. Concrete is strong however it can crack over time. Concrete is the most affordable choice.

Natural stone is ideal for outdoor use because it’s durable, low maintenance and looks great. Unfortunately it does cost a bit more to buy. However you may think it’s worth it due to the low maintenance and the fact it retains its beauty.

Extras

There is more to creating a patio that deciding what to lay on the ground. You’ll also want to think about plants, lighting and seating. There’s more to creating our perfect outdoor haven than a picnic table. You might also want an outdoor fire to give you some extra warmth in the evening.

Color should also not be forgotten. Plants, herbs and flowers can make your patio come alive. They not only create a relaxed ambiance but they’ll smell great too.

April often writes articles for home improvement site which also has articles relating to patio covers and deck railing ideas.

The vast majority of hedge plants are best bought bare-rooted. A bare-rooted plant has been grown in fields where its roots were able to grow without being restricted by pots. As a result bare-rooted stock tends to be bigger, stronger and healthier than its container grown cousins. Less labour (and fewer chemicals) are involved so bare root plants are much cheaper than potted ones and, as if all that were not enough, the relative size and strength of bare-root plants means they tend to establish faster and grow away better than pot grown stock.

In a perfect world therefore, no one would plant containerised stock and we would all be busy creating hedges from large, cheap, healthy and vigorous plants grown in open ground.

Unfortunately, the world is not perfect. In the context of hedging, its biggest imperfection is that bare root trees and shrubs can only be planted between the months of November and March in England and Wales (and until April in Scotland). With very few exceptions (notably yew, box, privet and laurel) the best hedging plants are deciduous - in other words they drop their leaves and go into dormancy in winter. All bare-root plants, whether deciduous or evergreen, are best moved and planted when they are as dormant as possible. Therefore, Spring, Summer and Autumn are no go areas for bare-root planters.

The other major flaw in the perfect world of hedging is that some plants will simply not survive bare-rooted. Holly, camellia, escallonia, griselinia and photinia to name a few die if they are lifted and not transplanted within a day or so.

Add to the above the need to create barriers at other times of year (to satisfy the planners, hide the neighbours, screen a meat rendering plant, whatever) and the attractions of container grown hedge plants begin to emerge. A potted plant has soil around its roots and so is less susceptible to drying out. It has all its own roots and there is no root disturbance when it is planted which is increasingly important with larger plants.

A 60cm yew moves very happily when bare rooted while a 100cm yew suffers too much root damage when lifted and so does not. Container grown plants therefore enable you (and your gardening) to be instant. Being in a pot means there is an immediately available food source so potted plants do not have to be planted within days of receipt if the weather is grotty. They are happy to sit and wait outside, while you stay warm and dry indoors.

The single biggest advantage of container grown trees and hedge plants however, is that you can plant them all the way through the ‘non-planting’ season from April to October with an excellent chance of first surviving and then flourishing. They cost more than bare-rooted stock, but container grown plants work when bare-root plants would simply die.

It is true that planting container grown hedging is a bit more trouble than bare-rooted ones. Each plant needs a relatively large hole (and a trench makes planting easier if you are planting a hedge). The flip side is that rabbits and other pests tend to have enough food elsewhere to leave your plants alone, which gives them a chance to get bigger and stronger before the ravages of winter.

Summer planted hedging also needs watering assuming the weather is not like that of 2007. However if you do have a hosepipe ban, you can always use the bathwater (which by the way is also good for roses and keeps the greenfly off).

Anna Stenning is very familiar with container grown hedging and uses it to keep her garden in good condition. For more information click on http://store.ashridgetrees.co.uk/SHOPPING-CATEGORIES/Potted-Plants