Begin by giving the decking a good brush with the stiff bristled brush.  This will help to loosen and remove large patches of moss, dirt or algae.  Make up the decking cleaning solution as per the instructions and apply to the wood by means of a brush, sprayer, or watering can that has a rose attachment.

Once the surface has been completely covered, brush again with the stiff brush and leave to stand for the allotted time.  You will then need to rinse the decking off with clean water using a hose, making sure that all the cleaner has been washed away, and let the decking dry.  Drying usually takes a couple of days and once dry you can apply a decking protector.

First of all you will need to decide where to place the water butt.  For ease of installation make it next to a downpipe.  It will need to be on a flat surface and raised far enough off the ground so that a watering can will fit underneath it.

Mark its height on the downpipe and cut the pipe 2cm below this line.  Next, fit the rain diverter onto the downpipe and replace the cut section of downpipe onto the bottom of the diverter.  Drill a hole into the water butt, about 8cm from the top.  Attach the butt connector to the water butt via this hole and screw in place.  Now attach the water butt connector to the rainwater diverter and you have finished.

First off, don’t leave any rubbish lying about in the flower garden. The ground needs to be thoroughly prepared as well, as a strong and healthy plant in its proper soil can withstand pests and diseases better than a weak one. When buying stock, be careful to choose only healthy specimens, and never buy soft bulbs or sickly-looking bedding plants, even if your heart goes out to them.

It is crucial to sow and plant your flowers in the correct way and at the proper time. For example, sowing too early can cause seeds simply to rot in the soil – a waste of time and effort on your part as well as a needless waste of life on the part of the seed. Equally, sowing too late will result in stunted growth and a plant prone to pests and disease in the summer.

Plants should be staked securely and planted firmly in the soil; otherwise the newly-planted ones may be killed by repeated rocking in the wind. You have to protect them until they’re old enough to stand on their own roots and take care of themselves.

Remember to feed plants properly. Disease resistance can be built up by using potash, and a healthy root system is promoted with the use of phosphates.

Almost any dish can be enhanced through the use of herbs, which is what makes them so versatile.  Salads, pastas, breads and almost anything can be brought to life with the addition of herbs. Even if you do not normally purchase them during your weekly shop, you will find that the more you grow, the more you will use.

Herbs can be grown in the garden, in pots on the patio or even on your windowsill. The cheapest way to start is to grow from seed. Most seeds will germinate quickly and with little fuss, making them an ideal option for those with busy lives. April is a great time to start sowing your herb seeds. Use modular cell trays to start off the seeds, sowing two or three in each cell. Place the tray in a warm light position and keep the soil moist, remove the weakest seedlings, so only strongest remain. Plant out in May.

Herbs come in a whole range of colours and textures and they can enhance any garden or indoor environment. Some of the easiest herbs to try growing at home are, parsley, chives, coriander, mint, thyme, sage and basil.

Choosing a Hanging Basket

Hanging baskets come in a range of styles. Which one you choose will depend on what overall look you are trying to achieve and your own personal preferences. Traditional hanging baskets are made from galvanized wire, although now many are made from plastic. You can also purchase wood baskets or terracotta ones, which are more attractive options. All hanging baskets will either be meshed or solid. Many people prefer meshed baskets as these allow you to insert the plants through the gaps, which can create spectacular displays.

Liners

Lining your hanging basket helps to retain moisture and prevent compost falling out.  The best lining option is sphagnum moss, which is specially farmed for this purpose. Some gardeners prefer to use black polythene as, if looked after carefully, it will last considerably longer.

Selecting Your Plants

Using a wide selection of flowers and foliage plants will make much more of an impact than simply using two or three varieties. Alternatively, the use of a single type of plant in a single colour can be equally striking. Spring and summer bedding plants are the ideal choice for hanging baskets and they can be inter-planted with bulbs. Petunias, busy-lizzies and begonias all work well in a hanging basket environment. For the best effect, plant trailing plants, such as ivy, around the edges.

Many experts agree that more than 600 species of wildlife are at risk in the UK, due to industrialised farming methods. This is why it is important for all of us to encourage wildlife and to opt for organic methods of pest control within the garden.

Attracting wildlife to your garden does not mean it has to be messy and full of weeds, but it does mean that you will have to forfeit perfect lawns and trimmed bushes. Simply placing a pile of logs or sticks in the garden, allowing seed-heads to form and planting native species can make a huge difference.

The most important thing to eliminate is the use of pesticides, insecticides and any non-organic methods of dealing with garden pests. These toxic solutions are potentially lethal to all wildlife. They are also damaging to the soil and surrounding environment.

Lime will neutralise sourness, or acidity, which is bad for all plants. It will restore new life to the soil by helping the beneficial bacteria and earthworms proliferate. Lime is also invaluable in helping to break up heavy clay soils.

To test if your soil needs some lime added, turn over the top couple of inches with a trowel. Take a level spoonful of the moist soil and mix it with a spoonful of tap water in a dish. After 30 minutes, place a test paper strip so that half lies on top of the soil and the rest against the dish, leave it for five minutes then look at the colour. Pink means the soil is seriously short of lime, orange means lime should be added for better growth, whilst green indicates that the correct amount of lime is present.

You need a nine-inch diameter bottomless pot (the ‘Ring’), filled with about 14lb of compost on top of aggregate. Make an aggregate layer in the bottom of the Ring, made up of gravel and coarse sand mixture in equal proportions and then press the compost down into the Ring so that it makes close contact with the aggregate layer. After planting the tomato, keep watering the Ring and aggregate layer until the roots penetrate into the aggregate. Then, stop watering the Ring and only water the aggregate layer daily to keep it completely damp.

You must feed the tomato, starting when the fruits begin to swell. Apply two to three pints of bio plant food every seven days to the soil in the Ring. This is a simple way of getting some really good tomato yields, and can be done just as well in a window box if you don’t have a garden or allotment.

Provided your home has sufficient room to accommodate one, a gravel path can be an attractive feature and pleasant for visitors to ‘crunch’ along towards your front door. This noise aspect is another plus, as it can prove to be a deterrent for unwelcome intruders.

Laying a Path

These paths are relatively easy to construct, but it should be pointed out that once they are laid a certain amount of regular maintenance is required. Weeds can easily poke through gravel, so you must keep on top of them.

Prior to laying the path, you mark out the perimeters using string or even simpler, sand trickled through your fingers. It is important to make this measurement if your intended route is going to cut across an existing lawn.

Dig into the surface, removing earth to a depth of around 150mm. You will need to create an edge, so the garden does not encroach onto the path, timber or bricks are ideal. Finally, layer your gravel, beginning with coarse gravel and larger stones as a base, followed by a layer of sand and a top layer of fine gravel.

•    Hedge planting should be done in the winter season, between December and March to get the best out of the plants. At this time of year the ground is likely to be moist and the plants will be dormant and therefore less traumatised by being moved.
•    Do some research on the different varieties of plants that can be grown as hedges because there are many different options. You need to bear in mind the climate, position and soil type when making your choice. They also have different characteristics, for example Dutch Box has dense foliage, is shade tolerant and slow growing, whilst Portuguese Laurel has white flowers and likes a sunny position.
•    Always check that the plants are evergreen unless you want your hedge to drop all its leaves in the winter. The variety you choose will also determine how far apart the plants are spaced.
•    If you are sowing seedlings or very young plants, protect them from deer and rabbits by encasing them in shelters. This technique also makes it easier to see where the plants are, so you can spray weed killer without harming them. Temporary fencing may also be necessary to prevent animals and people walking across the plants and damaging them.
•    Keep the weeds and grass away from your new hedge plants for at least the first two years so they aren’t competing for light, space and nutrients. Once they are more established, there shouldn’t be much weeding required.