Use a ‘weed and feed’ treatment on the lawn. The weedkiller and fertilizer are combined in one application
Use the twigs off trees, especially birch as support for peas and herbaceous plants
Dig a deep trench for sweet pea plants. Line the base with newspaper to help hold water and backfill with a mixture of soil and moisture retentive compost
Remove any growths which appear on the stems of standard roses below the grafted head. Cut them as close to the main stem as possible
Rake the lawn with a wire rake before cutting the grass. Any runners of buttercup and clover will be raised and cut off reducing the rate of spread
Where bindweed is a problem among shrubs insert canes. The weed will grow up the canes where it can be sprayed with weedkiller without damaging the shrubs
Old hedges are a constant source of weeds. Dig a trench 18 inches deep in front of the hedge and line it with polythene to stop the weed roots spreading out into the garden
Fill a Hessian sack or an old pair of tights with chopped up barley straw and place in the pond with a weight to make it sink. It will control algae and green water
If you collect rainwater off the roof use an old pair of tights over the end of the gutter to strain out any debris or leaves
Sow a few lettuce every two weeks to have a continuous supply through the summer and autumn
After burning branches use the wood ash round the root area of fruit trees. It is high in potash
