Most gardeners know that daffodils, snowdrops, hyacinths and tulips grow from bulbs and that many other flowers grow from rhizomes, tubers or corms but what is the difference and can they all be treated in the same way? There are many different definitions to be found, but I think these explain the variations in quite simple terms: Bulb - a central bud surrounded by a fleshy layer. The bulb serves as a store for nutrients as well as a reproductive structure. Rhizome - a reproductive stem which grows horizontally underground, topped by shoots and with roots below. The stem also acts ...

Many people are afraid of growing plants from seed but it's really very simple and anyone can do it. All you really need is patience and diligence. There's nothing more rewarding than scattering a few seeds in a box and seeing them grow into real flowers or vegetables. In addition, it's much less expensive to buy a few packets of seeds and some compost than to buy the equivalent number of plants from a garden centre. This is particularly true if you have a large garden and need plenty of plants to fill the spaces but if your ...

Does your garden look a mess?  Is it all bits and pieces with no cohesive plan?  I f your answers are yes or even if you're just bored with your existing layout, then landscaping is the answer.  You may be frightened of embarking on such a large undertaking, but there's nothing to be afraid of, you just need to plan each area carefully then follow your plan through. Start by looking for ideas in landscaping books where you're sure to find something that you like or something which you can adapt to the practicalities of real life.  Often, these books show ...

Feeding wild birds isn't just a question of chucking a few bits of bread on the lawn and leaving it at that.  It is far more complex and not a responsibility that should be taken lightly. Anyone who is determined to feed wild birds will need to buy huge amounts of bird food every winter as well as a book about birds and some binoculars to be able to study and identify the different wild bird species. Every couple of days, the bird food container will need to be filled again, which if calculated over the space of a year, amounts to ...

Bird watching tours are a popular form of unconventional holiday.  Bird watching itself is one of the world's most wide-ranging pastimes, especially in America, Europe and Asia and there are many different sorts of tours you can take.  Some combine wildlife viewing in general, while others are mainly devoted to actual birds.  Here are a few holiday alternatives you may like to consider: Wildlife Reserves - tours hosted by wildlife reserves provide great opportunities for bird watching. You'll be able to see the birds in their natural habitat, as well as enjoying the spectacle of their interaction with other forms of ...

If you're not a professional bird watcher or tour guide then there are a few things that you need to know before venturing out to start your new hobby. Believe it or not, you can't just do what you like, where you like and there is a strict code of ethics, even for amateur bird watchers. Right to Roam In Britain nowadays, it would seem that the rights of many landowners have been eroded and that ramblers can go wherever they please. However, this isn't always the case and it is, in any case, a common courtesy to seek the ...

Growing tomatoes isn't too difficult but they can be prone to disease.  Don't despair though, as there are plenty of disease resistant varieties available but that in itself leads to another problem which is how to identify them. Each variety is coded; e.g. "VF", "VFFA", "VFNT" but how on earth are we supposed to know what these acronyms mean?  How do we tell which variety is resistant to which disease?  That is where the coding comes in, which is fine if you know what each code means. Below are the common designations, which should help you choose which variety of tomato plant ...