Fresh experiments signal a season of change in the garden

Spread a bulky mulch on top of the soil surface around the base of young apple trees to condition the soil, hold in moisture and suppress weeds. This will all help the tree to establish well. Use well

As winter eases and spring beckons, longer days bring the garden to life – and your growing year starts here…

Helping you get your best-ever fruit and veg

Lucy highlights some of the most pressing jobs she’ll be tackling this fortnight

There are some vegetables that thrive in the cold, but unless you aspire to self-sufficiency Tom Coward recommends caution when sowing very early in the year. “It’s a mistake, although we always do it