Editor Kim Stoddart explains how to boost results naturally for the benefit of garden and gardener

Deter birds from pecking out your garlic by scattering twiggy prunings over the soil where the cloves are planted. Carefully place the prunings inbetween cloves, put back any that have been disturbed

On your fruit & veg plot

Ciaran Taylor, National Trust head gardener at the Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire, on wildlife, spring jobs and making your own fertiliser

Turn unsightly views and clutter into distant memories with clever planting, camouflaging and creative screens

Matt is Head of Horticulture and Landscape Strategy at The Royal Parks. A keen fruit, vegetable and house-plant grower, Anne was formerly the glasshouse supervisor at RHS Garden Wisley. Caroline Salis