Gardeners in Shropshire have been told to expect an epidemic of slugs this summer. Experts fear crops will suffer after the mild winter and recent damp spell created perfect conditions for slugs.

For centuries, lavender has been used for domestic purposes in soaps, teas, herbal remedies, bath water and even in cooking.

If you've ever walked past an ornamental lake and marvelled at the fish in the water, perhaps it's time to introduce some fish into your own pond.

Visitors to this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show will no doubt see spring flowers in bloom long after their natural flowering period, while late summer perennials and other flowering plants will be brought forward in artificial conditions to ensure they are flowering for the event.

It's cuttings season, when gardeners nationwide take cuttings from their plants to increase stocks of their favourites, but not all plants root well from cuttings.

While much of the country is now in official drought status and householders are being urged to use water wisely, there's no better time to create a low-maintenance, low-cost gravel garden which isn't going to demand masses of water or time to keep it looking good.

Mulching is such a useful process and so simple. You spread a layer of something or other on top of your soil, around your plants, and it stops the weeds coming up and keeps the existing moisture in.

We are all by now aware of the various hosepipe bans in place and the prospect of drooping bedding plants and shrivelled vegetables.

The search is on to find the best gardeners in Shropshire and Mid Wales in a new-look competition.

A host of events are planned for the first Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) National Gardening Week, an initiative to encourage people to get growing.

As summer beckons, many gardeners will now be deciding which patio plants to feature in their scheme, but it's a difficult job as there's so much choice and plants can vary greatly in quality.

For a man making his debut at the illustrious Chelsea Flower Show this year, TV gardener Joe Swift seems remarkably relaxed, even though advice is being thrown at him from all directions.