All gardeners know something about the value of bees. They may not know, however, that bee-pollinated crops constitute a large proportion of the plants we consume…

In a healthy and diverse garden, you would expect to see a very wide range of beneficial insects as well as the pollinating bees, wasps and flies mentioned in…

We have prepared these plastic strips (bait lamina probes) by loading the holes in them with a special mixture which is similar to the ingredients of a dead leaf…

This technique complements the bait lamina probe method in Section 3. The idea is that when buried in the soil, the teabag degrades at a rate dependent…

All gardeners know something about the value of bees. They may not know, however, that bee-pollinated crops constitute a large proportion of the plants we consume…

This test gives an indication of soil structure, specifically the proportions of organic matter, heavy clay, light loam, sand, stones and rocks etc…

You probably remember this from your school chemistry classes. Using these pH indicator strips will tell you how acidic or alkaline your soil is…

When a plant is damaged by an insect pest, such as a caterpillar, it does not just sit there – the wounding leads to the production of volatile chemicals…

As well as the tiny insects and other animals which break down dead plant material to provide nutrients, beneficial fungi and bacteria are absolutely vital…

Your plants will have difficulty growing if the soil is too compact. Roots have to work much harder in that case and overall growth and productivity will suffer…

Earthworms play an important role in the health of soil. Their burrows improve drainage and enable oxygen to reach the roots of plants…

Most of us value having birds in and around our garden. Their songs are always welcome and seeing them and their recent fledglings in springtime…

This can be used for a wide range of activities. It is very helpful when you examine the bacterial and fungal growth on your plastic dishes…