The AnswerBank Articles

Is it environmentally unfriendly to buy a cut Christmas tree

A. That depends who you listen to. Some environmentalists don't like the mass plantations of firs and spruces as none of the varieties grown for the Christmas market are native to the British Isles.00:00 Fri 07th Dec 2001

Most gardens look blank and gloomy in winter. How can we inject a bit of colour

A. It's true that most of us garden to enjoy it during the warmer months when we're going to spend most time outside. But this is a pity, because as well as being bracing, the winter garden can00:00 Fri 30th Nov 2001

December is a pretty cold and dreary month outside. Time for a bit of armchair gardening

A. If you've got all the seed and spring bulb catalogues to hand and the weather's grim this is certainly the best time to sit in front of the fire and start looking forward to next year. Before00:00 Fri 30th Nov 2001

According to tradition when should you put up the Christmas decorations

A. The tradition of yesteryear was to wait until Christmas Eve, but try telling that to the kids. Unless you really can't wait it is best to wait until at least a fortnight before the main event. 00:00 Fri 30th Nov 2001

When people refer to winter vegetables are they talking about veg that should be planted now

A. No, they're talking about vegetables that grow on and can be harvested through the cold winter months. However, if you live in mild southern areas so far unaffected by frost you could just00:00 Fri 23rd Nov 2001

What are the advantages of having a greenhouse

A. For the keen gardener, greenhouses allow the business of gardening to carry on all year round. When the weather is wet and cold outside you can be just as productive inside. There are all sorts00:00 Fri 23rd Nov 2001

Is it true that rat and mice infestations are on the up

A. I'm afraid so. The mild winters of recent years have meant that the rodents continue breeding longer. The rat population is growing rapidly and is estimated to be over 70 million while the mouse00:00 Fri 23rd Nov 2001

It is often said we are a nation of gardeners, but how many people in this country don t have access to a garden

A. It is estimated that up to 10 million of us Brits are gardenless, the majority, but by no means all in urban, built up areas. Q. So what can you do if you like the idea of gardening but00:00 Fri 16th Nov 2001

You hear a lot about disputes between neighbours these days. Are they on the up and how common a problem is it

A. The number of recorded complaints about the behaviour of neighbours has been rising steadily in recent years. When introducing legislation to outlaw anti-social behaviour recently the Government00:00 Fri 16th Nov 2001

How much is the garden centre industry worth each year

A. The latest figures suggest that British gardeners now spend 2 billion at garden centres and nurseries every year. Q. When did we first start buying and selling plants A. Although they were00:00 Fri 16th Nov 2001

How can we help wildlife in the garden this winter

A. There are essentially two types of wildlife that we can lend a helping hand to in the garden this winter, birds seeking food and other creatures looking for a snug and secure place to bed down00:00 Wed 07th Nov 2001

We ve been giving the garden a thorough cleaning-up, but don t know what to do with all the rubbish we ve accumulated. Can we just burn it

A. That depends on where you live and what you are burning. Lots of us love a good bonfire as Bonfire Night bears witness, but they can also be damaging to the environment, health and neighbourly00:00 Wed 07th Nov 2001

How much say should kids have in designing their bedroom

A. It's up to you entirely, but like so many aspects of bringing up kids compromise is often the key. Left to their own devices and the decor would probably include a dogs dinner of stripes,00:00 Wed 07th Nov 2001

Winter is just about upon us. Is there much to be done in the garden in November

A. Temperatures may be dipping and the evenings getting longer but the ground still generally still has some warmth in and is still loose enough to dig. Basically there are two elements to the00:00 Fri 02nd Nov 2001

What is taxonomy

A. Its the system used to name and group different plants according to their characteristics using Latin as the language. Q. Who developed the system A. The system still used today was00:00 Fri 02nd Nov 2001

Why has remortgaging suddenly become so popular

A. Because for the right people there are big savings to be made. The days of taking what you were offered and thanking the bank manager or insurance company very much have long gone. A00:00 Fri 02nd Nov 2001

Is it true that householders could be at even greater risk of flooding this winter

A. It looks more than possible. Some parts of the country have already had a month's worth of rainfall in less than three days and flood warnings have already been issued across East Anglia, the00:00 Fri 26th Oct 2001

Does the current trend of buying property abroad show any sign of abating

A. Quite the opposite, it is more popular than ever. For instance, there are now over half a million British property owners in France alone. With property prices so high in this country, for the00:00 Fri 26th Oct 2001

Why do plants produce berries

A. Berries are another of nature's clever reproduction tricks. Birds and other creatures eat the berries as they build up the reserves either for migration or to withstand the cold temperatures that00:00 Fri 26th Oct 2001

How does frost actually damage plants

A. In freezing temperatures - generally accepted as 32oC and below - water inside the plant freeze and expand which can eventually rupture the cell wall. The effects can vary from causing 'burning'00:00 Fri 19th Oct 2001