The AnswerBank Articles

Is solar heating just for the environmentally conscious or is it viable for most households

A. While we are dragging well behind many of our European counterparts (there are 60,000 homes in Holland that generate electricity by way of solar panels, for instance) solar heating is no longer00:00 Sat 20th Apr 2002

Is Chelsea the biggest flower show of the season

A. No, although it can certainly lay claim to being the most famous, probably in the world. The biggest is actually the Royal Horticultural Society's Hampton Court Flower show. It is held at the00:00 Sat 20th Apr 2002

Why has bamboo become so popular in our gardens

A. The first bamboos came back to this country with the planthunters and merchants who opened up the Far East, particularly Japan and China. The early introduction commonly made their way on to00:00 Thu 21st Mar 2002

Garden spring clean

It may not feel like it, but when the clocks go forward this weekend it is officially British summer time. With spring just about sprung it might seem a bit premature to start thinking about those00:00 Thu 21st Mar 2002

What is the National Trust for

A. Its exact role and direction in 2002 is the subject of much debate at the moment. However, basically its core functions are, as they describe it themselves, 'to preserve and protect the00:00 Thu 21st Mar 2002

Why has growing herbs become so popular

A. Loads of reasons. For a start they are extremely easy to start and maintain and you don't need much room to grow one. Then there are the plants themselves, which often have attractive foliage and00:00 Thu 14th Mar 2002

How do you go about stripping a piece of wooden furniture that has been painted

A. Every week thousands of us either find some old wooden furniture in the attic or uncover something at a junk shop or sale, but the true character of the piece is disguised by an often tatty00:00 Thu 14th Mar 2002

Why are ground cover plants so useful

A. There are plenty of very beautiful ground cover plants that have a place in the garden in their own right. However, as well as their decorative value they are also very useful, problem solving00:00 Thu 14th Mar 2002

Why do we prune plants

A. There are a number of different reasons why we go round the garden lopping bits off here and there. There is the formative function, either to keep a plant within certain bounds or to encourage00:00 Thu 07th Mar 2002

Taming the wildlife...

There is plenty of advice on how to counter the damage those little winged beasties and bugs can do to our plants during the summer months, but what about those rather larger, furry or winged pests00:00 Thu 07th Mar 2002

Garden buildings are really in vogue these days. Why the sudden interest

A. Only a decade ago it was only really the great and the good had more than a rickety garden shed or a home-made treehouse for the kids at the bottom of the garden. But now garden buildings are big00:00 Thu 07th Mar 2002

The weather is still pretty foul. Is there much we can do in the garden

A. Before getting into specific jobs it is worth repeating the old proviso about the weather. March can be a funny month, with the first hints of spring suddenly drowned out by days of torrential00:00 Thu 28th Feb 2002

What are variegated plants

A. They are plants whose foliage is variously coloured. The variations can occur around the margins of the leaf as streaks or even spots. Q. What causes variegation in foliage A. Multicoloured00:00 Thu 28th Feb 2002

You don t hear so many horror stories about cowboy builders these days. Is the problem going away

A. Far from it. With the current property boom in full swing and more and more people moving there have rarely been richer pickings for the cowboys. Last year it was estimated that there were over00:00 Thu 28th Feb 2002

What is grafting

A. Grafting is a method of plant propagation where simpler methods like taking cuttings or growing from seed are either unsuccessful or too time-consuming. It is commonly used for growing and00:00 Tue 19th Feb 2002

How old is the National Garden Scheme

A. The National Garden Scheme started in 1927 making this its 75th anniversary. This year there are a number of special events and openings to mark the occasion. Q. How did it come about A. 00:00 Tue 19th Feb 2002

Why is wallpaper making a comeback

A. Wallpaper is the new alternative to people who have tired of paint and its the uniformity, lack of texture and often bland and unobtrusive colour. Bold, strong patterns colours and textures are00:00 Tue 19th Feb 2002

Why are we obsessed with snowdrops as a nation

A. After months of scouring our often bleak winter gardens, snowdrops provide the first signs of life, and a very pretty one too. There is something about their tiny but sturdy dark green leaves00:00 Fri 15th Feb 2002

How long have allotments been around

A. There are some small 'Celtic' fields in Lands End, Cornwall dating back to 100BC that are still in use as allotments today. The word originates from the reign of Elizabeth I when common land00:00 Fri 15th Feb 2002

Why do we need to have a survey done when buying a house

A. The only time a survey is not required is when the house is brand new. Otherwise a survey is essential to highlight the condition of the property, both the good and the bad. All lenders will00:00 Fri 15th Feb 2002