GIVE NATURE A HAND THIS WINTER

Our gardens teem with unsung allies, all working to keep pests in check. Garden Organic's Anton Rogers shares simple ways to ensure these helpers survive winter so they're ready for next spring

- Anton Rogers

Most of us are aware there's no need to go it alone with gardening. We're lucky to have a whole army of creatures that will help look after our garden and ensure levels of damaging pests don't get out of hand. Some of the most noticeable helpers include hoverflies, ladybirds, lacewings, ground beetles, frogs and hedgehogs.

However, unfortunately our garden helpers don't always spring into action quickly enough, so pests still have a good opportunity to multiply. A great way to swing the balance more in our favour is to provide a good home for them over the winter, so they're ready for action in early spring.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

Hoverflies Hoverflies are great pollinators, and the larvae consume large numbers of aphids.