Organic is all the rage these day, so as a lover of green you better get with the trend. So here's an easy guide to getting started as an organic gardener...

  • Improve the quality of your soil by digging in compost and mulch.

  • Make your own compost by recycling vegetable peelings, tea bags, fallen leaves and plant pruning's.

  • Prevent weeds from growing by spreading a blanket of bark chips across the surface of bare soil.

  • Inspect your plants in the garden regularly, this will help to prevent problems from getting out of hand. Accept a degree of imperfection and you'll learn to live without fertilisers and pesticides.

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  • Choose naturally pest and disease resistant varieties of shrubs, vegetables and fruit.

  • Use biological controls to control many pest problems in the garden.

  • Stressed plants are vulnerable to disease, so keep them well watered.

  • Try companion planting — strongly scented flowers and herbs are planted next to edible crops will help to deter pests.

  • Make your garden a haven for wildlife and beneficial insects which in turn will control pests for you including slugs, aphids and snails.