Reports in the past 24 hours suggested that the UK had recorded its biggest ever wave, at Penzance in Cornwall. It later turned out to be an anomaly. But how do you measure the height of a wave, asks Tom Heyden.
Trim away dead or damaged parts in spring. If you live in a place with heavy snows and harsh weather, your lavender bush is likely to lose a few branches over the winter. Examine the shrub in early spring, before it begins producing new shoots. Remove any broken or rotting branches to make way for new growth.
Marigolds begin to die back in late fall after night temperatures begin to drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in areas where marigolds grow as perennials. Cut back the marigolds to the ground with clean shears after they die back completely. Remove the trimmings from the bed so they don't harbor pests over winter. If the marigolds don't survive winter in your area, pull them up after they begin to decline in fall. Floridata: Tagetes Spp.