Grow your own Christmas

Spruce it up
Forget a freshly cut fir tree. Head for your nearest garden centre and choose a small, live Christmas tree such as a Blue Spruce or a Noble Fir. If you place it in a sunny spot in the garden and water it well you should end up with a two metre (six foot) tree in about five years. Don't plant it out into the garden though - keep it in a decorative pot so that it will be easy to bring indoors each year. A pot stand on castors will help prevent back strain. And remember to turn the tree during the year to encourage even growth!

The holly & the ivy
For a traditional Christmas wreath, you can't do better than the dense glossy foliage of holly. It's very easy to grow and will provide all-year-round colour for your garden. An evergreen shrub, holly can produce a profusion of bright red berries if you have male and female plants in close proximity. For a little extra colour, plant a variegated type, such as Ferox Argentea or Golden Milkboy. As a bonus, a good-sized holly bush will attract wild birds to your garden and deter burglars - almost too good to pick!

Another traditional - but less prickly - plant to grow for wreaths and table decorations is ivy. In fact there are few gardens where this tough little plant won't gain a foothold. This clinging evergreen climber is useful as ground cover or to mask a bare wall or fence, and will thrive in most environments. Taking plenty of cuttings for the Christmas table won't only give you a festive look, it will also help keep this vigorous plant in check. Some attractive variegated varieties include Little Diamond and Goldchild.