Planning the garden to attract wildlife gives you the pleasure of seeing more animals, birds and insects around your house, and knowing you are helping sustain native species.

Ponds attract frogs, toads, newts and all kinds of insects such as caddis flies, pondskaters, whirlygigg beetles and dragonflies to your garden.

Ants

Trap ants on sticky paper, or bread spread with honey. Pour boiling water on the nest.

Fleas

Feeding pets with vitamin B and garlic is said to reduce the likelihood of fleas (as well as the likelihood of you wanting to kiss your pet).

Earwigs

Introduce a toad or two – they can eat thousands of earwigs each year.

Aphids

Spray the affected plants with soapy water.