Evergreen shrubs are best planted now, as winter changes into spring. Most will be sold in pots, and, as ever, require good pre-paration if they are to be expected to flourish on the same spot for years to come. Dig a hole comfortably big enough for the rootball. Break up the base of the hole to prevent it becoming a sump. Carefully backfill with the best of the soil, working it down the gap, and firm without ramming. Be sure neither to bury the thing nor leave it standing proud. Water, mulch with organic matter and look forward to a glorious future.
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Five frankly enormous mansions, including one with its own private swimming lake, as seen in Country LifeSometimes bigger really is better.
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Playing the fool: The rich history of tarot and how it satisfies our desire for transcendenceOnce an elaborate art form that entertained 15th-century Italian nobility, tarot cards have evolved into a tool of divination. A new exhibition shines a light on their history.
