Too late for National Tree Week (last week), but one bit of advice... If you plant trees, don't keep the weeds down with a fertilizer bag held in place with an old tyre. At least, we think that's why many of our now mature trees are being strangled with rubber...

We've tried various ways to get it off, but cutting through the steel wires in the bead and the tread is not easy. Finally, while the boys watched 'here comes the fire engine' on DVD, we realised that the saw used to cut the top off a crashed car could probably rescue the trees. Well, it had occurred to us vaguely before, but that kind of kit had seemed out of our budget. Now, reciprocating saws are cheaper, at least the mains-powered ones, and since most of the worst-hit trees are near buildings we bought one.

It's doing the job. The trick, according to the man with the machine, is to cut through the tread and wall with the saw, cut a notch for wiggle-room near the bead, then use bolt cutters to finish the job.

Ten down in an hour or two - plenty more still to do. But at least the snow drops should be better framed this year!