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At this time of year dahlias are producing stunning showy flowers, but they lose impact if the stems flop forward under the weight of the flowers. To get the best dahlia floral display, tie their stems to canes as they grow to give them some support. Dahlia plantSticks or canesS...

Sarah Raven offers video advice on planting eucomis bulbs in a pot, including information on drainage, compost and planting depths.springMore advice on growing exotic plantsCaring for cannas video project with Carol Klein.Growing exotic plants from seed.Planting marsh orchids in ...

bedding to provide nutrients for the whole growing season.Fertilisers are also available to mix up with water for liquid application. Liquid concentrates and ready-to-use liquid feeds are also available. These are quick acting as the plant roots can take

Summer is the ideal time to take verbena cuttings. Overwinter the semi-hardy perennials in a frost-free place and you'll have a fresh, healthy supply of verbena plants next year to replace any in the garden that have been killed by frost.Verbena plantsSharp knife10cm potsFree-dra...

The large, beautiful caterpillar larvae of the elephant hawk moth has two pairs of eye markings, which are made even more prominent when it withdraws its head into its body. They are, typically, a blackish-brown colour but are sometimes green, and though their 'eyes' make them lo...

The winding trails on leaves are caused by the larvae of a small, dark fly. During summer, the females make little nicks in the leaf surface to lay their eggs. A week later, these hatch into larvae, which tunnel along just under the leaf surface to feed. After 2-3 weeks, the larv...

In those wonderful James Herriot stories, there is a woman called Mrs Pumphrey, whose spoilt dog is known as  ‘flop-bot’. With a name like that, there is no need for a description. When a tray of seedlings suffers with the horticultural equivalent, and the whole lot keels over in...

The culprit is the flea beetle, which, like its namesake, jumps away when disturbed. The small, shiny, black, brown or blue beetles emerge in April and May, after winter hibernation, ready to start feeding. Eggs laid near host plants hatch in late-summer. The beetles feed for a f...

These miniscule sap-sucking insects multiply rapidly on leaves. Large colonies are immediately evident, as are the symptoms - silvery-white discoloration of the leaves and distorted shoot tips and buds.Packed clusters of tiny white insects on leaves produce several symptoms. The ...

Sarah Raven demonstrates how to divide asters to ensure the flower quality doesn't diminish over time.springDividing plants in your gardenHow to divide and replant snowdrops.Dividing day lilies video project.Dividing herbaceous perennials video project.Dividing irises video proje...