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Phormiums survive well in most conditions and there are some wonderful dwarf varieties that are perfect for growing in pots. For a cheaper, but equally colourful alternative to phormiums, you could use cordylines. By the end of summer the fragrant lime-green tobacco plants will b...

that the only way to tackle a shady patch is to turn it into a foliage garden filled with box, ivies and ferns. But too many dark greens can make a shady area look gloomy. Instead, use them for background structure and texture, then bring the area alive

the bamboo-like Arundo donax, with its magnificent grey-green stems that can exceed 3m in height. 'Macrophylla' is slightly chunkier than the species Arundo donax, has bigger leaves, and is better suited to smaller gardens.Arundo donax 'Macrophylla'The golden

. Insects you'll attract to your garden include buff-tailed and common carder bumblebees, honeybees, hoverflies, comma, painted lady, small tortoishell, speckled wood butterflies and the angel shades, dart and brimstone moths. Some will still be found

Learn how to grow dahlias for cut flowers, in Rachel de Thame's video demonstration. Rachel recommends varieties and shares tips on soil preparation, planting, feeding and staking young plants.early summerMore advice on growing dahliasLift and store dahliasGrowing dahlias from se...

Carol Klein demonstrates how to cut back ornamental grasses in spring, with tips on different methods for dealing with evergreen and deciduous species.springMore on grassesOrnamental grasses from the RHS Chelsea Flower ShowPlant profile of feather reed grass, Calamagrostis x acut...

Hardwood cuttings are taken from woody perennials e.g. forsythia, cornus and willow in autumn and winter. They can take several months to produce roots, so leave them for a year before lifting and potting up or transplanting.SecateursSpadeSharp sand or gritHormone rooting powder ...

Sarah Raven demonstrates the best method for planting a rose to avoid root rock and sucker growth.spring or autumnMore advice on caring for rosesPlanting a rambling rose against a tree video projectHow to plant a rose, with Monty DonPruning shrub rosesHow to remove rose leaf-roll...

Follow Monty Don's video advice on pruning shrub roses, including techniques that will keep fungal infection and viruses at bay, while encouraging flowering stems.springMore advice on growing rosesPlanting a rosePlanting a rambling rose against a treePruning a rose bushPruning a ...

. Improving the soil with plenty of organic matter in the form of compost helps drainage and aeration on heavy soils and conserves essential moisture on light ones.SoilGarden spadeGarden forkGarden rakeOrganic matter in the form of compost or well