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flowers to ripen and develop seed heads. Once the flowerhead dries out, carefully collect the seeds and store in a cool, dry place, so you won't have to buy as much seed next year.

and berriesBrowse allium varietiesView plants with attractive seed heads

There are always a few jobs that I hate doing at this time of year. One of them is pulling out the overwintered plants that have flowered and set seed. It seems such a shame to remove these plants when they're only doing what nature intended.But I

the Oasis regularlyMore Christmas decoration ideasMaking home-made Christmas decorations from poppy and teasel seed headsHow to make Christmas tree decorations from poppy heads and beech leavesMaking Christmas candlesMake a Christmas wreath video project

overwinter in the pot. Cut back the verbascums and the fennel in late winter or early spring (see Adam's tips).AdamDon't be too quick to deadhead the verbascums at the end of the summer, as birds will feast on the seed-heads and the spikes will look dramatic

single variety, planted in large drifts.In damp areas, try planting snake's head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris), an early flowering bulb that looks stunning when naturalised in grass.Bulbs or corms, such as daffodils or crocusLawn-edging tool

suppliers, but all produce attractive rosettes of foliage, stunning heads of flower, and seed heads that look great well into autumn. They’re also reliable and particularly trouble-free.Dahlias are also valuable, developing more and more flowers

Bowl of waterDifferently-coloured woolsBlack plastic penHalf-sized seed trayLoam-based seed compostHorticultural gritPlant labels and notebookOne-litre potsFebruary-March, May, October-Novembera few hours, over the course of a yearIn February or March select

This has slender branches and forms tussocks about 1.5m wide and high. With its attractive whorls it looks similar to horsetail. It has golden-brown flower heads in spring, followed by dark-brown seedheads.Elegia capensisThis bears thrusting 3m tall stems

centre. The latter turned out to be an annual chrysanthemum: 'Eastern Star'. All of the above are easy to grow and will also help attract vital pollinators to your vegetable crops.There's still time to get dahlias started now and get a head start