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Follow Monty Don's video advice for sowing sunflower seeds in a fine tilth, for a summer display.summerMore flowers to grow from seedBluebellsExoticsCyclamenDahlias

Fill gaps in flower beds with primulas and polyanthusPrune forsythia and flowering currants as soon as flowers have fadedLeave daffodil foliage intact for at least six weeks after flowering to regenerate bulbs, so they'll bloom again next year

Trim hedges to keep them neat, then shred and compost the clippingsTop up compost or bark mulches around heathersHoe and hand weed bordersWater hanging baskets and patio containers regularlyPlace orders for bulbs to plant this autumnDeadhead flowers

Clean and sharpen knives and secateurs, and spray metal tools with oilPut up nesting boxes for birds in suitable trees or on buildingsMove shrubs growing in the wrong placeService petrol lawn mowersSearch through seed, bulb and nursery catalogues

Dogwood stems bring life to a fading garden after the leaves have all fallen. This dogwood variety has lime-green bark but you can also find red- and yellow-stemmed options. Snowdrops and lilyturfs set off the vivacity of the cornus's stem colour

If grown in the right spot, tulipscan flower for years on end, adding a splash of dramatic colour to gardens every spring. But they can be difficult to grow in heavy soil or partial shade, only thriving in a light, free-draining medium in full sun

, which can be planted out in March or April for a quick-growing crop. Sets are available from garden centres or by mail order, and although the range of varieties is not quite as wide as from seed, it's is an easy, reliable method of growing.Whether you

Plant daffodil bulbs in pots and borders Check roses for suckers and cut off any you find, just below groundTrim conifer hedges to neaten their appearance and control heightEmpty pots of faded early summer bedding, adding old plants to the compost

Plant lily bulbs in a potIf your garden suffers from gaps during the summer, why not use lilies to add a temporary, but timely, burst of colour? Plant bulbs into pots in spring and you can simply drop them - pot and all - into displays on the patio

by blackspot or rustSet up automatic watering systems for potted plants when going on holidayTop up water levels in ponds and aquatic featuresAround the gardenDeadhead flowers of lady's mantleWater camelliasBuy bulbs for autumn plantingFlowersPick plums