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, such as calendula, for some early flowersTidy up the greenhouse, getting rid of any old compost or rubbish that could hide unwanted visitors

Raise lettuce and salad crops in pots for early pickingsWater potted fuchsias sparingly to prevent compost drying out completelyPrune grapevines before they come into growth, when their sap starts risingBring pots of strawberries under cover

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

will look good into the spring. SeptemberNovember - March30 minutesPansy x4PhormiumSkimmiaHeucheraIvy x2Large potMulti-purpose compostCrocksPosition the container where you need winter interest, and place a layer of crocks at the bottom, then three

narcissi bulbs when planting up. SeptemberOctober - March30 minutesSkimmia IvyHeucheraEuonymusLarge potMulti-purpose compostCrocksPosition the container where you need winter interest, and place a layer of crocks at the bottom, then three-quarters fill

are dramatically set off when the fibrous tips are backlit by the sun.any time of yearall year round20 minutesPalm, e.g. Dasylirion acrotrichumLarge metal potCrocksFree-draining succulent or cactus compostPut a layer of crocks in the bottom of the container

and texture, while the delicate pelargonium flowers add a splash of colour.MayMay - September30 minutesAthyrium nipponicum pictum x2 Begonia 'Escargot'Pelargonium 'Deerwood Lavender Lass' x2Drill Old metal bucket and crocksCompostWater-retaining gel

nigrescensLarge, glazed containerCrocksPebbles or gravelLoam-based compostChoose a container that suits the shape of your plant and put crocks in the base for drainage.Add a layer of pebbles or gravel to improve drainage and add weight in order to stabilise

Acid-loving azaleas grow happily in pots of ericaceous compost, so you can enjoy these plants even without acid garden soil. They come in a wide range of colours, from deep red and pink to orange, yellow or pure white. Some even have a wonderful

Dahlias come in a fascinating variety of shapes and sizes, and the pom-pom types, with their rows of incurved petals, resemble old-fashioned bathing caps. Dahlia 'Franz Kafka' lends itself - ironically, given its name - to a relaxed cottage-garden