Search - Articles

Create your own 'cutting patch' with Sarah Raven's video guide. Learn how, by growing cut-and-come-again annuals and biennials in a separate bed, you can prevent your borders from looking bare. springMore advice on growing flowersGrowing lupins

is channelled into the other flower buds. Cut each flower off as the petals begin to fall.Lilies and other bulbs will start to form seed pods as soon as the flowers begin to fade. Cut off only the tip of the flower stalk, leaving the rest of the stem to die down

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

Dry compostStorage box or containerautumn30 mins, plus drying timeUsing secateurs, cut down dahlia stems to a few centimetres from ground level and compost the leaves.Dig all around the dahlia clump and lift the tubers with a fork, taking great care

Learn how to pinch out and pot on sweet peas with Sarah Raven's step-by-step video guide.springMore advice on growing flowersGrowing sweet peas from seedGrowing lupinsHow to create a cut flower patchPlanting out cerinthes

Pruning roses keeps them in shape and encourages more flower growth and healthier plants. Cut weak shoots right back to promote stronger growth from the base.Rose bushSecateursautumn or spring20 minutesRemove dead shoots and the tips of stems

The process of rooting cuttings in water is an effective method of propagating many types of house plant. Once cuttings have developed a good root system, they can be potted up in compost. In addition to house plants, various tender perennials

Pruning and cutting back is important if your plants are to give their best display or crop, and to prevent them outgrowing their space. Most woody ornamental plants are best pruned in the dormant season or, if they are spring flowering, as soon

The practice of taking stem-section cuttings is useful for rejuvenating overgrown house plants such as dracaena.Dracaenas are striking architectural plants, native to western and tropical Africa. Plants produce bold rosettes of strap-like leaves

Salad leaves can be grown on a cut-and-come-again basis; harvesting the larger leaves by cutting them, allowing the smaller leaves to grow for a second crop. If you make successional sowings of seeds every three weeks, you will have a constant