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Raise new mint plantsIf you're already dreaming about sipping a cool mint julep in your summer garden, now's the time to get your mint plants ready for the job. Take cuttings from established mint plants to keep the drinks tray supplied all summer

for autumn interestLift gladioli, clean the corms and store them FlowersMake a cross-cut in cabbage stems when harvestingSow broad beans for early crops next May and JunePut cloches over tender herbs like basil and corianderFruit & vegBring tender succulents

Move containers of shrubs or bedding to a sheltered spot FlowersDig over empty borders and pile manure on topLift and divide congested clumps of rhubarbCut down asparagus ferns and Jerusalem artichoke topsFruit & vegClear out old tomato and cucumber cordons

.Clean and sharpen knives and secateursPut up nesting boxes for birds on suitable treesMove shrubs growing in the wrong placeAround the gardenCut down willows and dogwoods to their baseFinish taking hardwood cuttingsPlant bare-root roses, hedging, trees and shrubsFlowers

're supplying with plants, only for my own display, so I'll redesign accordingly.French lavender, Lavandula stoechas, is also starting to flower. These flowers can be 'stripped' (cut) off, leaving the tight new buds. We'll continue the 'stripping' for the next

We're home after a wonderful 10 days at the Chelsea Flower Show. It was even better than I expected. The herbs performed magnificently and they looked wonderful all week, which was especially good for those who visited our stand on Saturday. I

Sweet peas are the classic annual climber and look just as lovely in pots as they do in a border. 'Spencer Mix' has large flowers and long stems, good for cutting, but 'Cupani' and 'Painted Lady' are particularly good as their short stems give good

Although flowers usually steal the headlines, think how bleak a garden would look without foliage. Leaves are a vital part of every garden. Consider the contrast between the lushness of summer and the bleakness of winter, when tender plants have

Why is it that you rarely see zinnias in summer bedding displays? Do they give the impression of being an old-fashioned flower? Well, I think they're in for a revival, and with some stunning new varieties coming onto the market I'm recommending them

This container is proof that simple arrangements can produce dramatic results. Agapanthus plants produce beautiful sky-blue flowers on long elegant stems throughout the summer months. The plants are easy to grow and thrive in pots. Although it can