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Watch Sarah Raven as she plants lupins and shares her tips on soil acidity and drainage.More advice on growing flowersCreating a cutting patch video project.Planting out cerinthes.Caring for peonies.Growing dahlias from seed.

Whether you’re looking for a bright bedding display, flowers for cutting or reliable border plants, it’s hard to beat the variety offered by dahlias. Dahlias come in many sizes, so there's one for every border, and small forms can also be grown

Learn how to grow dahlias for cut flowers, in Rachel de Thame's video demonstration. Rachel recommends varieties and shares tips on soil preparation, planting, feeding and staking young plants.early summerMore advice on growing dahliasLift and store

There are many hardy and half-hardy annuals that can be grown for cut flowers. Many attract bees and butterflies and some species can be dried, for use in long-lasting displays.Sow hardy and half-hardy annuals between March and April in small pots

Bedding geraniums are actually members of the genus Pelargonium. Many varieties of pelargonium are used as bedding or house plants.Unlike most annual bedding plants, geraniums are easily propagated by cuttings, so you don't have to fork out for more

You can easily propagate oriental poppies by taking root cuttings. They make perfect candidates for this propagation method as it exploits the plant's propensity to reproduce itself from every scrap of root left behind when plants are moved. Once

unwanted boxes.If you need more space, hang two or three boxes together.Advice on propagating plantsCarol Klein's video guide to taking basal cuttingsMaking a cloche for seedsSowing seeds indoorsTaking summer cuttingsView a variety of conservatory climbers

Shaping topiary is a fun and inexpensive way to create year-round interest in the garden. These plant sculptures contrast dramatically with flowers in summer, and bring structure, style and form to winter gardens.If you haven't tried topiary before

and drawn. 3 strawberry plants (pot-grown or lifted from the garden)Large pot or hanging basketMulti-purpose compostJanuary - April20 minutes harvest May - JunePlant two or three strawberry plants in a hanging basket or large pot of multi-purpose compost

For a successful summer bedding display, don't bring your plants out of the greenhouse until you know the frosty nights are behind you. And when you do bring them out acclimatise them in the garden before you plant them into their final positions