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Although, in some areas, dahlia tubers have survived the recent mild winters outside, it's well worth lifting and storing them. Discover how you can ensure a bumper crop of dahlias for next summer, whatever the weather.SecateursGarden fork

SoilCraft knifeall year round1 hourUse a craft knife to make holes about 3 cm across in the sides and base of the bucket.Choose an area of your garden that will not be disturbed and dig a hole to bury the bucket so that its rim is just below soil level. Loosely fill

, woody rhizomes and replanting only young, healthy plants into freshly-prepared soil. IrisesGarden forkSharp knifeTrowelJuly - August30 minutesUse a fork to dig up a congested clump of irises. Ease the plants from the soil, taking care not to spike

StringMeasuring board (optional)February - May30 minutesFebruary - MarchUsing string as a guide and a trowel or draw hoe, dig a shallow trench about 15mm deep.Sow seeds individually along the row or in groups of two or three at regular intervals, about 10cm apart. You

of the stem.About 15cm from the shoot tip, make a nick using a sharp knife on the underside of the branch - aim to cut just halfway through the stem. Dust the area with hormone rooting powder.Dig a shallow hole at the point where the stem touches the ground

of them. Bare-root rose plantSpadeForkBamboo caneGranular fertiliser, such as chicken manureDecember - mid-March 20 minutes for each rose June - AugustDig out a hole in the soil to the depth of a garden spade and the same width. Put the soil to one side

way of making more of these beautiful flowers. SnowdropsGarden fork or spadeFebruary - March 30 minutes for a good-sized clumpUse a garden fork or spade to lift clumps of snowdrops. Dig deeply all round the clump, before levering it out in order to get

of excavated soil on lawns and around the garden - and underground tunnels, found when digging the soil or making a new planting hole. Mole traps are very effective. Insert one in a tunnel, cover it with turf and an upturned bucket to exclude light, and check

with good resistance to powdery mildew - a reputable grower will be able to advise. Keep the soil around the roots moist at all times. When planting roses, prepare the soil well by digging in generous amounts of well-rotted compost or farmyard manure

appear rotten or pitted.Dig up and destroy affected bulbs, and in the case of the tulip breaking virus don't plant your tulips near lilies, which can carry the virus without showing any symptoms. Avoid replanting where affected bulbs were growing