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Sow sunflowers outside, directly where you want them to bloomTrim winter-flowering heathers, removing faded flowers and tidying up their shapePick off faded flower heads from hyacinths, to prevent them wasting energy setting seedPlant groups

Plant gladioli in groups to depth of 10-15cm, planting onto gravel if you have heavy soilComplete outside sowings of hardy annual flowers Lightly clip box edging and topiary to neaten them upSpray new leaves on disease-prone roses with fungicide

Take cuttings of your favourite roses Tidy borders by cutting down perennials past their bestPrune out old stems of rambling roses that carried flowersPlant new conifer hedges and evergreen shrubsClear away faded bedding plants from borders

Plant out container-grown roses and shrubsFork compost into flower beds to prepare soil for summer beddingTie in new growth on climbing plants, such as clematis, wisteria and honeysuckle, to supportsPick off faded flowers from camellias, azaleas

Prune summer-flowering clematis, cutting above a low pair of green budsCut out dead stems of ceratostigma and hardy fuchsiasPrune all stems of Hydrangea paniculata down to about three buds from soil levelPrepare areas in flowerbeds ready for sowing

Tie in young delphinium growth to plant supportsSow seeds of hardy annual flowers directly into beds where you would like them to bloomStart to regularly spray roses that are vulnerable to disease Lift and divide clumps of hemerocallis

Prune back shoots on mophead and lacecap hydrangeas to a pair of budsTrim all foliage from barrenwort (Epimedium) before flowers start to developPlant lilies in potsPrune mahonia, removing old stems to make room for new growthLift and divide

Plant up hanging baskets, and leave them in a sheltered spot before hanging fully outsidePlant out potted alliums in groups to add interest to flower bedsPrune spring-flowering shrubs immediately after flowering, such as forsythia, ribes

and rhododendrons after floweringTrain clematis shoots to their supportsFeed acid-loving plants with a special liquid fertiliser containing iron, such as sequestreneFinish dividing hardy primulasPrune early summer-flowering shrubs like philadelphus and deutzia once

Lift, divide and replant congested flag irises after floweringDeadhead border perennials like delphiniums and lupins to encourage a second flush of bloomsPick dead flowers off rhododendronsDeadhead roses to encourage more flowersCut back ceanothus