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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

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

and biennials. Summer bedding plants include hardy and half-hardy annuals, tender perennials and summer-flowering bulbs.

hardy annuals in late March and into April, digging over, weeding and enriching the soilLift and divide congested border plantsPlant out lilies to fill gaps in borders, or grow them on in pots Trim winter-flowering heathers

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

Wash glazing inside and out to let in as much light as possibleBring potted camellias into unheated porches or conservatories to enjoy early displaysBuy chrysanthemum cuttings or take cuttings from your own plantsSow seed of hardy annuals

Deadhead dahlias to encourage further blooms to formCut down perennials past their primeSow hardy annuals, like poached egg plant, for early flowers next year

Prune rambling roses, removing shoots that have finished floweringPlant conifers, shrubs and hedgingTie tall chrysanthemums to supportsPlant autumn crocuses, sternbergia, colchicums, hardy cyclamen and nerinesDig up hardy annuals if you don't want them to set

Plant out perennials in groups of three, five or seven for maximum effectSprinkle fertiliser around clumps of tulips to boost floweringSow hardy annual flowers directly into beds where you'd like them to bloomPrune Himalayan honeysuckle (Leycesteria

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