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and grow bags with tepid water, if possible. Try leaving a few full cans of water in the greenhouse to warm upSend off for biological pest controls for whitefly and red spider mitePropagate lilies from bulb scales, digging bulbs from the garden to remove a

can cause split fruits and blossom end rotThin out bunches of grapes with pointed scissorsPinch out shoot tips on coleus to encourage plants to branch, and remove any flowers that formPropagate pelargoniums from cuttings during July and August to grow

mildew and blackspotPropagate climbers like wisteria and passion flower by layering. Bend low shoots to soil level and peg them down, making a slit in the portion buried to encourage rootingPick off any lily bulbils forming on the stems and pot them up

perennials and bedding plantsCollect seed from any flowers you fancy propagatingTrap earwigs among dahlias with upside-down pots stuffed with straw and balanced on canesPick leaves off plants affected by rose blackspotTrim conifer hedges and evergreen hedges

Lift dahlia tubers or protect those left in the ground with a thick mulch of straw or barkSow sweet peas now for bigger, earlier blooms next yearCollect seeds and berries from shrubs and flowering plants that you want to propagateEmpty and clean out

now conditions are turning coolerCheck heaters are working properlyUse an electric propagator to encourage rooting on late cuttingsPlant hyacinths and daffodils for indoor displaysKeep good air circulation around potted chrysanthemums to avoid mildew

in the greenhouse:clear out clutterwash glazing inside and outget pots and trays readybuy seed sowing compostAnd then there's the propagator. I like to use electrically heated propagators with a thermostat for controlling the temperature. Mine also has a strip light

Sometimes shoots appear on previously plain-leaved plants with attractive variegations, and these can then be propagated by nurserymen to make a new plant. But the new variegated plant might try to revert to all-green foliage because the mutation

into pots of soil to root new plants. Only ever propagate from healthy, disease-free stock. After fruiting, trim off all strawberry foliage with shearsSow seeds of vegetables now, including beetroot, cabbages, endive, kohl rabi, lettuce, radish, rocket

Hang up sticky yellow traps to catch whitefly and flying insectsPropagate houseplants, including monstera, dracaena and croton, by air layeringRepot any plants that are pot bound or getting top heavy. Tall plants are best placed in terracotta pots