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.If the plant has pairs of buds opposite each other, make the cut straight if you want both buds to grow. Alternatively cut at an angle to remove one of the pair where a single stem is required.Cut out any old or dead wood at the base of the plant to encourage

Pruning roses keeps them in shape and encourages more flower growth and healthier plants. Cut weak shoots right back to promote stronger growth from the base.Rose bushSecateursautumn or spring20 minutesRemove dead shoots and the tips of stems

Lilies are bursting into elegant and colourful blooms at this time of year . It's a dramatic sight, and one you can prolong by simply removing the flowers as they fade.Lily plantsSecateursJuly - August10 minutesJuly - AugustTidy up the lily

Monty Don explains the benefits of hand weeding, demonstrating how to keep unwanted weeds at bay.all year round, particularly springMore advice on dealing with weedsHow to hoe effectivelyMaintaining a healthy lawnDealing with bramblesRemoving

to your garden.Banana plantSharp knife or secateursStrawRoll of rush screening or chicken wireTough string or ropeNovember1 hourUse a sharp knife or secateurs to cut away any frosted or dying lower leaves. This will prevent them from rotting when the plant

Winter is a good time to clean, tidy and reorganise your greenhouse. Remove all the clutter, clean the glass to maximise light levels, and create an ordered working environment in time for the season ahead. BroomBucketDisinfectantGlass cleaner

with a sharp knife. Remove lower leaves to ensure a clean stem is submerged into water.Push the base of the cuttings in a jam jar or glass of water. Top the glass right up to its rim with water and stand in a warm, bright position.Keep the water topped up

'll have a steady supply of organic, nutrient-rich feed at little or no cost.Deep-rooted comfrey can extract large quantities of nutrients from far below the soil's surface, inaccessible to other plants. These nutrients are stored in the leaves. Gardeners

Digging and forking through the soil allows you to loosen any compaction, remove weeds and debris as well as providing the perfect opportunity to add the organic matter. Plants need good soil conditions if they are to give the best results

It's worth deadheading your flowering plants to get the most from them and removing any flowers that are past their best. Take them off as soon as they begin to droop as this will help to conserve the plant's energy by preventing them from setting