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1) A plant or shrub pruned and trained to grow into a tree-like form, with one trunk or stem that's 3-6ft long before branches appear. The practice is entirely aesthetic, and often used for roses. See Half standard.2) The erect petals of the iris

Monty Don demonstrates how to plant up and age a stone container to create a formal garden display.springPlanting suggestions for a formal containerDark foliage display with scabiousClassic pelargonium and nemesia containerFormal dressing

and training your plants.Video advice on choosing secateurs.Learn effective pruning techniques.How to prune spring-flowering shrubs.How to prune shrub roses.

cuttingsTaking summer cuttingsTaking rose cuttingsHow to take root cuttingsSarah Raven's advice on taking dahlia cuttings

.Learn how to prune spring-flowering shrubsSarah Raven's video guide to planting a rose in a potGrow camellias in a container

Spread a layer of manure or compost around roses and shrubsPrepare areas for laying new lawns in spring, digging over, weeding and enriching the soilBe on the look out for slugs and snails, which will attack emerging shoots of perennials

Taking summer cuttingsTaking cuttings from rosesBrowse a variety of tender perennial plantsBrowse a variety of dahlia plants

cuttingsCarol Klein's video guide to taking basal cuttingsTaking summer cuttingsTaking cuttings from roses.Sarah Raven's advice on taking dahlia cuttings

Fix nesting boxes for birds to suitable trees around your gardenService petrol lawn mowers and power toolsKeep indoor azaleas well-watered with rainwaterMake fat cakes and hang them among roses to encourage bluetits to feed off overwintering pests

Watch Monty Don's video demonstration of how to plant a yew hedge, with advice on drainage, planting distances and mulching.spring or autumnMore advice on plantingPlanting a bare-root rosePlanting a shrubBare-root plantingPlanting a bare-root tree