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Most lily bulbs are sold in spring, although some, such as Lilium candidum, are sold in the autumn. This is a time when mould can thrive, so check them carefully when you buy to make sure there are no signs of it - an infected bulb can easily spread

A fungal disease weakens the plant and can seriously reduce its flowering performance. The brown spots eventually grow together and develop grey centres. Infection is caused by air or water-borne spores entering the plant through damaged leaves. In wet weather the fungus spreads ...

30 minutesCarefully remove the tiny bulbils growing from the leaf axils of the plant.Treat the bulbils as if they were large seeds. Plant several in a pot of multi-purpose compost, spacing them 2.5cm apart.Cover with a layer of compost and water using

the hole 10cm - 15cm deep and place the bulbs at the base of the hole. Fill around the bulbs with soil taken from the hole, ensuring that some of the leaf is above the surface.AdamDon't remove the leaves from your snowdrop bulbs. Leave them to die down

Scarlet beetles (6mm - 8mm long) with black heads eat the leaves, flowers and seedpods of lilies and other members of the lily family. Don't mistake them for ladybirds. Between April and September the beetles lay eggs on the undersides of leaves. After a week they hatch into redd...

Carol Klein offers advice on getting the best results from moisture-loving plants cowslip and fritillary.springMore advice on growing primulasTreating primula leaf spotHow to rejuvenate primrosesBrowse primula varieties

Primula e.g. 'Gold-laced' group x3Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' x1Glazed pot, 20cm diameterPeat-free, multi-purpose compostCrocks Watering canPlace a few crocks in the bottom of the pot for drainage. You could also use broken polystyrene or small

Spring bulbs look particularly impressive when planted informally in lawns. Many varieties of daffodil and crocus are perfect for growing under turf, and will multiply over the years to produce even bolder displays. For the greatest impact, use a

you can use iris bulbs; if you wait until spring, simply buy pots of iris. October - November or January - FebruaryFebruary30 minutesIris 'Pauline' bulbs x12 or iris plants x3Hart's tongue fern, e.g. Asplenium scolopendrium 'Angustifolia' x3Bird's foot

in early spring.Hyacinth bulbsLarge terracotta potHorticultural gritLoamCompostSharp sandOctober - November30 minutesFebruary - MarchSpread a good layer of horticultural grit in the bottom of your container to help the compost drain efficiently in wet