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, and dig deeply to sieve out roots of perennial weeds, such as bindweed, ground elder and couch grass Improve compacted soil by mixing in extra compost. Take care not to walk on or dig up spring bulbsTake root cuttings from phlox and oriental poppiesPot up

Plant lily bulbs in pots for colourful summer displaysPrune shrub roses to low new shootsCut back overgrown honeysuckle stems close to their base, just above new shootsTrim back old shoots of perennials left for winter interest, taking care

clumps of rhubarbTake hardwood cuttings from healthy fruit bushesPrune apple and pear trees to control their size and shapeCut down Jerusalem artichokes

Sarah Raven demonstrates how to plant up dahlia tubers in trays indoors, to ensure a greater number of cuttings in summer.springMore advice on growing dahliasLift and store dahliasGrowing dahlias from seedTie in dahliasTaking dahlia cuttings video

Take cuttings from shrubs including pyracantha, cotinus, hypericum, potentilla, honeysuckle, ivy, hydrangea, spiraea and rosemaryPrune out plain green shoots from variegated trees and shrubsCut lavender for drying when in full flowerCut back pansies

Plant tomatoes in large pots or growing bagsOpen all vents on warm days, or install automatic vent openers, to encourage good air flowSow tender primulas, such as Primula obconica, P. kewensis and P. sinensis, to grow on as houseplantsTake cuttings

You can easily propagate oriental poppies by taking root cuttings. They make perfect candidates for this propagation method as it exploits the plant's propensity to reproduce itself from every scrap of root left behind when plants are moved. Once

A wall-mounted mini-greenhouse will protect seedlings and cuttings from cold weather without taking up too much space. You can make your own mini-greenhouse, using an old wooden wine box and an acrylic sheet. Wooden wine box1 sheet of acrylic

Collect and sow seed from foxglovesTake cuttings from pinks (Dianthus)Prune philadelphus after flowering, removing stems carrying old flowers. Cut out very weak stems and some of the oldest woodFeed dahlias with a liquid fertiliser and ensure plants

roses, cutting out old stems that carried flowers and training in new shootsTake lavender cuttings by pulling off new shoots and inserting them in gritty compostCut back perennials past their best