Search - Articles

Take cuttings from tender perennials and bedding plants, such as verbenaSow a few pots of hardy annuals to provide early spring blooms Shade delicate plants to avoid sun scorch on hot daysDeal with vine weevil by watering pots with a solution

in plenty of lightWater dormant pots of cyclamen that were left to die down for the summer, and keep them in cool conditionsPlant freesia corms in potsCheck greenhouse heaters are in working orderBring pots of tender perennials and summer bulbs

Take cuttings from pansies and violas Pot up tender perennials grown outside and bring under cover when cold nights are forecastPrune rambling roses after floweringGrow bulbs in aquatic baskets ready to drop into gaps in the border in spring

Use a fork or hollow-tined aerator to spike your lawn and improve drainage Dig up and pot up tender perennials to bring indoors for winter protectionRaise the cutting height when mowing the lawnApply an autumn lawn foodCover ponds with netting

Plant out spring bedding, including pansies, wallflowers and forget-me-notsPot up tender perennials from summer displays to bring under cover for winter protectionPrune rambling and climbing rosesRake autumn leaves from lawns and pick out from

sheltered spot if conditions turn very coldTake root cuttings of oriental poppies and other perennialsLook for early-flowering snowdrops to pot up and bring into the housePrepare soil well before planting new rosesCover branches of holly berries with netting

Save seedsPerennial plants are often very generous in the amount of seed which they produce. Plants such as verbascum can produce thousands of seeds each year, and you can sow them to grow more plants for your garden or share them with friends

on growing seedsPricking out seedlings, with Monty Don from BerryfieldsInsulate your greenhouseSow seeds indoorsBrowse a variety of tender perennial plantsView plants by soil type

Buy tulips now while they're fresh in garden centres, but hold off planting till next month Plant daffodils, hyacinths and crocus in potsLift and pot up tender perennials to protect over winterClear away faded summer bedding and annuals, composting

compost to dig in over winter, or pile onto the soil for the worms to drag underCut down marginal plants surrounding pondsSend off for mail-order seed and perennials cataloguesMow your lawn on a dry day with the blades set highWrap outside taps