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', 'Laxton's Epicure' and 'George Cave'Sow parsley in pots for winter and spring useThin out heavy crops of plums to prevent branches snappingHang wasp traps in fruit treesPinch out the tops of outdoor tomatoes, as further flowers are unlikely to produce ripe

This heart-shaped frame will create instant impact for Valentine's day without breaking the bank. You can make your topiary frame with a metal coat hanger, a cane and some garden wire. Ivy plantTerracotta potWire coat hangerThin garden wire25cm

after late-spring to avoid the first generation of carrot fly larvae. Harvest the roots by late-August, before the second generation of larvae emerges. Carrot fly can detect the scent of carrots from a mile away; sow the seed thinly, as the process

Slugs may be diverted from your container-grown plants by fixing copper tape to your pots. The tape is thin, easy to cut and simple to apply. The copper will gradually turn green over time.A roll of copper adhesive tapeCraft pinking shearsall year

, preventing the flower from opening. An invisible soft, slimy layer of mycelium then fuses the petals together. The problem is most acute on roses with a multitude of thin petals.Apparently healthy rose buds develop and fatten but fail to open. They eventually

and other crops to keep them growing stronglyStop cutting asparagus by the end of June to allow the ferns to formThin out heavy gooseberry crops by removing the smallest fruits, and use these for cookingMake successional sowings of salad leaves and radishes

Spray potatoes and outdoor tomatoes with Bordeaux mixture or similar to prevent blightThin heavy crops of apples, pears and plumsTie in new raspberry canes to support wiresCover brassicas with fine netting to prevent cabbage white butterflies laying

for extra stabilityOpen all vents and prop doors open on warm days to improve ventilationBring large-leaved houseplants into the garden and hose them down to clean off dust. Wipe dry and apply a leaf shine for an attractive glossy finish before bringing back

to early summer for best results. Remove winter grime from patios with a pressure washerSow new lawnsSnip plain green shoots off variegated shrubsAround the gardenPlant out perennials in groups of three, five or seven Sprinkle fertiliser around clumps

in the garden before you leave them out.Feed fast-growing plants with fertiliser Thin out congested pond plantsHand flower beds to prevent weeds establishing Around the gardenPlant out dahlias into well-prepared soil Regularly tie tall stems of delphiniums