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not to bruise or damage stems by tying too tightly. Soft string, garden twine, plastic-coated wire or proprietary plant tiesScissors, flower snips or sharp knifeApril - June 5 minutes per plant, as needed in the growing seasonFor trained fruit and wall shrubs

. Dahlia plantSticks or canesStringJune - August15 minutesJuly - SeptemberCheck dahlias each week; if they're starting to flop tie the main stem to a supporting cane or stick with garden string. Don't tie the string too loosely, but allow a little room

roses by placing poles around the plants and tying stems to them. Train compact climbers and ramblers up pergola poles, vertical pillars or an obelisk. Standard roses also need supporting. Replace the original cane with a stronger stake and use tree ties

to complement the colours of the climbers. Small-flowered plants work best, because they won't swamp the delicate flowers of the climbers.Encourage climbers onto the support by tying stems with soft twine to the willow, leaving some give in the twine so

coverage of the support and they're extremely fragrant.The cottage garden-style display is enhanced with trailing Sutera cordata 'Snowflake' and the variegated leaves of Felicia amelloides 'Variegata'.sow sweet peas in February, pot on in April, plant out

ones can be hidden by the foliage in just a few weeks. Pea sticks, bamboo canes, tripods or plant supportsSoft string or plant tiesApril - June (or as required) 30 minutes Twiggy stems that have been pruned from shrubs in winter make ideal 'pea sticks

bulbsDeadhead pansies regularlyPlant lily-of-the-valleyTie string or wire around conifers and yew to prevent heavy snow damaging branchesFill empty containers with winter heathers and trailing ivyFirm soil around roses loosened by stormsReplace wobbly

Prune the tops of standard roses to reduce wind rockKeep off lawns in frosty weather or if very wetPrune wisteria, shortening sideshoots to 10-15cm from their baseCheck tree ties are secureOrder dahlias, gladioli and other summer-flowering bulbsTie in the stems

Spread a compost mulch around border plants to suppress weedsPut pond pumps and fountains back into pools, thoroughly cleaning filters firstLay turf or sow new lawns from seedClean out bird baths and top up with fresh waterCheck tree ties

Tie in young delphinium growth to plant supportsSow seeds of hardy annual flowers directly into beds where you would like them to bloomStart to regularly spray roses that are vulnerable to disease Lift and divide clumps of hemerocallis