How to maintain shears

Not only is autumn the best season for new plants to get established, it’s also a great time to buy hedging plants as cheaper bare-root plants. Garden centres usually sell bare-root hedging plants root-wrapped in bundles of ten, or you can bulk order direct from nurseries. Bare-root plants become available in mid- to late autumn, so ground preparation is best in early autumn. Keep your hedges in fine fettle with our tips for pruning evergreen hedges and deciduous hedges. Discover how to plant

Pruning roses annually is important for the health and overall appearance of the plant. Winter is the key time to prune roses, apart from ramblers, which are pruned in the summer. Prune shrub and climbing roses between November and February; bush roses should be left until late winter, around February, but avoid pruning in freezing conditions. Hard prune bush roses to promote healthy looking growth that produces plenty of blooms in the summer. Climbing roses need regular pruning to prevent a t

When you think of cut flowers, many people will picture colourful, summer blooming plants like dahlias and peonies, but some of the prettiest and earliest flowers to emerge can be used too. Bring the magic of snowdrops inside, by picking a few to display in a vase. Keep things as simple as possible, combining the blooms with ivy or other small-leaved evergreens. A clear, clean jam jar makes a great vase if you don’t have one that’s small enough to hold the dainty flowers. Keep them on a window

Snowdrops (Galanthus sp.) are some of the first bulbs to emerge in the year, and their pretty, nodding flowers signal the beginning of spring. A snowdrop container is easy to create and will make an attractive display – just make sure you plant the snowdrops in the ground, after flowering has finished. Before you start your snowdrop pot, collect some moss from around the garden to create give your container a lush, natural-looking topping. You won’t need much, as a little goes a long way. Before