1 HOUR to make a difference

If time is short, focus on one satisfying task – and the rest of the garden can wait

Deadheading is the gardener’s secret weapon. A pleasantly undemanding task, it pays real dividends, as it will spruce up the appearance of roses and perennials and extend the flowering period by channelling their energy back into making new buds. Start where the effect will be most noticeable and zip round with secateurs, snipping off spent flower heads just above the first set of healthy leaves. If the plant is in good shape and the ground is well covered with other planting, you may not even need to pick them up, but otherwise gather the flower heads in a trug for composting.