Flowers

Garden centres are now advertising new stocks of spring bulbs, so buy early while the greatest variety is available. Anemones and ranunculus do best in deeply dug soil enriched with decayed manure. This will hold moisture, but to prevent the corms rotting, improve drainage with a layer of river gravel about 50cm below the surface. Plant anemone corms point down.

As perennials die down, they can be divided, using a knife or sharp spade. Perennial phlox and Michaelmas daisies are easily increased in this way.

Hardy annuals sown now will fill a gap in the garden once the spring show of bulbs is over. Plants that look good in the garden and as cut flowers include calendula, cornflower, annual chrysanthemum, godetia, larkspur, nigella (Persian Jewels is one of the best mixes) and scabious. California poppies