Plant daffodils in borders

Plant some daffodil bulbs into your borders to fill gaps and provide spring colour among shrubs and other perennials.

- WORDS: ROSIE YEOMANS. PHOTOS: JASON INGRAM; SARAH CUTTLE

Daffodils grow well in sun or part-shade, so are ideal for mixing with other plants or even planting under deciduous shrubs. Well-drained soil is best.

Plan to plant them in informal groups roughly 10-15cm apart.

Space miniature daffodils as little as 3cm apart. Judge the height of the bulb and plant it to a depth that's three times its height. Cover and firm the soil back over them.

Sow sweet peas

Start some sweet peas off now by sowing into pots to germinate before winter. Fill small pots with peat-free multipurpose compost. Firm the compost then put one or two seeds in each pot. Sown thinly like this, the plant will survive in the same pot over winter and into the spring before being planted out.

Germinate in a cold frame or greenhouse and protect the seeds from mice. Keep them in the light and if they get too leggy, pinch them out to encourage sturdy growth.

Tidy peonies