Now is the time to sow sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus). They prefer a long root run, so fill special sweet-pea tubes, or the cardboard tubes from loo rolls, with moist John Innes seed compost and bury a single seed (½in deep) inside each. Leave to germinate on a well-lit windowsill or in a warm greenhouse. Plant them outside in mid-spring.

Check that frosts have not lifted the rootballs of biennials such as wallflowers and sweet williams out of the ground. If necessary, firm them back in.

Surround the emerging shoot tips of spring-flowering bulbs with continuous circles of coarse grit to protect the plants from slug and snail damage.

On a mild, dry day, scatter any worm casts on the lawn using a besom broom. If left, the casts are soon flattened and the soil makes an ideal seed bed for invasive weeds, especially dandelions.

Plum, damson and cherry trees can be planted in a sheltered, sunny spot with a reasonably fertile, well-drained soil if the ground is not frozen or waterlogged.

GARDEN CUTTINGS

Self propagation

Mark Self, director of the Whitehall garden centre, in Lacock, Wiltshire, will give a free talk on the art of sowing and propagation on Wednesday at 2pm. Call 01249 730204 orvisit www.whitehallgardencentre.co.uk.

Heaven and hellebores

Harveys Garden Plants, in Great Green, Thurston, Suffolk, is holding hellebore days, with demonstrations and workshops, on Friday and Saturday from 9.30am to 4.30pm. The event will be repeated on February 20 and 21. Call 01359 233363 or visit www.harveysgardenplants.co.uk.

Priory engagement

Hodsock Priory, in Blyth, near Worksop, Nottinghamshire, will be open to show off its snowdrops from Saturday until March 1, 10am-4pm. Entry £4.50. Call 01909 591204 or visit www.snowdrops.co.uk.

Caroline Donald

cuttings@sunday-times.co.uk

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