Thin carrots and beetroot as they start to fill out.

Pinch out the side shoots of cordon tomatoes (not bush types) and look out for potato

blight as you work - it also attacks tomatoes.

Collect herbs from the garden to dry for winter. Tie them together in bunches and hang

them upside down in a cool and airy place, but not in direct sunlight.

After the first flush of flowers give your roses some fertiliser and this will help them

produce a good second flush in late summer. Remember to keep dead-heading.

Dianthus species plants such as 'pinks' can be increased by taking cuttings this month.

Also take cuttings from hydrangeas, pelargoniums, osteospermums and from nonflowering

shoots of shrubs that have finished flowering such as ceonothus, philadelphus,

forsythia, flowering current, escallonia, weigela and lavender.

It's vital at this time of the year to water and feed your camellias if you want them to

produce a good show of flowers next year.

When lavender has finished flowering it can be cut back. This will encourage the lavender

to bush out with new growth. If you don't do this then your plant could end up looking

woody and bare next year. Take cuttings of shrubby herbs and tender perennials,

lavender, sage, rosemary, curry plant, hyssop, and rue