Two top tasks for the weekend

If you’re looking for two tasks to do this week how about taking some cuttings and planting some hyacinth. Both will give you a great deal of pleasure in the coming months as they develop.

You can take cuttings now from all your half-hardy bedding plants such as fuchsias, bedding geraniums, marguerites and osteospermums to ensure you have plenty of plants for next year.

Take the cuttings just below a leaf, remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting and dip the end in hormone rooting powder or liquid.

Then insert the cuttings in pots of cuttings compost. Cover the pots with a polythene bag or put them in a propagator and place somewhere warm and sheltered.

Don’t forget to pick up everything you need for successful cuttings including pots, compost, dibbers, rooting hormone, labels and propagators.

Now is the time to buy your prepared hyacinth and other bulbs to guarantee flowers for Christmas. Plant them in pots or shallow bowls, leaving the neck of the bulb just exposed above the compost.

Then place somewhere cold and dark for 10 to 14 weeks. They can be moved into the light and warmth when the flower buds start emerging.

Remember to pick up your bulbs, bulb fibre or compost, pots and containers and labels to ensure beautiful bulbs for Christmas.