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If your garden has been flooded or waterlogged over the winter, here鈥檚 a quick guide as to what to do next聽

With herbaceous plants, watch how they regrow from the soil. If part of the clump looks as though it has died back, lift the plant and remove the dead parts. Replant the healthy portions of the plant, incorporating plenty of compost as you go.聽

In the case of lawns, rake off any leaves, twigs and other surface debris that may have washed in during the flood. Only do this when you are able to walk on the lawn without causing damage to the grass. Spiking the lawn with a garden fork will also help. Not only will this help to relieve compaction, it鈥檒l 聽improve drainage too.

Trees and shrubs can suffer from prolonged periods of flooding as well. Watch how they regrow. If you notice yellowing foliage on evergreens or poor shoot development, this is a sign that some of the roots have been killed. A feed plus a mulch will encourage the roots to grow back and, during hot, dry spells over the summer, ensure that the plants are adequately watered.聽

(飞飞飞.谤丑蝉.肠辞.耻办)听

Myddelton House was the home of the famous plantsman, E A Bowles, who pioneered the breeding of crocus in the 20th century. His work focused on producing Crocus biflorus and Crocus chrysanthus hybrids, some of which can still be seen today.聽

The garden is open every day, all year round, and entry is free.聽聽

Myddelton House
Bulls Cross
Enfield
Middlesex
EN2 9HG聽

(www.visitleevalley.org.uk)

Christina Shand has been experimenting with bog garden plants for a long time. Some of them thrive in her soggy soil, while others do not. When we asked her for her top ten favourites, she came up with the following list:聽聽

• Althaea officinalis (Marsh mallow)
• Canna 'Musifolia'
• Filipendula rubra (Queen of the prairie)
• Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal flower)
• Lychnis flos-cuculi (Ragged robin)
• Lysichiton americanus (Yellow skunk cabbage)
• Onoclea sensibilis聽 (Sensitive fern)
• Osmunda regalis (Royal fern)
• Primula florindae (Himalayan cowslip)
• Zantedeschia aethiopica (Arum lily)

(apps.rhs.org.uk)

Dyffryn Fernant
Dinas
Fishguard
Pembrokeshire
SA65 9SP

The amazing bog garden Joe went to see in Wales is open from Easter to the end of September. For more details about opening times, please click on the link below.

(www.dyffrynfernant.co.uk)

Gardens of the Rose
Chiswell Green Lane
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL2 3NR
Tel. 01727 850461

The rose garden Rachel went to see last summer is well worth a visit. It belongs to the Royal National Rose Society and consists of more than 5 acres of beautiful roses. For more details, click on the link below.

(www.rnrs.org.uk)

Early March is a good time to sow chillies and peppers. They can be slow to germinate and to get a good crop of fruit, you need big, bushy plants which 聽take time to grow. Sow them thinly in a seed tray and put somewhere warm and light once they鈥檝e been watered.

(apps.rhs.org.uk)

Late-flowering clematis flower on new wood and so are best pruned in February or March. By pruning them now, you won鈥檛 end up with all the flowers being produced at the top of the plant and nothing but bare stems lower down. Cut the plant right down to the ground to the lowest pair of buds, even if the stems have already started to shoot.

(apps.rhs.org.uk)

If you want a really good harvest of new potatoes, it鈥檚 worth setting them to chit now. Simply empty the tubers into a seed tray and place somewhere cool and light. Short, green stubby shoots will start to appear in a matter of weeks, giving you a head start when you come to plant.

(www.rhs.org.uk)