TIDY up beds and borders as soon as possible by cutting back old stems and seed heads from last year and pulling up weeds.

This is a very satisfying job to do at this time of year since lots of new growth will be revealed. Clear away the remaining autumn leaves as well as twigs and other debris, as all this can cover small plants and spoil their show of blooms.

Evergreen Epimediums will be looking past their best now so trim back all the old leaves to show the new growth. Be careful not to cut into the new stems, as they are very delicate and sometimes hard to see hidden under the clump of last season's foliage. Trim the dead flower heads from winter heather - use shears if there are a lot of plants but avoid cutting into old wood.

Snowdrops finish flowering this month and it is a good time to lift and divide overcrowded clumps. Dig up the whole clump, divide into small sections and replant straight away. Snowdrops dislike being disturbed but dividing them 'in-the-green' gives them a chance to settle back and build up the bulbs over the summer for next year's flowers.

Other perennials can be divided this month as long as the soil isn't frozen or waterlogged. Make sure the divisions have a good amount of roots and replant the largest sections straight away. Small pieces can be put into pots, labelled and grown on for planting later in the season. New herbaceous perennials as well as deciduous climbers, hedges, shrubs, trees and hardy herbs can also be planted as long as the conditions are good but leave evergreens until next month.

Seeds sown in February that have germinated and formed their first true leaves will need pricking out into small pots. Place them out of direct sun on a light windowsill or in the greenhouse to grow on until they can be hardened off and planted out at the end of May. Growth may be lob sided on a windowsill but turning the pots daily will avoid this.

If you don't like sowing seeds or have had a disaster with germination, seedlings can be bought from garden centres. They will need exactly the same care as those done at home so limit how many are bought, bearing in mind they will need warmth and good light when they have been pricked out.

Autumn-sown hardy annuals in the garden can be thinned and transplanted - most should cope with this as long as the roots are intact and the stem isn't damaged. Self-seeded annuals can also be thinned, and as they will be found all over the garden, have a good look around while tidying the beds. I grew some nigella years ago and it is still going, although not in the original spot but in any bit of soil where the seeds can land. Fortunately the seedlings are easily recognisable and are dug up and replanted annually.

Updated: 09:00 Saturday, March 09, 2002