Why Peter Dowdall is admiring dahlias in gardens this year 

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

It's hard not to love dahlias such as this 'Orange Garden' variety though do remember that double forms with many petals are useless to bees and other pollinating insects. Picture: iStock

It seems strange to be thinking about next summer already but the early bird and all that. 

Sowing some varieties of flowering annuals now will result in far stronger plants, earlier next year for planting out.