A look at some romantic gardens for the perfect date on Valentine's Day - plus, find out what else needs doing in the garden this week.

By Hannah Stephenson

Avoid the cliched and overpriced dinner this Valentine's Day, and treat your loved one to a much more inspiring garden-themed gift.

No, not a bunch of red roses - a day out at one of the country's beautiful romantic gardens.

From the soft, scented, quintessentially British 'cottage garden', to the wild and dramatic landscapes of our grandest old houses, gardeners (and non-gardeners) nationwide should all be completely lovestruck by the great outdoors.

Here's a few to get you in the mood:

:: Lyme Park, Cheshire

Enjoy a Mr Darcy moment with a visit to the scene of one of the most famous romantic moments in TV history. Lyme Park in Cheshire is the backdrop to where Mr Darcy, played by Colin Firth, meets Elizabeth in the TV adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. Picture the stars and discover this special place by taking a guided walk - The Only Way Is Pemberley - and immersing yourself in a travelling exhibition on loan from Jane Austen's House Museum on February 15 and 16.

Call 01663 762023 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk for details

:: Castle Howard, York

This one has it all: magnificent views, dramatic landscape, ponds, woodland and fountains. If you're feeling energetic, you can row across the lake, or if you prefer to relax, amble through the colour and fragrance of the walled garden. Castle Howard is well known for its annual displays of daffodils, rhododendrons, delphiniums and roses. Later on in the year, in summer, the intoxicating rose gardens, with their romantic Italianate trellises, hornbeam hedges and backdrop of brick walls are home to more than 2,000 modern roses of all types.

Visit www.castlehoward.co.uk for details

:: Biddulph Grange Garden, Staffordshire

This amazing Victorian garden was created by James Bateman for his collection of plants from around the world. Enjoy both a romantic stroll and a global journey admiring his finds from the ultimate romance of Italy to the mysterious pyramids of Egypt. There is even a Victorian vision of China and a re-creation of a Himalayan glen. On Valentine's evening, guests can take a picture-perfect romantic lantern walk in the pinetum, through cherry trees and past the lake.

Booking is essential, call 01782 517999 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk for details

:: Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh

This jewel in the crown of Scottish gardens offers visitors peace and tranquillity amongst 72 acres of stunning scenery. Founded in 1670, it's acknowledged to be one of the finest gardens in the world for viewing unusual and beautiful plants. If it's cold outside, take an eco-tour of the world in the magnificent glasshouses, featuring Britain's tallest Palm House. Alternatively, enjoy the serenity of Chinese Hillside, explore the world-famous Rock Garden or stroll among the magnificent giant Redwood trees in the Woodland Garden.

Visit www.rbge.org.uk for details

:: Erddig, Wrexham

For the ultimate romantic walk, visit this 18th century country house set in a stunning landscape park. The tales of 'life below stairs' are captured beautifully at Erddig, with servants' portraits hanging on the walls to help visitors imagine Downton-style escapades. One such story belonged to Lucy Hitchman and Ernest Jones, who worked for the Yorke family at Erddig just before the First World War. They fell in love and took strolls on their afternoons off in and around the park and, today, visitors can retrace their favourite walk, known simply as 'romantic walk'. It's an easy, one-mile walk - and don't miss the kissing gates!

Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk for details

:: Altamont Garden, Tullow, Co. Carlow, Ireland

They are known as the most romantic gardens in Ireland, and it's not hard to see why. Altamont is an enchanting blend of formal and informal gardens located on a 100-acre estate. Look out for Galanthus (snowdrops - 40 different varieties), Narcissus (daffodils - hundreds of varieties), Lilium, Colchicum, Cyclamen and Sternbergia. Lawns are bisected by sculpted yews sloping down to a romantic lake surrounded by rare trees, rhododendrons and shrubs. The scent of a profusion of roses, old fashioned and modern, and herbaceous plants fill the air.

Visit www.altamontgarden.com for details.

:: Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire

A memorable day out needs a memorable setting. The breathtaking folly at Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire, combined with the Studley Royal Water Garden, is guaranteed to capture the imagination. Meander through the beautiful landscaped Georgian water garden of Studley Royal, complete with Neo-classical statues, follies and stunning views. If you still want more, there are miles of more walks to make the most of your special day.

Visit www.fountainsabbey.org.uk for details.

If the weather doesn't lend itself to being outside, or if you're simply worried some gardens won't be at their best right now, you can always buy a gift ticket for a later visit to the garden of your choice.

Alternatively, you can splash out on an annual RHS gift membership, which gives the recipient a year of glorious garden visits, discounted tickets to RHS shows, free personalised advice and The Garden magazine every month, (£54, www.rhs.org.uk). Similarly, membership of the National Trust will give access to some of the UK's most breathtaking countryside, houses, gardens and coastline for a year (buy gift membership online from £41.62, www.nationaltrust.org.uk). You could also opt for the National Garden Scheme Yellow Book gift token which buys the latest 'bible' of garden visiting (£9.99, www.ngs.org.uk).

Best of the bunch - rose

Of course, Valentine's Day wouldn't be the same without a beautiful bunch of flowers and, of course, all thoughts turn to the rose. But if you want your roses to last longer than a week or two, it's worth growing some yourself for cutting later in the year. Hybrid tea roses are particularly good for cutting as there is often only one main flower on a stem. English roses are also good and can smell fantastic indoors. Hybrid tea roses are suitable for beds and borders, while English roses, which are repeat-flowering, look fabulous in mixed borders. Some are suitable for pots, others are good climbers. Ideally, roses should be grown in a sunny spot in an open situation where air can easily circulate. They are hungry feeders, so they will need rich, free-draining soil with plenty of added organic matter. Good varieties include 'Gertrude Jekyll', 'Golden Celebration' and 'Velvet Fragrance'

Good enough to eat - chitting potatoes

It's time to give your seed potatoes a head-start by 'chitting' them. Buy bags of seed potatoes from your local garden centre or online and put them on a tray or in open egg boxes in a light position, but not in direct sunlight, on a windowsill or in a frost-free greenhouse, where they will soon start to sprout. In a few weeks, the shoots will grow, gaining strength while the soil is still too cold for them to be planted outside. Rub off all but the four strongest sprouts and when they have grown to around an inch, chitting is completed. Don't plant them out until next month, though, as the shoots will take time to develop.

What to do this week

:: Add lime to acid soil where brassicas are to be planted.

:: Use a soil thermometer to test the soil temperature, but don't sow anything outdoors until it has remained above 7C (45F) for a week.

:: Put cloches in position to warm the soil for early sowings of vegetables in about a month.

:: Sow under glass slow maturing bedding plants such as petunias, lobelia and African marigolds.

:: If the ground isn't wet or frozen, cut the grass and remove the cuttings as it is too cold and damp to allow natural decomposition.

:: Rake out any remaining dead leaves that have fallen into the pond which weren't scooped up in the autumn.

:: Take basal cuttings (from the shoots which emerge from the base of clump-forming perennials). Suitable plants for this include delphinium, dicentra, phlox, achillea and euphorbia.

:: Continue to force rhubarb.

:: Plant new fruit trees, canes and bushes.

:: Feed fruit trees, canes and bushes with a sprinkling of blood, fish and bone around the base and gently rake it into the ground.

:: Give tired hedges a boost with a dressing of general fertiliser, or spread well-rotted manure over the root run.

:: Protect spring cabbages from warmish, wet weather by spreading straw around the bases.