Search - Articles

Growing helleboresA must-have for the winter garden, hardy hellebores flower from late-winter to early spring. They also make great cut flowers - simply snip off flower heads and float in a shallow bowl of water.There are many varieties of hellebore

For a short but glorious time in June oriental poppies come into their own, providing flamboyant displays to enliven borders, says Carol Klein.Most gardeners yearn for a splash of glamour, and the most flamboyant of all June's flowers has

SchizostylisExotic, elegant, yet eminently adaptable, it's time the overlooked schizostylis took a leading role in our gardens.Schizostylis coccinea flowers from late-summer until the first frosts. It has dainty and delicate stems and flowers

it between clumps of primroses, Primula vulgaris. Height 20cm.x Chionoscilla alleniiThis is one of the first bulbs to flower each year. Hot on the heels of the snowdrop, it lights up the garden with pale blue blooms. Plant it in drifts under trees or in a

cactus dahlia, with sunny yellow flowers. Height 120cm.Dahlia 'Yellow Galator'Small-flowered semi-cactus type, with white-tipped pinky red petals. Height 60cm.Dahlia 'Pianella'More about using garden weedsTake dahlia cuttings Plant dahlia tubers

flowering times:10 best varietiesIf planted in a sheltered, south-facing spot, 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation' will be in flower by Christmas. While most daffodils in bloom at this time of year are usually small, this variety has large, windmill-style flowers

, and use a fungicide if necessary.Control dieasesBefore being seduced by a pretty picture, consider which rose is best for your garden. Old-fashioned varieties rarely flower all summer long, while modern ones do. Order bare-root plants in summer

Climbing flamesAs summer progresses, late-flowering clematis come into their own, and for me they're as much a part of summer as long, balmy evenings and cricket.There are few plants that give me as much pleasure or colour for so little work as late-flowering

Shade can be a nightmare if your heart is set on growing summer bedding, fruit and veg, or Mediterranean plants, which need direct sun to flourish. But there are plenty of beautiful plants which thrive in shady conditions.Many people imagine

Verbena bonariensisVerbena bonariensis flowers on tall, wiry stems and can be planted with a variety of different perennials, including grasses. It has a long flowering season, making it an ideal plant for low-maintenance gardens and herbaceous