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If you're short of sun in your garden but want an interesting summer display, try this rich blend of foliage plants. Both the plectranthus and begonias perform well in shade.April - JuneJuly - September20 minutesBegonia rex x2Purple-leafed plectranthus, e.g. P. 'Mona Lavender' x2...

If deadheaded regularly, pretty bellis daisies will keep flowering for weeks, offering a colourful display through spring and into summer. The ivy in this pot recipe can be planted in the garden when the display is past its best.February - AprilMarch - June30 minutesPink bellis d...

Some pots cry out for a simple planting scheme that doesn't detract from their own beauty, for which this arrangement is perfect. The bamboo combines beautifully with the dark brown-bronze leaves of the red hook sedge to form a sleek display that would look great in any garden al...

This bright, contemporary container filled with sunny gazanias and rudbeckia plants is just the thing to jazz up your garden for the summer. It looks effective on its own or placed in a group with others, and best of all it's quick and easy to plant up.MayMay - September30 minute...

Pelagoniums are a classic window box plant, they are used here as a focal point for a sea of lightly scented, delicate-pink nemesia. April - JuneJune - September20 minutesPink pelargoniumNemesia denticulata 'Confetti' x4Standard-sized window boxMulti-purpose compostCrocksPlace a ...

The dark-green window box and richly coloured plants make a sensational combination. The red scabious takes centre stage, rising above a platform of dark heucherella foliage. March - JulyMay - September20 minutesScabious, Scabiosa atropurpurea 'Chile Black'Heucherella 'Burnished ...

Plants for small gardensSmall gardens can accommodate a wide range of plants, from spring bulbs to small trees. We spoke to Monty Don and James Alexander-Sinclair at Gardeners' World Live to discover their top 10 plants for small gardens.A small garden needn't have fewer plants o...

Feeding the birdsFeeding birds used to be a winter activity, from Christmas until the first spring flowers appeared. But birds need our help in the summer months just as much as during the winter.Because birds breed in the spring and early summer, by July and August there are mil...

Birds not only use water to drink, but they also bathe in it, helping them fluff up their feathers to insulate themselves against the cold. Experts have also found that clean birds are more streamlined, so can escape from predators quickly. Our bird bath is elevated, which will o...

As a rule, I only grow plants that will benefit bees, moths and other pollinators. I do relax this rule, though, by growing auriculas. I do this for my partner, who loves them (even if bees don’t).We have built up quite a collection over the years, including gold- and light-centr...