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I've been busy redesigning a great chunk of my garden. It's an important area, overlooked by our kitchen and bedroom windows, so it's the first thing I see every morning when I stagger out of bed. In contrast to the rest of the garden, it's always

-stop, producing these beautiful floral discs continually - new ones opening as quickly as faded ones are snipped away.Like most tender perennial summer bedding plants these osteospermums have three requirements. First they need regular water, and soon tell you

water and frozen too as it takes a good while for me to eat a season's corn. Paul doesn't like sweet corn - or so he informed me after we grew an enormous bed of it the year before last! This year we only grew half a bed so about 10 plants and that seems

have to trim its fig-like leaves to let the Spanish flag flowers truly shine. Set off these two annual climbers to perfection by planting delicate but colourful bedding plants around the base of the display. Don't be tempted to plant out tender young

Cut late-summer-flowering clematis right down to soil levelDivide congested clumps of perennials such as asters, campanulas, rudbeckias and chrysanthemums after floweringPlant bare-rooted rosesDig up and compost exhausted summer beddingPlant out

, winter hardiness. In particular, what should be sold as a suitable ingredient for a winter container or bedding display and what should not? Take the cyclamen. Often for sale at this time of year as a small potted plant, it's generally labelled 'winter

Improve your soilPlants need good soil conditions if they are to give the best results. Improving the soil with plenty of organic matter in the form of compost helps drainage and aeration on heavy soils and conserves essential moisture on light ones

-rooted hedging, roses, trees and shrubsFlowersPrune gooseberry bushes Fork over vacant beds, mixing in compost Plant fruit trees trained as cordons, fans or espaliersFruit & vegClear leaves from greenhouse gutters Check heaters daily to ensure they are working

was depressing to see from the window, especially remembering what a pretty garden it had once been.So, last season I decided to take a few short cuts on the allotment in order to give myself more time to change things at home. I cadged spare plants from friends

bedding material. Its scent will attract nest-searching queens in spring. Place the nest under a south-facing hedge or fence.More advice for attracting beesGrowing plants for bumblebeesMonty Don's advice on growing plants for beesHow to identify bumblebees