Search - Articles

Speedwell (Veronica spp) is an annual weed that spreads through lawns and borders, and has attractive tiny blue flowers. It spreads by seed in spring and autumn to form plants with strong tap roots. Speedwell appears in lawns as individual plants

by a sea of blue campanula flowers. March - JulyJune - August20 minutesMyrtle, Myrtus communis subsp. tarentinaCampanula portenschlagiana x2Small window boxCrocksLoam-based compost, such as John Innes No. 3Cover the bottom of the window box with crocks

Surround your roses with strongly scented companion plants, such as lavender, thyme, rue and garlic chives, to help keep aphids at bay. While gardeners are attracted by their beauty, rose pests are deterred by the herbs' strong scents. March - April

If you yearn for the smell of the sea and the sight of grasses waving in the dunes, try planting up this coastal-themed container. From late-spring, the thrift brings splashes of colour with profuse pink, white or purple flowers, while the lilac

Pond plantsWater enhances any garden, and there are a wide range of aquatic plants that will thrive when submerged in a pond. We spoke to expert grower Linda Smith at BBC Gardeners' World Live 2009, who recommended 10 of the best plants for garden

Vinca major or periwinkle is a pretty, low-growing plant often with pale blue flowers that is used as a ground cover plant because of its mat-forming properties. However, it can be very invasive, and will rapidly spread around the garden

heavy with a skirt of cerinthe. Its silvery blue leaves lift the dusky pink and purple flowers beautifully.sow in early spring, pot on in April, plant out in Junesummeran hourDahlia 'Franz Kafka' x3Cosmos 'Sonata Carmine' x2Cosmos 'Sensation' x2Cerinthe

the proportions of this container, and rises above the pratia's low-growing mat of leaves and pale-blue flowers, while the Gypsophila cerastiodes blankets the metal and pebbles to soften it.March - April June - August20 minutesAlpine pink, Dianthus 'Fusilier

will flower months.Try Nemesia 'Blue Confetti' if you want to vary the colour theme.More advice on growing pelargoniumsGrowing pelargoniums in a rustic container display.Learn more about regal pelargoniums.Planting up a slug-proof display of pelargoniums

Jekka McVicar's 10 companion plantsJekka McVicar's organic herb garden achieved a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show 2009. We caught up with her at the show to discover her top 10 herbs for growing as companion plants.Companion planting