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A shady garden might seem like a challenge, but in reality there's a huge range of plants suitable for growing in dark places. This container display is made using a boldselection of plants, combining different leaf forms, colours and textures

scabious echoes its purple accents from mid- to late-summer. Above these plants arch the leaves of the grasses, gently swaying in a summer breeze.March - April June - September20 minutesSedge, Carex buchananiiBlue fescue, Festuca glauca x2Scabious x2Thrift

'Gypsophila cerastiodesPratia x2Small potWire 'gabion' basket planter, 23cm x 23cm x 15cm CompostFill a pot with compost and place a wire mesh container inside the pebble gabion. Place the alpine pink centrally in the container and position the pratia and Gypsophila

style, floating like balloons above the feathery foliage of Cosmos 'Sensation' and its delicate, pink petals. Use a large container for this display, as this combination of plants reaches 1m in height. Prevent the planting scheme from looking too top

.AdamTake softwood cuttings of the pelargoniums in spring or late summer for more plants.Alonsoa is a perennial most often grown as an annual. So sow seeds outdoors in late-spring.More advice on summer container displaysPotting up a summer display of scabious

cover.More summer container displaysPotting up a summer display of scabious and thrift.Creating a summer cutting patch.Growing summer-flowering plants to attract bees.Planting ideas for late-summer colour.Learn how to plant up a summer hanging basket.

in this pot as they'll happily mingle with one another. Just make sure the ivory thistle plants aren't too near the edge so they don't prick passers-by.AdamWhen using any metallic container, insulate the plants against extremes of temperature by lining

Aquatic planting basket, 20cm diameter x2Aquatic compost or heavy loamEngineering bricks x2Prepare your container by filling in any holes in the bottom with waterproof sealant. Leave to dry, then paint the inside of the pot with waterproof paint. When that is dry

'Helichrysum petiolare x2Parrot's beak, Lotus berthelotii x2Large, deep pot Multi-purpose compost, crocksCover the bottom of the container with crocks, then half-fill it with compost. Carefully ease the plants out of their pots.Make the blue potato bush the centrepiece

on end. And no summer garden is complete without the delicious aroma of lavender.MayJune - August40 minutesSilverbush, Convolvulus cneorum x3French lavender, Lavandula stoechas x3Wallflower, Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve' x3Bacopa, Sutera 'Abunda White' x3Faux