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in the winter to stop the phormium's roots freezing.More container ideas for shade-loving plantsGrowing shade-tolerant begonia and plectranthus in a container.Brightening a shady corner with begonia and pelargonium.Growing shade-loving hostas and ferns.

with seasonal fillers, a container can provide colour throughout the year.Containers also give you the opportunity to grow plants that wouldn't otherwise thrive in your garden. Those with chalky alkaline soils can grow acid-loving plants in ericaceous compost

miscanthus and imperata, several Japanese maples in large pots, a striking Hosta nigrescens, and a nicely clipped box ball, to name but a few. All have their place, growing and changing as the year progresses.Of course I have pots of flowers, too, but it

it with bubble wrap or polystyrene before planting.More ideas for structural displaysAdd height to your borders with a home-made metal obelisk.Grow an ornamental Japanese acer in a pot.Combine height and colour with a container display of dogwood, snowdrops

Sharp knifeRooting hormone (powder or liquid)Wire or stick CompostHeavy stone June - September 30 minutesSelect a suitably low-growing and pliable young branch that will bend down to soil level. Remove any side-shoots but keep the cluster of leaves at the end

most of them a second thought. Well, that's why I planted them in the first place – to be reliable performers that look after themselves.The problem with leaving perennials alone is that the central parts of plants grow less productive over time

Good morning and happy 'Grow Your Own' Week to you all.There are, I have to admit, many other gardeners who are hotter on vegetable growing than me. Give me herbaceous borders and I can muddle through and make them look pretty good, but when

Parts of my garden have resembled something of a battleground this year. Why is it that all my favourite plants and crops have their very own pest to contend with? Grow lilies and you'll be hard pressed not to find lily beetle munching them. My

slugsTry to water the garden in the morning, rather than the evening, as trails of water over the garden create night-time slug highways. Water at the roots if possible, or dip potted plants in buckets of water.Piles of sweet bran under hostas creates