Search - Articles

Phormiums survive well in most conditions and there are some wonderful dwarf varieties that are perfect for growing in pots. For a cheaper, but equally colourful alternative to phormiums, you could use cordylines. By the end of summer the fragrant

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

to 2cm below the rim, pushing it down firmly with your fingers as you go. Water in well and allow the basket to drain before transferring it to its bracket.AdamIf you are an organic gardener, add pelleted chicken manure. This will release nutrients

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

This rustic container filled with an orange pelargonium and a ruby red begonia is guaranteed to brighten up the gloomiest corner in your garden. Take care to keep the begonia out of the sun, or it will scorch. March - April June - September20

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

pockets.Sprinkle slow-release fertiliser over the compost, to keep the display looking good for as long as possible.Place the tallest plants at the back of the pot and the shorter plants at the front. Add more compost around the plants and firm gently

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

little corner of the countryside in your garden.any timeMarch - April20 minutesFoamflower, TiarellaBleeding heart, Dicentra spectabilisBrunneraWide, shallow potMulti-purpose compostCrocksPlace a layer of crocks at the bottom of pot, then three

Sarah Raven demonstrates how to plant up a container of spring-flowering bulbs, narcissus, crocus and tulips, in our video guideautumnspringMore autumn planting projectsPot of azaleas and campanulas.Early spring-flowering container with thyme