Search - Articles

If you're short of sun in your garden but want an interesting summer display, try this rich blend of foliage plants. Both the plectranthus and begonias perform well in shade.April - JuneJuly - September20 minutesBegonia rex x2Purple

those instead.Marchspring30 minutesCarex comans, bronze-leaves x1Purple aubretia, 7cm pot x2Narcissus 'Minnow', 9cm pot x230cm terracotta pot x1Peat-free multi-purpose compostPlace pieces of terracotta over holes in the pot's base to allow water to drain

Purple and yellow always work well together, and the combination is particularly striking in this pairing of cowslip and anemone. We've used a grey Moroccan trough, but a wooden or terracotta planter would look just a good.February - March

This container display will add a really summery punch to a sunny corner of your garden. Best known in pink or purple varieties, osteospermum is also available in zingy citrus shades, such as 'Orange Symphony' and 'Lemon Symphony'. In this display

to flower.My hellebores are out now too, and most are looking good. Unfortunately some are showing signs of hellebore leaf spot disease. The characteristic purple-black blotches are spreading from the foliage to some of the flowers. The best I can do is pick

rather miserable, with purple or silvery-grey blotches. As a precautionary measure I cut the canes right back as soon as they’ve finished fruiting in autumn, and I’m careful to gather up every scrap of old cane lying around.To toughen up my raspberry

:September: Plant elephant garlic, early varieties: 'Early Purple Wight', 'Early Wight'.  Apply general purpose fertilizer to the soil, or some well-rotted manure, well worked in.October: Plant autumn soft necks: 'Iberian', 'Albigensian', 'Mediterranean', 'Provence

', with creamy white flowers fading to purple.T. 'Colour Spectacle', with pale yellow petals with broad red streaks.T. 'Happy Family', with purple petals and white edges.T. 'Orange Bouquet', with orange and red petals.T. 'Toronto', with pinkish-red flowers

combined with Phormium 'Bronze Baby' for height, along with nasturtiums and purple basil for good measure.Top container annualsCoreopsis tinctoria 'Mahogany Midget'The cottage-garden feel of these daisy-like flowers adds a sense of informality and movement

. These hairs protect the plant against dehydration and intense sunlight.S. arachnoideumThe attractive purple rosettes of 'Irazu' are offset beautifully by their silver leaf margins. The leaves can fade to a duller pink during winter.S. 'Irazu