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Summer is the ideal time to take leaf cuttings from your houseplants. A single leaf can produce many young plants, and this technique is particularly useful for foliage plants such as Begonia rex.Healthy begonia plantClean, sharp knife and cutting boardPotsFree-draining compost, ...

Sweet peas are some of the the most versatile plants you can grow. Train them up a trellis, pergola or obelisk, or support them with canes in large pots. They bring height and colour to borders and their scented blooms can be used as cut flowers. Sweet peas dislike root disturban...

This box pyramid container display with red lights and a skirt of red pansies has all the colours of Christmas. Tendrils of the mattress vine weave in and out to create a wreath-like effect around the base.November - DecemberWinter30 minutesTopiary box pyramid, buxus sempervirens...

This colourful display of bronze-coloured foliage, orange flowers and the red berries of the skimmia will warm up any cold or dull winter's day. You can vary the colours with other varieties of phormium, heuchera and pansy if you prefer, but all will look good into the spring. Se...

This rich mix of colourful, spiky and textured foliage and luxurious, velvety flowers provides a wonderful display all spring long. Position the box within arm's reach and you won't be able to resist running your hand through the grass! September - OctoberMarch20 minutesHair gras...

The silver and dark-green ivory thistles provide the backdrop for this planting scheme, while the pheasant's tail grass adds soft texture. Scattered amongst the display are Sisyrinchium striatum plants, with striped leaves that are accompanied by yellow flowers in summer. The day...

Stand out from the summer crowd with this luxurious, rich and velvety container display. Pack a wide terracotta bowl with deep red Regal pelargoniums and earthy pink and orange flowers to stunning effect. Keep deadheading the flowers and they will reward you with continuous colou...

The sweet-smelling irises should be in flower by late-winter if the weather is mild. Before then, you can enjoy the foliage combination of the needle-like iris, the filigree ivy and the crimped fern. If you plant up this container feature in autumn you can use iris bulbs; if you ...

Take your house plants plants outside this summer and use them to create dramatic patio containers. Here, we've teamed purple heart with silvery helichrysum and the trailing silver-grey foliage with the bright-orange flowers of parrot's beak. This sensational pot also has a knock...

of the planting hole square; this helps to prevent young tree roots from circling the hole rather than penetrating the surrounding soil.More advice on plantingTrees for small gardens - Gardeners' World blog by James Alexander-SinclairHow to plant a bare-root tree