In this video guide, Monty Don tackles spent plants from the border, either by removing them completely or cutting them back. They include Allium ‘Purple Sensation’, which Monty wants to prevent self-seeding, as well as early flowering perennials such as hardy geraniums, delphiniums and oriental poppies, that will flower again in early September if cut back now. Watch the video to find out how to clear your borders of spent plants, and how to use tender plants, such as zinnias and cosmos, to fill any gaps.
How to clear borders of spent plants
Follow Monty Don's advice on clearing spent plants to create more growing space.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to act | ||||||||||||
| Time to act |
J
Do not Time to act in January |
F
Do not Time to act in February |
M
Do not Time to act in March |
A
Do not Time to act in April |
M
Do not Time to act in May |
J
Do not Time to act in June |
J
Do Time to act in July |
A
Do Time to act in August |
S
Do not Time to act in September |
O
Do not Time to act in October |
N
Do not Time to act in November |
D
Do not Time to act in December |
Offers
Colourful feathery flowers are carried above deeply cut textured foliage, this hardy perennial is great for bulking out borders with tactile eye-catching colour. They're happiest grown in moisture-retentive rich soils.
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Flowering from late summer to mid-autumn, vibrant rudbeckias are especially suited to prairie-style borders and combine particularly well with border perennials.
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