PLANTS TO GIVE YOUR GARDEN IMPACT IN 2021!

Covering walls

Walls and fences are often overlooked as we concentrate on other parts of the garden, but they can be turned into a stunning backdrop with dramatic climbers and wall shrubs. Pileostegia viburnoides is a classy self-clinging climber for a shady wall with large, elongated, shiny leaves and sprays of white flowers in late summer. Happy in sun or light shade, star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) will perk up your space from early summer into autumn, when its heavily scented blooms are displayed against a foil of evergreen leaves – keep it within bounds by pruning after flowering.

Structure in beds and borders

Forget about ordinary shrubs when adding structure to beds and borders. You can give displays some pizzazz, and ensure they deliver interest long after perennials have died back, by dotting in a few muscular evergreens. Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens Stricta Group) look wonderful when punctuating displays with its bolt-upright pencil shape, while a row of lollipop-shaped Elaeagnus ebbingei, loquat or Portuguese laurel, will add formality, uniformity and draw attention to the planting below. For something a bit more unusual, try spiky Yucca rostrata or Furcraea parmentieri, softening their outline with clumps of gently flopping, flowering perennials.

Add impact with cloud-pruned

Spiky plants will add drama to a planting scheme – make sure they’re placed out of the way of high traffic areas if you have small children or pets.

Japanese holly (Ilex crenata ‘Dark Green’) makes a great alternative to box if you’re worried about topiary pieces being struck by blight disease. It’s slow growing, compact and clips well.

Many palms will cope with a cold snap with li le or no protection. However, branches can bow under the weight of snow, so dislodge with a broom.

Perk up architectural plants in pots by top dressing annually. In late winter, scrape off about 2.5cm (1in) of old compost and replace with fresh compost mixed with a handful of controlledrelease fertiliser granules.

Take measures to protect borderline hardy architectural plants over winter. Tree ferns will survive with a handful of straw stuffed into their crowns, while cordylines and others are best swathed with horticultural fleece.

For strong, healthy growth, feed plants during the growing season. Granular, multi-purpose fertiliser is fine for many but some respond best if given a specific feed formulated for their needs.

Aristolochia macrophylla

Trachelospermum jasminoides

Saxifraga ‘Kinki Purple’ (stolonifera) Some plants will grow beyond their allo ed space, so snip off the odd branch to reduce their height, girth or to maintain an a ractive shape. Prior to planting in shady spots, improve soil in dry shade by digging in plenty of leaf mould or garden compost to boost its water-holding capacity.

Chamaerops humilis prIvet in pots Don’t overdo it. A few strident plants will provide much needed structure yet add too many and they’ll fight each other and lose their impact.

Farfugium japonicum ‘Aureomaculatum’ Plants in containers will suffer if compost gets too wet over winter. Move them into a rain shadow and stand them on bricks to allow water to drain freely.