Scent

Fragrance is always high up on my list when designing gardens – without it a garden always feels as if it’s missing something. It’s interesting to note the change in plant fragrance from one season to another – winter scent tends to be sweet to cut through the sharp air, spring scent is fresher and more abundant, in high summer it turns heady and in autumn it’s altogether earthier. The Jo Whiley Scent Garden explored the way other smells can trigger childhood memories, such as the smell of rain on dry pavements and the earthy smell of leaves in a wood.

Make it happen

Plant scented spring bulbs, such as narcissus, lily of the valley, tulips, muscari and hyacinths now or next month.

Looking ahead, add some winter-scented plants, such as sarcococca, chimonanthus, Lonicera fragrantissima and winter-flowering viburnums. Make sure you position them where you’ll benefit from them in the winter – by a front or back door is ideal.

Think about planting some autumn-scented foliage plants. The katsura tree ( Cercidiphyllum japonicum) has autumn foliage that smells of burnt sugar or toffee apples!

Don’t be in a hurry to collect fallen leaves from the ground. Not only are they good for wildlife, but they also have a distinctive earthy smell when damp.