Go from barren to beautiful Fix those troublesome garden spots that just won’t flourish

GO FROM BARREN TO BEAUTIFUL FIX THOSE TROUBLESOME SPOTS IN YOUR GARDEN THAT BOTHER YOU WHEN THEY DON’T THRIVE AS OTHER PARTS FLOURISH

Astubborn patch in your garden that just refuses to be as glorious as the rest of it can occur for any number of reasons. Try as you may, nothing seems to work. But it’s more than an aesthetic problem. Plants that struggle invite pests and diseases that can then spread to your healthy specimens. Here’s how to work with what you’ve got, turn that stubbornness into co-operation and take it from drab to fab!

PLANT for success

For your plants to thrive, here are six things to bear in mind so you can select varieties to suit your conditions.

1 Soil type It’s either clay, sandy or loam. See opposite page for details on adjusting the structure of your soil if needed.

2 Aspect Full sun, full shade, part shade, dappled – they’re all features of your garden somewhere. Watch how the sun settles on your garden during the seasons.

3 Climate Tropical, subtropical, temperate or cool. You know where you are, so plant accordingly. TIP Your local nursery stocks plants suitable for your climate.

4 Rainfall This can be erratic, and you should consider times when restrictions limit your hose-watering regimen.

5 ph level Soil acidity or alkalinity can affect your plants’ ability to take up minerals from the soil.

6 Seasons The sun gets very low and thin in winter, and high and hot in summer. This especially affects lawns, which can struggle in shade.

LIGHT UP SHADY SPOTS IN YOUR GARDEN WITH STROBILANTHES’ SILVERY LEAVES WHICH HOLD UP SOFT LILAC FLOWER SPIKES IN SPRING AND ALSO INTRODUCE THEIR GORGEOUSLY PURPLE NEIGHBOURS THELONG LASTING AFRICAN DAISIES OSTEOSPERMUM ’ D’

BLECHNUM FERN