Top tips for

BETTER BORDERS

MAKE A LIST OF PLANTS YOU WANT, THEN HALVE IT: A MORE LIMITED SELECTION WILL CREATE STRONGER IMPACT.

GET YOUR SOIL INTO GOOD SHAPE BY PILING ON PLENTY OF COMPOST AND ORGANIC MATTER.

PLANT DENSELY SO THERE IS LITTLE TO NO ROOM IN BETWEEN FOR WEEDS.

WATER AFTER PLANTING,

THEN MULCH WITH A THICK LAYER OF MUSHROOM OR GARDEN COMPOST.

STAKE EARLY – USE METAL HOOPS AND SUPPORTS, CANES, HAZEL AND TWINE.

AIM TO HAVE SEVERAL STAR ATTRACTIONS AS EYE-CATCHERS, THEN SURROUND THEM WITH A QUIETER, HARMONIOUS SUPPORTING CAST.

REMEMBER THAT ANNUALS GIVE RAPID RETURNS: SOW A FEW TRAYS OF THESE EARLY IN THE SEASON SO YOU CAN PLUG GAPS THROUGH SUMMER.

DEADHEAD THROUGH THE SEASON TO ENCOURAGE FLOWERING.

SELECTIVELY FEED WITH LIQUID SEAWEED ANY PLANTS THAT LOOK AS THOUGH THEY NEED A BOOST.