Plant primulas

Plant some Primula veris, which are in flower now, to add instant colour to the garden. These cowslips hold their flowers high above the foliage and bloom for weeks until summer flowers take over and fill borders. They do best in moistureretentive soil in partial shade, so plant them under shrubs in borders, around ponds or at the bottom of grassy banks.

Water them in well and, if planted in borders, spread some garden compost around the plants to keep the soil moist and weed free.