Plants for purpose

Sandy soils drain very quickly and hold little in the way of plant nutrients. Plants suitable for very sandy soils need to prefer dry and infertile conditions.What to look for Very dry soil – even in winter or after periods of rain Rough or “gritty” appearance Plants wilting Do you have a sandy soil?Sand is an important ...

A good, well-cultivated clay soil will grow just about any plant, thanks to its innate natural fertility. But poor clay soils prevent many plants growing well.What to look for Overly wet and waterlogged in winter Very dry, “concrete-like” in summer Large cracks in soil Plants wilting Do you have a clay soil?Clay is an important ...

Chalky soils are derived from chalk or limestone and, as a result, are alkaline in nature. Suitable plants need to be able to tolerate these alkaline conditions.What to look for Very chalky soils have a whitish colouring and contain lumps of chalk (white stones) and limestone soils contain pieces of limestone Chalky soils contain calcium ...

Shade in the garden has its benefits, but can also create difficult growing conditions for some plants. Suitable plants need to be able to tolerate these darker areas.What to look for Dark areas that don’t receive any direct sunlight or only during certain times of day or times of year Numerous trees and large shrubs casting shade ...

Hedges make brilliant property boundaries, as well as providing privacy. They’re also perfect for providing wind shelter and more interesting than a fence.What to look for Boundaries between two properties Dividers between different parts of the garden Low edging and bed dividing Screens and windbreaks Creating privacy HedgesHedges make ...

Gardening in hot, dry, sunny beds, borders or whole gardens can be a challenge. Full sun and a fast-drying soil may mean relying on drought-resisting plants for success.Problems with sunny spotsPlants may dry out very quickly and may need regular, thorough watering during summer. If the soil is very sandy, it drains very quickly and plants dry out ...

During summer, we spend a lot of time outdoors, entertaining and dining on our patios, so they need to be colourful and welcoming. Some gardens are so small that there’s only room for a patio or for a few plants growing in containers. So which ones are best?What to look for Small gardens with little room for permanent planting in the ground ...

Gardening by the sea is a challenge and an adventure. It’s a challenge because of the very special problems posed by salt-carrying winds and even blown sand.What to look for Blown over plants Plants covered with salty deposits Plants damaged by sand – sand blasted Where do they grow? Beds Borders Gravel paths Waste or ...