| Neglect these plants all year - they'll love it! | | | | pruning in March to keep growth under control. |
| Forget annuals, they're much too much like hard | | | | Red Hot Pokers |
| work. Instead, put in easy-to-care for, pest and | | | | Tall and striking, red-hot pokers have fiery-coloured |
| disease resistant evergreens, drought-lovers and | | | | spiky flowers and grassy foliage. Most varieties grow |
| robust perennials that reappear year after year. | | | | into large weed-free clumps around 60cm in diameter |
| Avoid lush plants from tropical climates that need lots | | | | and are happy to flower year after year with little or |
| of watering and feeding. Stick to plants from the | | | | no attention. |
| Mediterranean, South Africa and California. Check | | | | Lavender |
| growers' care labels before buying to ensure you've | | | | Lavender comes in all shapes and sizes and in shades |
| chosen trouble-free plants | | | | of pretty pink, white and purple. Look for 'Hidcote', |
| New Zealand flax | | | | which grows to around 60cm high with a spread of |
| This grows up to 1.8m tall, has exotic-looking flowers | | | | 75cm. It has vivid purple flowers and makes an ideal |
| and sword-like leaves in greens, pinks and yellows. | | | | edging plant that won't need much looking after. |
| We like chocolate-coloured 'Bronze Baby' and 'Dazzler', | | | | Geraniums |
| a variety that has red and purple stripes, both of | | | | Geraniums are brilliant for ground cover and |
| which are low maintenance. | | | | suppressing weeds, and they'll spread and multiply all |
| Buddleja | | | | by themselves. Look out for the varieties that flower |
| Buddleja has pink, purple, lilac and white flowers that | | | | in late spring and summer. You can get them to |
| are fragrant and nectar-rich. Keep in a pot or grow in | | | | flower again in September by chopping off their |
| fertile, well-drained soil. All the care it needs is a good | | | | leaves in August. |