Mahonia x media ‘Charity’As the shops go into Christmas overdrive, it is hard to find plants for baubles.

December is a great time to get out in the garden and appreciate the evergreens. Hollies are thick with berries and Garrya elliptica, (which is a Marmite plant you either love it or hate it!) has pendulant tassels in winter. Whilst the spiky Mahonia is bold and architectural with its bright yellow flowers and black-blue berries. 
 
Mahonia x media ‘Charity’
This is an imposing plant, ideal for the large shrub border. Upright stems are topped with dark holly like leaves and during November-January each one is crowned with lemon-yellow flowers, with long strings of blue-black fruits. 

Sometimes slow to establish, but happy in most soils and situations making it easy to grow to a height of 1.8m.
 
Vicky’s Top Tip
Prune back flowered shoots in spring to keep its shape. On more established plants, cut out two or three older stems to encourage new growth from the base.

Despite the darkness and the cold that November brings, I encourage you to wrap up warm and get out into the garden this month. For November is one of the best months for planting dormant bare root shrubs and trees, and if you want to move any plants in the garden now is the time to do it.  

It also a good month to plant Tulip bulbs. 

Triumphant Tulips
Nothing can beat tulips for creating a riot of spring colour, the sheer diversity among these bulbs as well as being available in almost every colour imaginable, makes them unbeatable. One of my favourite and most reliable tulips is ‘Ballerina’ it combines well with contrasting purple, whether that be another tulip or a spring flower. 
 
Planting in November or even December is recommended for tulips bulbs, when the soil is cold and pests are less active. The soil should be moist but not water-logged.
 
Vicky’s Top Tip 
For easy planting, dig a hole the depth and width of a small spade and plant in three’s and five’s to create a naturalistic look in the border.

A wonderful month for autumn colours, berries and seedheads.

As the days shorten and the temperature begins to drop, many deciduous plants come into their own, igniting planting schemes with blazes of colour. The soil is still warm from the summer sun and October is the perfect month to plant shrubs in your garden.  

Why not plant a shrub to provide your garden with autumn colour and interest?

Curious Callicarpa
Beautyberries are interesting deciduous shrubs grown for their wonderful autumn foliage and clusters of small purple berries to last through winter. 

Easy to grow, Callicarpa will thrive in most good garden soils, best planted in an open sunny position and will grow to a height of 1.5m.
 
Vicky’s Top Tip
Their habit can be somewhat chaotic, prune lightly in later winter to shape and control their size. 

I quite like this in between month, when summer is still lingering for one last month, and then slopes back home at sunset. The light is mellow and the occasional misty morning gives an atmosphere to the colour rich flower borders. 

Graceful Grasses
Add movement to your borders by planting grasses. Statuesque or short and tufty, grasses are an excellent foil for September flowers. They provide texture and can be woven through to unite planting schemes.  

There are many to choose from, one of my favourite is Stipa Gigantica, tall and graceful with its ephemeral oat-like yellow plumes, this grass creates a fine back drop for  any perennial combination. 

This grass is easy to grow, preferring full sun and well drained soil, reaching a height 2m.

Vicky's Top Tip
Trim in spring and comb through to remove any dead foliage. Be sure to wear gloves as leaves can be sharp.

I am not a lover of August and often take my family holidays now to escape the heat, the wasps and my shadow getting longer which only means that autumn is on its way. August is a busy month for harvesting, and the cut flowers are still coming.

Dazzling Dahlias
Dahlias come in a firework range of shapes and colours, some are spiky, some are pompom shape, and some just simple and single. The darker leaved varieties with single flowers are my favourite and these are some of the hardiest. ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ being one of the best, bringing zing and late colour to any flower border. 

Easy to grow dahlias can be purchased as a tuber in spring or as a pot grown plant later in May/June. Plant with plenty of organic matter and water well in dry spells. They prefer a sunny position and can grow to a height of around 85-90cm
 
Vicky’s Top Tip
Remove the cone shaped dead flower buds regularly to encourage new round fresh flower buds. This will encourage flowering until the first frosts

​As the temperature rises this month, I find myself sitting (rather than working) in the garden admiring the many flowers.

When the heat of the day subsides it is important to water pots and baskets and keep dead heading for lasting colour. 

Sassy Salvias
Salvias’ are a diverse group of plants, one of the most useful and hardy varieties is the shrubby kind that originate from Mexico. These produce a long-lasting show of flower spikes and keep a tidy habit. They are absolute bee magnets and a must for any garden. There are many varieties to choose from such ‘Hot Lips’, ‘Amethyst Lips’, ‘Cherry Lips’ all of which produce bicolour flowers. One of my favourites and one of the hardiest is ‘Black and Blue’.

Salvias will tolerate most aspects making them easy to grow, but they're best in full sun and well drained soil. Reaching a height 45cm-2.5m depending on the variety, the smaller varieties are ideal for pots and containers

Vicky’s Top Tip
Prune lightly in early winter to tidy, and then cut back hard in spring.

Flaming June, the garden is in full swing, the evenings are light and warm perfect for sitting out and admiring the garden.
 
Procumbent Roses
These versatile plants can be used for more than just ground cover, they need minimal maintenance and reliably provide displays of flower in summer and autumn. Most varieties grow to a height of 90cm and a spread of 5m
 
Procumbent Roses will thrive in most soils. They're best in a sunny open spot, ideal for banks or growing over walls. The roses are easy to grow and look good in pots.  
 
Vicky’s Top Tip
After first flush of flowers, trim over with shears and the flowers will keep coming right through until November.
Planted with other companions, the effect can be quite stunning

My favourite month of the year, the sun is higher in the sky and the days are not too hot. Every plant is actively growing and loving its life.  

Usually May is the month of the Chelsea Flower Show, but this year it's moving to September. However, for this month I must talk about the unofficial star of Chelsea.

Loveable Lupins
A cottage garden favourite, these soaring perennials come in a wide variety of colours and will draw attention wherever you plant them. 

They are so simple and easy to grow from seed, it seems a shame not to have a go. Plant established plants in sun or part shade in moist but well drained soil. Prefer a sheltered position and may need staking if exposed. 

Vicky’s Top Tip
Keep them well watered during dry periods to stop them getting white fly, which they can be prone to. Protect young plants from hungry slugs and snails.

My greenhouse is crammed full of germinating seeds, after promising my husband I wouldn’t go overboard this year! 

Spring is finally here. One of spring's pleasures and must have plants is the flowering cherry.

Prunus Kiku-Shidare Zakura
The best compact flowering cherry tree. A weeping variety perfect for the smaller garden. Steeply descending branches with clusters of large deep-pink double flowers, followed by bronze foliage which turns crimson and yellow in Autumn

Best planted between October and April, the cherry tree is ​easy to grow and ideal as a specimen tree in the lawn or in the border underplanted with hellebores and spring bulbs.
 
Vicky’s Top Tip
Japanese cherry trees are grafted so it is important to buy your tree from a reputable nursery. Azur Borders and Plants can you help you with this, as we can with all your plant purchases.

I am desperate for Spring to be here. Just when you think winter is over, March can deliver an icy blow of hail and even snow. However, the days are getting longer (hooray!) and by the end of the month BST will here again (double hooray!).

Cheery Cornus Sericea ‘Flaviramea’
Dogwoods bring a dash of cheer to any border through the winter months. The golden-twig dog wood is a medium size shrub producing a blaze of slender greenish-yellow stems, often turning lighter through winter. The ovate green leaves on display in summer turn red and orange in autumn and the plant provides small flat cream flowerheads as well as white berries.

Dogwoods are extremely easy to grow, they will tolerate almost any garden soil and aspect. Perfect for planting now, bareroot plants are still available until the end of the month.

Vicky’s Top Tip
The secret to a good display is annual pruning. Only the young stems carry zingy colour, as they age the more faded and gnarly they become. Prune hard in March.

I remain every hopeful that Spring is on its way, even the smallest flower can bring such delight to a gloomy February day. 

Sumptuously Scented Sarcoccoca Confusa
Also known as Christmas Box, this small hardy evergreen shrub gives off the most deliciously scented winter flowers. It has compact glossy green foliage, with white flowers and attractive black berry-like fruit. Christmas Box is ideal for growing in a pot by the front door. The plant is slow growing to a maximum height of 1.2m.

Easy to grow, Christmas Box plants prefer moist, well drained and humus rich soil. They're perfect planted in light shade under other trees and shrubs. Christmas Box can also be planted together to create a low hedge, as an alternative to common box. Containerised plants are readily available and can be planted now if the ground isn’t frozen.
 
Vicky’s Top Tip
Lightly prune with shears after flowering, to keep in a neat ball shape. 

​I always consider this to be one of the darkest months of the year. The artificial lights of Christmas are down and it is the end of the month before we begin to see the evenings draw out a little and a few early snowdrops or aconites beginning to show.

Hooray for Hellebores
I am not sure what it is about Hellebores which makes them so seductive, part of it maybe they put on a show whilst winter is still in full swing. These hardy perennial plants are not tall and cannot be accused of being flamboyant, but their flowers last for months, eventually fading to green. The range of colours is staggering from pure white to virtually black and in between soft pinks, rich purples, clarets, yellows and greens. 

Easy to grow, Hellebores prefers heavy, neutral to alkaline soil in partial shade. Many will tolerate full sun and most soil conditions but it's best to avoid excessively dry or wet conditions. They can be planted now if the ground isn’t frozen. Alternatively, plant in a pot and transfer to the border later in the spring. 

Vicky’s Top Tips 

• Make sure to mulch annually in autumn.
• Trim off old leaves ready to reveal the beautiful nodding flower heads.  
• In April or May trim off the faded flowers, dig up any seedlings from around the parent plant and plant elsewhere in the garden for further Hellebore delight.