Dense shade under large trees, where the soil dries out in summer, is a difficult situation for plants, yet the following will flourish. Dig in plenty of organic matter before planting, and water well in summer.

• Cherry laurel (prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’) A dwarf shrub, about 60cm/2ft high, with long narrow shiny evergreen leaves and, in spring, spikes of white flowers. Makes excellent dense groundcover.

• Holly (Ilex aquifolium J.C. van Tor) Many hollies are suitable for shade with dry soil, but this variety bears particularly heavy crops of red berries. 6m/20ft. The evergreen leaves are almost spineless. Read the rest of this entry »

These are widely planted small trees which you could include in a shrub border to give extra height; or, if you prefer you could use them as isolated specimens, although none of them has a particularly distinctive shape.

• Autumn cherry (Prunus subhirtella `Autumnalis) An extremely useful deciduous tree for winter interest, as the small, semi-double, white flowers are produced, on and off, between late autumn and early spring. 6m/20ft. Any fertile soil is suitable. Sun or partial shade.
• Crab apple(Malus floribunda) Popular and beautiful deciduous spring-flowering tree. The arching branches bear masses of white flowers, from red buds. Later, small yellow and red fruits appear. About 4.5m/15ft. Sun or partial shade, fertile soil. Read the rest of this entry »

Certain ornamental plants will provide a low canopy of foliage sufficiently dense to prevent weeds from establishing beneath it. These are known as ground- cover plants. They enable you to keep a garden looking neat even if you lack the time or inclination for routine maintenance such as weeding and mowing. For example, they offer a labour-saving alternative to large areas of grass, or a way to reduce weeding between shrubs and roses. They will not suppress perennial weeds such as docks, nettles, bracken, couch grass and ground elder, so you must eradicate these before planting by spraying them when they are in full growth in spring and summer with a weedkiller containing glyphosate.

To get groundcover plants off to the best possible start, prepare the ground well by adding bulky organic matter, such as well-rotted farmyard manure or garden compost, and applying a dressing of blood, bone and fishmeal fertilizer. Read the rest of this entry »