Growing plants in conditions that allow them to flourish makes gardening a harmonious experience. When plants are where they want to be, they’ll let you know they’re happy, because they’re easier to look after and give better results – not only will they grow stronger, but they’ll also be less susceptible to pests and diseases.
Think about the conditions you have; how well the soil drains, how much sun you get and if the soil is acidic or not (if a rhododendron or an azalea grows well, that may be an indication it is acidic). Don’t think of your garden as one space, break it down into individual plots. Maybe the top gets the sun all day, but the bottom is always shady. Perhaps another spot is sheltered, while another is exposed.
Choosing plants that will thrive in each of those areas will allow you to make the most of every bit of your garden. And sometimes you can cheat – if you’re soil isn’t acidic, for example, you can still grow acid-loving plants in pots. Just use Verve Ericaceous Peat-Free Compost from B&Q.
Only have a small outdoor space? Vertical gardening is a clever way to overcome that, and if all you have is a sunny balcony, that can be used to grow crops that encourage bees. Sun-loving strawberry can be grown in vertical planters, window boxes or hanging planters, while herbs such as thyme and oregano can be grown in small spaces in the sun and will also attract bees if you let them flower before you snip off the shoots to use in your cooking.
Peatlands are valuable ecosystems that are home to a wide range of wildlife and naturally store harmful carbon. By using peat-free products instead of peat, these natural environments can be left untouched and will continue to thrive. B&Q has committed to being peat-free across its entire bagged range of composts in 2023, and it already offers a huge range of peat-free products, to ensure the plants in your garden can grow healthily without the need for peat. B&Q’s Good Home Peat-Free Multi-Purpose Compost is ideal for seed sowing and container planting, while the Good Home Peat-Free Beds & Borders Soil Improver will bulk up your soil without any need for peat – perfect for providing fertile ground for the year’s veg crops.
A pulmonaria is an attractive, bee-friendly plant that will light up any shady area in early spring, then continue to dazzle in summer with its gorgeous, patterned leaves. ‘Raspberry Splash’ has pretty red flowers that age beautifully to a wonderful purple.
Better known as stinking iris, this plant thrives in full shade. It has architectural evergreen foliage and purple-green flowers, but it comes into its own in autumn when its large seedpods open to reveal orange-red seeds that remain well into winter and even the start of spring.
This drought-tolerant perennial will add a touch of class to a sunny border where the soil is dry. It’s a neat plant, with established ones showing off masses of spiky, metallic grey and blue flowers in the summer, which still look good when the colder months arrive.
This lovely evergreen shrub has thick leaves in different colours and patterns and varies from a compact edging plant to a big border showpiece. Its flowers are loved by bees and moths. Once established, it grows well in sunny spots in soil that stays dry for long periods.
A rose is made to take pride of place in a sunny border, as the sun encourages the best quality flowers. Once established, it can cope with hot, dry spells – just keep deadheading for more blooms. Look out for B&Q’s gorgeous new ‘Queen Elizabeth II’ rose for the Jubilee.
Rosemary, bay and thyme will all thrive and produce their healthiest leaves when grown in full sun. As long as the soil is free draining, you can look forward to easy pickings without having to do a lot of work. Just water in dry spells in the first year after planting.
This perennial has beautiful, intricately shaped leaves and unusual flower spikes all through the summer. The flowers look a bit like a feather duster and thrive in soil that is always moist. It can cope with constantly wet conditions, as well as sun or shade.
This beautiful fern has fresh green leaves that will keep a damp spot looking as full and vibrant as the sunnier parts of your garden. It makes a large plant, and the leaves show good autumn colour with shades of golden yellow, before it dies down for winter, returning in spring.
Hanging baskets are a great way to add colour, height and interest to patios and balconies. The best plants to use are tender perennials and annuals such as verbena and petunia or even delicate bidens and bacopa. Use a lightweight, peat-free potting compost and mix in slow-release fertiliser granules and water-retaining gel before planting.
Let your garden bloom with B&Q
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