Summer Bedding

It's hard to resist the lure of summer bedding plants as they hit garden centre staging at this time of year, and for many it marks the true start of their gardening year - in coming weeks you’ll be seeing front gardens bursting into colour as owners get planting. If you're new to gardening the choice of plants and colours on offer can be overwhelming so it’s worth two trips to the garden centre (or a think stop in the cafe before buying!) to first decide on a planting plan - try to avoid those impulse purchases and make a careful choice to bring colour and scent to the garden right up until the first frosts of autumn.

Think about the colours you want to work with, the space you have for planting, and the scope for extending displays into containers and hanging baskets. Have fun with your plans, this is an annual event so try something different. I always end up using shades of purple, pink and white so I'm trying to break away from this in 2010. If you lack inspiration look no further than your local park or garden attraction - our parks and stately homes have some of the best bedding displays in the world and they are sure to get your creative juices flowing.

When buying your plants make sure they have been well watered by the retailer and that foliage is green and healthy, but do look out for bargains after the key bank holiday sales periods - prices will be at a premium before then. Once you are stocked up, or have hardened off your own stocks, it's time to get planting.

Think about adding perennial plants to your designs or use them as a backdrop for a smoother, gradual change to the scheme in autumn. Sow Rudbeckia seeds now for replacing finished bedding plants later in the season - they will help fill the widening gaps and their blooms will last well into October.

Step by step
Planting bedding in open ground

1) Prepare the area by digging over and removing weeds. Rake in fish, blood and bone at a rate of 70g per sq m (2oz per sq yard) level the surface with the rake.

2) Lay out plants in their pots before planting, trying to avoid straight lines of plants. Spacing will vary from 6-12in (15-30cm) depending on the variety. Use a trowel to dig planting holes and firm plants in by hand.

3) Water all new displays after planting. Bedding plants are thirsty and will need daily watering in height of summer. Sprinkler systems help to make the job easier - as long as we don’t get hit with a hose pipe ban this summer.