Planting & sowing

Master 10 key skills for your best-ever gardening year

Master 10 key skills for your best-ever gardening year

✓ Fuss-free advice with no jargon

✓ Easy-to-follow instructions

✓ Top tips for success every time

How to plant in a border

There will be a lot of plants to add to borders as spring progresses and the soil warms up. Potted summer bulbs, perennials, shrubs, roses and trees can all be planted in gaps to give the area an instant lift. Get the planting right with plants securely slotted into their new home and they will bring joy to the garden; some for months, some for many years.

You will need

Spade

Digging fork

Hand fork

Garden kneeler

Peat-free compost (bagged or homemade)

Watering can

TOP TIP

Use a piece of wood to scrape soil off your spade or trowel blade after planting, so it doesn't feel heavy to use

STEP BY STEP How to plant potted lilies in a border

1 Dig a hole slightly bigger than the size of the pot, then ease the plant out of its pot, holding it upside down.

2 Lower the lilies into the hole and plant at the same depth as they were in the pot. Add compost to the soil as you fill the hole.

3 Firm the soil around the base of the plant to ensure that it is well anchored and that the roots are in full contact with the soil.

4 Water the plant well, until puddles start to form on the soil surface. Water again next time the soil looks pale and dusty.

Do's and don'ts

DO remove weeds growing in the plant's pot before planting.

Do check roots of new potted plants for white grubs (vine weevil).

DO break up the soil at the bottom of the planting hole with a fork.

DO take care not to tread on plants close to where you are planting.