v THE HERALD - INDEPENDENT AND PROUD OF IT v 6th August 2026 • The HERALD • Page 61 DOWN THE GARDEN PATH RYAN FENCING Quality Fencing & Gates 07769 706516 • 023 8084 1203 www.ryan-fencing.co.uk • Find us on Facebook A J GLEESON BUILDING & GROUNDWORK DRIVEWAYS EXTENSIONS BRICKWORK GROUNDWORK BLOCK PAVING Colours & Designs to suit your requirements Local Work Available to View CALL FOR A FREE QUOTATION New Forest & Southampton 023 8084 4180 Mobile: 07770 771475 Bramdene, Main Road, Dibden, Southampton Licence number: CBDL41292 • HEDGE CUTTING • FENCING • PATIOS • TURFING • GARDEN CLEARANCES & MORE For a FREE quotation please call 023 8122 4550 or 07548 355262 AUTUMN LEAF GARDEN WORKS GUIDE TO PLANTING FOR SUN, SHADE AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN Advice from British Garden Centres Not sure what to plant where? You’re not alone. Many new gardeners worry about sun-scorched patios, gloomy corners, or wind-lashed borders that never seem to thrive. e truth is that every spot has a plant that will love it; you need to match the right one to the right place. From bee-friendly lavender that thrives in gravel gardens to bold hostas that transform shade into a feature, there are proven choices for even the trickiest spaces. To take the guesswork out, the team at British Garden Centres have named their most reliable, low-fuss plants for every type of UK garden. For the sun traps Sunny borders, south-facing patios and gravel gardens are some of the easiest spots to plant well, provided you choose things that genuinely like to bake. Lavender is the obvious classic, and for good reason, as it copes brilliantly with poor, dry soil and rewards you with scent and bees all summer long. Salvias have become hugely popular in recent years too, owering for months on end and coming in everything from so pastels to rich, velvety purples and reds. For height and movement, Verbena bonariensis is hard to beat, sending up tall, wiry stems topped with small purple owerheads that seem to oat above everything else in the border. Roses, of course, remain a sun-loving staple for anyone wanting a more traditional look, while sedums are perfect for gardeners who want something almost entirely maintenance-free, holding their structure right through to autumn. For the shady corners A shady garden doesn’t have to mean a boring one. Hostas are the go-to choice for many gardeners, and with good reason, as their bold, o en enormous leaves in blues, greens and creamy variegation bring real presence to a border with very little work. Ferns are wonderfully reliable in damp shade too, o ering that lush, woodland feel that’s particularly e ective under trees or against a north-facing wall. For colour when the rest of the garden has gone quiet, hellebores are unbeatable, owering through the depths of winter and into early spring when almost nothing else will. Astilbes bring so , feathery plumes of colour to shadier, moisture-retentive soil, and heucheras are brilliant for foliage colour all year round, brightening even the gloomiest corner with their rich purples, ambers and limes. For windy and exposed gardens Anyone gardening on the coast, or simply in a spot that catches every gust going, needs plants that can take a battering without giving up. Escallonia is a real workhorse here, forming a dense, glossy evergreen hedge that shrugs o salt-laden winds. Griselinia littoralis is another coastal favourite for the same reason, its shiny leaves standing up to weather that would shred more delicate foliage. Hebes are wonderfully forgiving too, staying compact and owering reliably even when battered by wind, and ornamental grasses come into their own in exposed sites, bending and rippling in the breeze rather than snapping. For something a little di erent, sea thri brings pretty pink pompom owers and copes brilliantly with the kind of thin, sandy soil o en found in windswept gardens. For the trickier spots Dry shade, o en found beneath hedges, established trees or overhanging eaves, is one of the hardest conditions to plant for, but epimediums, brunnera and geranium macrorrhizum all cope remarkably well once settled in. Boggy or waterlogged soil calls for plants that actively enjoy having wet feet, such as astilbe, ligularia and Japanese iris. For anyone gardening in containers or a smaller space, dwarf conifers, compact box and patio roses give structure and interest without ever outgrowing their welcome. And for gardeners who simply want something that looks good without constant attention, a mix of ornamental grasses, hardy geraniums and evergreen shrubs will do almost all the work for you. Julian Palphramand, Head of Plants at British Garden Centres, said: “A successful, low-maintenance garden is simply a matter of choosing the right plant for the right spot. If you match your plants to their preferred light, soil, and exposure, they will do the hard work for you, saving you time, effort, and disappointment, making way for a beautiful outdoor space.” Hostas (Credit: Shutterstock)
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