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The right plants and location

Every plant makes specific demands of its location. By choosing and combining plants according to their natural preferences, you can create the conditions for long-lasting, functioning plant arrangements...

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Use a calendar for flowering times

When planning a new bed, it’s worth drawing up a calendar of the flowering times of your chosen plants. You can then determine at a glance whether you will have something flowering all the way through from spring to autumn and whether there will always be food available for the butterflies and bees.

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Use ready-made mixed perennial sets

If you don’t have the time to plan your combination of plants yourself, garden centres stock ready-made mixed perennial sets for all kinds of locations from sunny to shady and from dry to moist.

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Hot summers and prolonged dry spells have resulted in people looking for plants that don't need as much water. These include various types of Euphorbia, Livingstone daisy, Nepeta, and Sedums. Plants such as the purple coneflower (pictured) can cope with dry spells too. If a plant has silver-grey, hairy leaves, this is a sign that it is especially tolerant of drought. The light reflects the sunlight and therefore doesn't overheat, while the fine hairs minimise water evaporation.

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Draught-resistant choices

Balconies and patios are extreme locations for trees and shrubs as plant pots offer limited space for their roots. They are therefore more exposed to the heat in the summer and the cold in the winter than plants grown in protective garden soil. This calls for particular care when choosing plants. Hardy, robust varieties such as small varieties of ceanothus, nandina and loropetalum are all good choices.

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Providing the amount of water the plants need

In contrast, phlox, delphinium and hydrangea count among the especially thirsty ornamental plants. Make sure your plants get the exact amount of water they need by installing an automatic watering system. Using collected rainwater for this is especially kind to plants. In addition to perennials, no plant concept would be complete without shrubs and trees. Woody plants come in a wide array of different sizes. Small-growing plants and varieties trained to grow on a trellis or in an umbrella shape are also suitable for front gardens or in planters on a patio.

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Every drop counts

Water is one of the most important resources in the world. That’s why it’s so important to be mindful about how much of this precious resource you are using, including when watering your garden. 

Read tips to use water wisely