Summer

Looking to create a charming cottage garden feel in your garden? Marcus Eyles picks the plants you need

Expert plantswoman Esther Schonenberg of Festina Lente gives her advice on creating a long season of colour in the garden

Traditional bedding plants like begonias and busy lizzies aren't as good for the environment as you might think...

There are plenty of colourful plants that will ensure your garden remains fresh and bright throughout summer into autumn. Here are ten plants for late-summer colour, recommended by plantswoman Marina Christopher

As summer reaches its peak Tom Brown, the head gardener at West Dean Gardens, picks his favourite August flowers. Photographs Jason Ingram

You might think you hate yellow in the garden - but have you considered pale yellow? This versatile shade combines beautifully with many other colours and can make a border sing

A selection of planting ideas from the Filippis’ Le Jardin Sec in France, which specialises in planting for drought.

Persicaria are versatile perennials with late season, brightly coloured flower spikes on hearty green plants from July through to late October. Plantsman Rory Dusoir shares his advice on how to grow persicaria and where to plant it.

Lupins give spires of dazzling colour in late spring and early summer, and are once more gaining in popularity. Plant expert John Hoyland shares his advice on growing lupins and recommends the best.

Plant expert John Hoyland explains how to grow dianthus, where to plant it and when to take dianthus cuttings.

In the heatwave, make sure you're watering your plants at the right time of day

Discover some of the best July flowers and plants including a graceful daylily and a dwarf, claret sunflower

Discover the indestructible varieties that designers, head gardeners and flower growers rely on: the top easy-to-grow, long-lived, pest- and disease-free performers for your garden

Biennials bring colour to spring and summer borders - and are easy to grow from seed. Sissinghurst head gardener Troy Scott-Smith shows how to grow biennials and the best flowers to choose.

Make sure you've got the perfect blooms in the garden for summer. Tom Brown, head gardener and tutor at West Dean College, recommends his favourites.

These popular, high-impact summer flowers come in a wide range of forms and colours and are designer favourites as well as magnets for bees and butterflies

Looking to add more drought tolerant plants to your garden? Annie Godfrey of Daisy Roots nursery recommends some of the best drought tolerant plants.

Want a lovely garden full of beautiful plants but not to have to spend lots of time growing, pruning, watering and mollycoddling them? These are the best low-care plants if you don’t have time for (or interest in) gardening

Three gardening experts recommend 17 of the best contemporary bedding plants, which pollinators will love, for stunning displays

Create a buzz in your garden by adding the plants that bees love best.

Fragrant, drought tolerant and easy to grow, lavenders are popular plants that suit many different styles of garden. Discover more with our lavender expert grow guide.

Vibrant rudbeckias bring bold colour to the garden in late summer and autumn. Here's how to grow them, and the best varieties to choose