Fast-growing annual flowers

Cheap and cheerful annual plants (which grow, flower and die in one year) provide quick colour, especially in areas of the garden that may be earmarked for another use in the longer-term. Seed catalogues list an enormous selection of annuals, including climbing versions such as sweet peas with scented flowers, canary creeper, various nasturtiums, and dwarf morning glory (use its botanical name of Convolvulus tricolor to avoid confusion with the true morning glory). These are all hardy annuals and a doddle to grow outdoors from seed sown from March in containers or in the ground.

Herbaceous perennials for flowers and foliage

These contribute height and bulk to gardens, but stop growing in winter. Some disappear until spring; others keep their old leaves and flowers, which can be cut down or left to look good during frosty spells. Most are grown for their flowers, but foliage plants such as hostas, grown in the ground or in pots, are also very attractive. There's a huge range of hostas with differing leaf shapes and colours, suitable for sun or shade. Delicate ferns are another beautiful addition to the garden, and not all need damp, dark corners to thrive.

Climbers

There are several herbaceous climbing plants, and the quickest and easiest to grow is probably the hop (Humulus lupulus), which is a vigorous twining plant that every year puts out 3-6m of growth, with an effective screen of 8-15cm lobed leaves. It has rough stems and leaves, which helps it cling but makes it painful to brush past, so position it carefully.

Grasses

There's a place for grasses in their own right, rather than in the lawn, in most gardens. And now that gardeners have recently re-discovered the beauty of the many different grasses and discovered their drought-resisting qualities, the selection on sale is increasing year by year. For more reading, go to our article Some foliage plant ideas.