Avoid a monotonous scene - ensure that your choice of plants (be they trees, shrubs, alpines or herbaceous perennials) includes those that flower at different times of the year, so there's always colour and variety.

Bulbs give seasonal splashes of colour throughout the year, with distinctive colour and form at ground level. They'll push up their flower buds above low growing plants, and are ideal for planting beneath trees and leggy shrubs.

Low spreading conifers and taller evergreens provide a permanent and unchanging backdrop to seasonal plants.

For some ideas, take a look at plants for different places and select the appropriate categories.