In your garden THIS MONTH

May has one foot in spring and the other in summer, so step outside and enjoy the changing of the seasons

- Louise Midgley

It takes imagination and a little forethought to create a garden that caters to your individual needs. Whether you want to prioritise the space for children, pets, growing your own produce or creating a wildlife sanctuary, a designated area where you can enjoy al fresco meals with friends and family is a must-have for many of us.

Choose a spot in your garden that catches the sun at the time of day you’re most likely to make use of it. Bring in some comfy seating, outdoor lights (turn to p120 for some atmospheric ideas) or even your very own garden bar – these will all help to make the space feel like a natural extension of your home, and a relaxing space to unwind.

Position scented plants next to your seating areas and you’ll be able to appreciate the smell at close quarters while you dine. Think pretty climbing sweet peas and honeysuckle to twine around supports, or statement pots filled with intensely fragranced heliotropes and lavenders.

This is a busy month for green-fingered gardeners – from keeping on top of the weeds and giving the lawn a weekly cut, to sowing seeds for vegetables, herbs and flowering plants, there’s much to do now the days are longer and warmer.

Sow seeds of biennials such as foxgloves, sweet rocket, hollyhocks and honesty. Biennials produce foliage in their first year and flower in their second and you don’t need a greenhouse to germinate the seeds of these hardy plants.