dahlia £6.99
Position: full sunSoil: fertile, humus-rich soilRate of growth: average Flowering period: June to SeptemberHardiness: half hardyShowy, flamboyant and available in a range of brilliant colours and strong shapes, dahlias are becoming popular again, as a way of adding bold splashes of colour to the garden in summer. ‘Arabian Knight has masses of fully double, dark wine-red flowers with slightly incurved petals from June until the first frosts. Under certain light the petals of this small dahlia appear almost black. An ideal companion for plum-coloured flowers and foliage plants, it needs a sheltered, sunny site with fertile, humus-rich soil.Garden care: Stake with canes or brushwood as it becomes necessary.Deadhead and feed regularly to prolong flowering. Provide ahigh-nitrogen liquid feed each week in June, then a high-potashfertiliser each week from July to September. Once the first frosts haveblackened the foliage, carefully lift and clean the tubers and allowthem to dry naturally indoors. Place the dry tubers in a shallow tray,just covered with slightly moist potting compost, sand or vermiculite.Store in a frost-free place, checking frequently over the wintermonths. In warmer areas, tubers may be left to overwinter in theground, although they may suffer from slug damage, particularly inheavy clay soils.

Mexican feather grass £3.99
Position: full sunSoil: moderately fertile, medium to light, well-drained soilRate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: June to September Flower colour: silver-green maturing to blonde-buffOther features: N/AHardiness: fully hardyWonderful, wispy, pale yellow-green leaves topped with fluffy plumes of silver-green flowers, maturing to blonde-buff. This versatile deciduous grass is ideal for a sunny gravel garden, large container or new perennial border. It’s perfect for introducing movement into a planting scheme since the fluffy flower heads and foliage billow in the slightest breeze.Garden care: Cut back in early spring before the new foliage appears.