Don’t deadhead
Deadheading is important to prolong flowering, but a recent Gardening Which? trial showed that Begonia Non-stop Rose Petticoat, Dahlia Diablo Mixed (Dahlia hortensis Diablo) and Verbena Quartz (Verbena x hybrida Quartz) flowered just as well without being deadheaded. And don’t feel you have to cut back perennials over the winter as the seedheads on agapanthus, poppies, sedums and many grasses will give interest to your garden over winter.

And remember…
Look after your soil: it’s your secret weapon in minimising gardening chores. Digging in plenty of organic matter such as well-rotted manure, homemade compost or leaf mould will increase its fertility, aeration and water-retaining ability. Finally, avoid weeding by applying a mulch of bark chippings or gravel so that weeds can’t get a foothold.

Top-ten plants for the impatient gardener:
Mexican orange blossom (Choisya ternate)
Potato vine (Solanum jasminoides)
Feather grass (Stipa tenuissima)
Verbena (Verbena bonariensis)
Bear’s breeches (Acanthus mollis)
New Zealand cabbage palm (Cordyline australis)
Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia)
Geranium (Pelargonium)
Mahonia (Mahonia japonica)
The pittosporum family