Brightening up your garden

Hot colours, such as bold reds, yellows, oranges and bright pinks, grab the eye and make a garden pop. Designers often use masses of hot colours to make a big garden feel more intimate, although many gardeners plant them simply for their stand-out hues.

During the spring months, red, orange and yellow flowers lift their heads to the sun, often mixed in with the soft pastels of spring bulbs.
Creating a hot colour scheme in your garden is easy, just pick the right colour and kind of plants, and add balance with a few cool-toned varieties. Bright colours add drama and bring the area into the foreground. Hot colours work best in sunny gardens, and as they appear closer they make a garden feel more intimate.
When grouping plants, keep in mind whether they need similar conditions and will flower at the same time.

Plants to try

Clivias – Versatile, hardy and full of colour, clivia can be grown in beds or pots, and look fabulous in mass plantings. Plant out of direct sunlight, such as underneath trees, or anywhere shaded. Evergreen plants, they look great all year round, with deep green foliage and bright orange flowers. Clivias are easy to grow, and are clumping plants so initially space them at least 30cm apart. Plant in free draining soil, with the roots below the soil’s surface.

Dahlias – The best time to plant dahlias is now (October), although they can be planted anytime from mid-August through to late December. Dahlias love sun, so choose a nice sunny spot in your garden, and plant in well drained, loamy soil. Plant dahlia tubers about 5-10cm deep and about 50cm apart with the eye facing upwards. Water well, and keep moist being careful not to over-water. For plenty of flowers, pinch out the tops of your dahlia plants after the second set of leaves has developed.

Roses – Roses are some of the most popular and beautiful flowering shrubs grown, however the thought of thorns puts many gardeners off growing them. It’s important to choose a site receiving at least six hours of sun each day, and to plant in well-drained, fertile soil. Plant dormant roses now (in early spring) or in autumn. Potted plants can be planted any time between spring and autumn, but preferably now.