A garden that is a haven for wildlife will have a sound ecological balance. Plants will be healthier and more vigorous. There will be freer seeding and less need for chemicals because there will be fewer problems with pests. Birds, hedgehogs and frogs are the gardener’s best ally against slugs. Beneficial insects such as lacewings (larvae), ladybirds and hoverflies (larvae) eat aphids. Essential requirements are food, shelter and water. If at all possible have a garden pond. Use a diverse range of native trees, scented shrubs and flowers and berried plants which provide birds with essential nutrients in winter. Climbers give cover and so make excellent sites for nests. Pollinating insects are attracted to pollen and nectar-rich plants such as snowdrops, hebe, honeysuckle, hyssopus, thyme, penstemon and buddleja (whose nickname is the Butterfly Bush). Quite apart from the practical benefits, there is the huge pleasure of having a resident population – can you imagine a garden without birdsong? and polygonatum handle both pollution and shade. Many roses do well in city conditions. A small amount of pollution can actually help combat black spot and fungal diseases.
Avoid a hotchpotch medley of colours. Mass planting in blocks of colour is much more effective: an all-blue bed, a hot bed of pinks, reds and oranges or a white colour scheme – marvellous by moonlight. For high drama, juxtapose clashing colours, a swathe of rudbeckia ‘Marmalade’ fl anked by crimson amaranthus, or nature’s wildflower contrast of scarlet field poppies with the intense blue of cornflowers. Colour can be used to punctuate: Purple ‘Queen of Night’ tulips in a sea of sunshine yellow doronicum or to light up dark corners; the fleshy pink petals of colchicum, the autumn crocus at the base of a tree. A cool combination for a contemporary garden would be a collection of silver foliage plants studded with green flowers, stately eucomis (the Pineapple Lily), spring-flowering euphorbia and Helleborus lividus, hacquetia and molucella (Bells of Ireland). It pays to do a little research into colour psychology. Your colour choices may say more about you than you think! Next time! Plants for Coastal Areas Bord Bia It’s Garden Time With thanks to Bord Bia for this article. For more information on Bord Bia and for further gardening tips and advice, visit http://www.bordbia.ie/consumer/gardening/itsgardentime/pages/gardentips.aspx
Essential requirements are food, shelter and water. If at all possible have a garden pond. Use a diverse range of native trees, scented shrubs and flowers and berried plants which provide birds with essential nutrients in winter. Climbers give cover and so make excellent sites for nests. Pollinating insects are attracted to pollen and nectar-rich plants such as snowdrops, hebe, honeysuckle, hyssopus, thyme, penstemon and buddleja (whose nickname is the Butterfly Bush). Quite apart from the practical benefits, there is the huge pleasure of having a resident population – can you imagine a garden without birdsong? and polygonatum handle both pollution and shade. Many roses do well in city conditions. A small amount of pollution can actually help combat black spot and fungal diseases. 
Avoid a hotchpotch medley of colours. Mass planting in blocks of colour is much more effective: an all-blue bed, a hot bed of pinks, reds and oranges or a white colour scheme – marvellous by moonlight. For high drama, juxtapose clashing colours, a swathe of rudbeckia ‘Marmalade’ fl anked by crimson amaranthus, or nature’s wildflower contrast of scarlet field poppies with the intense blue of cornflowers. Colour can be used to punctuate: Purple ‘Queen of Night’ tulips in a sea of sunshine yellow doronicum or to light up dark corners; the fleshy pink petals of colchicum, the autumn crocus at the base of a tree. A cool combination for a contemporary garden would be a collection of silver foliage plants studded with green flowers, stately eucomis (the Pineapple Lily), spring-flowering euphorbia and Helleborus lividus, hacquetia and molucella (Bells of Ireland). It pays to do a little research into colour psychology. Your colour choices may say more about you than you think! Next time! Plants for Coastal Areas Bord Bia It’s Garden Time With thanks to Bord Bia for this article. For more information on Bord Bia and for further gardening tips and advice, visit http://www.bordbia.ie/consumer/gardening/itsgardentime/pages/gardentips.aspx 
