Gardening tips: think outside the herb garden with marjoram

Plant this Marjoram isn’t only for herb gardens. Origanum laevigatum ‘Herrenhausen’ is a brilliant sunny-border bee magnet that is covered in purple flowers all summer long. It’s fully hardy, dying back in winter to return each spring. Height and spread: 45cm x 60cm.

Try this If your once-lush borders are looking sadly past their best, here’s an easy cheat: parachute in pots of pelargoniums, dahlias or agapanthus (often to be found on sale at garden centres at this time of year) and plonk them on to bare ground to fill gaps.

Hear this Taken up gardening during lockdown but aren’t sure how to start raising plants yourself? Garden writer Alice Vincent’s new audiobook, Seeds From Scratch, will make sure the germination of your growing career is successful.