Take your time when planting new acquisitions. The more attention they are given, the better they will establish themselves and the better they will continue growing. After all, there is no point in buying or raising plants from seed only to kill them later on. The techniques are simple and mainly common sense, but they are worth emphasizing.

The importance of good soil preparation has already been explained, but it is worth restating that soil must be properly prepared prior to any planting. Even if you are just filling a gap in a bed or border, it is still worth digging cover the spot, removing any weeds and adding well rotted garden compost to rejuvenate it. An hour or so before planting, give the plants, still in their pots, a through watering.

If the weather is wet or the soil very wet, avoid planting until it has dries out or you will compact the soil. If it is necessary to get on with the planting, use a plank of wood to walk on to spread your weight.

How to find the right place? There are two considerations to make when deciding where to plant, one visual and the other physical. Whether you are planting up a whole border or just filling a small gap, it is important to try to visualize what the small plant you have in your hand will look like when it is fully grown.

You will have to consider how big your plant will eventually become and how it will relate to its neighbors. Is it far enough away from them to avoid swamping them? Is it short enough not to hide the plants behind it or tall enough to be seen over the plants in front? Is it the right color and shape for this spot? All these things must be considered before you start to plant. It is especially important to get it right the first time with perennials, if you can, as you may not want to move them for several years.