Did you know it is normal for Allium leaves to die back as the flower buds open? Nothing wrong with the plant at all - it's just that they lose all interest in looking after their leaves once they have their flower buds. The unsightly foliage is best dealt with by planting amongst low-growing leafy plants to hide it!

Take a look at Purple Sensation for strong colour and Christophii for spectacular large heads on short stems.

Alliums are very drought tolerant (think last summer), great as cut and dried flowers, and bee-friendly too, so definitely a must-have for your garden.

Catherine McMillan gives top gardening tips on Felixstowe Radio. Listen every Friday.
Felixstowe Radio 107.5fm
www.felixstoweradio.org.uk

Catherine McMillan gives top gardening tips on Felixstowe Radio. Listen every Friday.

This week she explains the basics to successful hanging basket displays.

Felixstowe Radio 107.5fm
www.felixstoweradio.org.uk

Catherine McMillan gives top gardening tips on Felixstowe Radio. Listen every Friday.

Gardening is all about timing. This week she talks tackling weeds, chopping ornamental grasses, and puts the spotlight on Alliums.

Felixstowe Radio 107.5fm
www.felixstoweradio.org.uk

Easter lockdown activity: Different plants like different amounts of light, so as you are at home this weekend take the opportunity to find out where the sunny and shady spots are in your garden.

You could take photos every hour or two, but if you have children in the household keep them busy by getting them to mark the edges of the shadows as they move throughout the day (making sure they note the times for each marker). They could use hoses, twine, canes, scarves, socks – whatever they can find!

Less than two hours of sunshine is deep shade and you probably won’t get anything much to grow. More than six hours of sunshine counts as full sun. And in between is partial shade.

Anything that wants shade or part-shade shouldn’t really be planted where they are going to get the hottest midday sun: plants like Hydrangeas, white Dicentras, Fuchsias and gold-leaf shrubs can end up frazzling.

Armed with this information you can now pick the best plants for each spot.

Fun with flowers! Lockdown entertainment part 487.

Entertain the youngsters, or amuse yourself, with cheery violas. Too small for vases so display them in saucers of water, which will also keep the flowers fresh for the children to play with again tomorrow.

Catherine McMillan gives top gardening tips on Felixstowe Radio. Listen every Friday.

This week she explains why you garden might lack late colour, recommends photographing this spring's bulb display to help you plan next year's show, and suggests some lockdown entertainment that will make a world of difference to your gardening success.

Felixstowe Radio 107.5fm
www.felixstoweradio.org.uk

Dicentra, Lampracapnos, Bleeding Heart, Lady in the Bath (you'll need to turn the flowers upside-down for the last one to make any sense) ...

Whatever you know them as, find some room in your garden for one or more, as they are a great early-season perennial.

Pink 'Dicentra spectabilis' is happy in shade or sun, while the white version actually prefers shade. They will make a good show until late May, when they will die back (be sure to mark where they are with a label as they die down completely), making them great for pairing with late-flowering perennials such as Penstemons, Fuchsias and Dahlias. Next spring expect them to pop back up covering twice the space.

Catherine McMillan gives top gardening tips on Felixstowe Radio. Listen every Friday.

This week she tells you to take the chance to hack your honeysuckle, to hold fire on Penstemon pruning, and talks pansies, violas and daffofils.

Felixstowe Radio 107.5fm
www.felixstoweradio.org.uk