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Alpines, with their often exquisite and delicate flowers, are found at high altitude above the treeline in some of the most extreme and exposed places in the world. However, you don鈥檛 have to live on a mountain to enjoy these little gems; a backyard, balcony or windowsill of any size will make a great home for a selection of alpine plants.聽

Alpine plants are very cheap to buy which means you can experiment freely with your planting ideas and change your display as and when you feel like it. Just remember that some alpines will become dormant so take care not to dig up any sleeping plants!

Monty filled a stone alpine trough in a sunny position with a 50:50 mix of peat-free, multi-purpose compost and grit. He chose plants from sunny, rocky mountains and scree slopes, a full list of which is given below:聽

• Androsace sarmentosa (Rock jasmine)
• Androsace studiosorum 'Doksa' (Rock jasmine)
• Armeria juniperifolia 'Brookside' (Juniper-leaved thrift)
• Erodium x kolbianum 'Natasha'
• Gypsophila cerastioides (Mouse-ear gypsophila)
• Orostachys spinosa (Spiny pennywort)
• Saxifraga cotyledon (Pyramidal saxifrage)
• Sedum spathulifolium 'Cape Blanco' (Spoon-leaved stonecrop)
• Thymus 'Bressingham' (Thyme)聽

(www.alpinegardensociety.net)

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
20a Inverleith Row
Edinburgh
EH3 5LR
Tel. 0131 552 7171

Rachel visited the extraordinary alpine collection at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and met Alpine Supervisor, John Mitchell. John has travelled the world to observe plants in the wild and collect material, including rarities such as Dionysia afghanica from the limestone cliffs in Northwestern Afghanistan and Hepatica falconeri from Kurdistan.

The alpine displays are at their best in the spring but have something interesting to see each season.聽 If you fancy a visit, check out the link below.

(www.rbge.org.uk)

Box blight has taken a hold at Longmeadow and some of Monty鈥檚 hedging is really suffering. In response, he is removing the worst affected plants and replacing them with yew.

Container-grown plants are available all year round and can be planted at any time. Just make sure to water the plants regularly and be especially careful during dry spells and hot weather to ensure they have enough moisture. Root-balled or bare-root plants are available from October to April. They are cheaper to buy but require planting as quickly as possible after purchasing so they are not out of the ground for too long. Shop around and then decide what鈥檚 best for you in terms of price and time of planting.聽

Monty chose to use yew but there are other plants that would work like box as a closely clipped hedge:

• Ilex crenata (box-leaved holly)
• Lonicera nitida (Wilson's honeysuckle)
• Pittosporum tobira 'Nanum' (Japanese pittosporum)
• Sarcococca ruscifolia

(apps.rhs.org.uk)

Wildside Nursery
Green Lane
Buckland Monachoram
nr Yelverton
Devon
PL20 7NP

In 2014, Wildside willl be open for the first five days of June, July and August. The erythroniums will be over by then, but there will be plenty of other exciting plants to see. Please make sure you check their website before you visit.

(www.wileyatwildside.com)

Sweet pea plants (especially those that have become tall and leggy) can be pinched out now. Simply nip out the tip of each plant using your fingers or a small pair of scissors, just above a set of leaves. In doing so, you鈥檒l encourage the plant to develop more side-shoots and produce more flowers for you to cut and enjoy.聽

(apps.rhs.org.uk)

Herbaceous perennials and tall annuals can be damaged by the weather as they grow. Some also become top heavy and may flop onto other garden plants as they mature over the summer. Getting in early and providing a backbone or frame for these plants will pay dividends later. Use your favourite plant support (bamboo canes, metal stakes, pea sticks, whatever you fancy) and create a structure which is capable of supporting growth without confining the plant.

(apps.rhs.org.uk)

For early crops, sow courgette seed indoors. Plant one or two seeds 13mm (0.5in) deep in a small pot, water in and place somewhere warm (minimum temperature 13掳C). Once germinated, make sure the emerging seedlings have plenty of light. If you鈥檝e sown two per pot, weed out the weakest and, once the remaining seedling is well-rooted (check for signs of root coming out of the bottom of the pot), harden off and plant out once all threat of frost has gone.

(www.rhs.org.uk)