Filling those garden gaps between established plants, especially when they develop bare stems as they grow, not only adds extra interest but also provides homes for insects, bees, reptiles and frogs, preserves the soil moisture and deters weeds from taking over.
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There are many plants suitable for this task including annuals, perennials and small shrubs but the position in which they are to be used must be considered before making your choice as some may be burnt by full sun if too exposed.
Agapanthus make attractive foliage clumps all year round and when in flower their beautiful striking blooms on tall stems make a bold statement in the garden with new dwarf varieties now available.
All prefer full sun, are not fussy as to soil type and are drought-tolerant.
The evergreen azaleas, especially the smaller growing varieties, are ideal subjects as fill-ins for dappled shaded spots.
The Kurume azaleas will grow happily in full sun if well-mulched to keep their shallow roots moist and cool in summer.
Azalea's neat, compact growth habit and length of flowering time allows them to blend beautifully with many other garden plants with the exception of large rhododendrons whose company they do not suit.
Hypericum calycinum is a hardy, low-growing, prostrate, evergreen shrub most adaptable to planting under shady trees or for edging shrub beds.
The single buttercup-yellow flowers are freely borne on this rather nice little plant that reaches about 30cms high.
The small, blue daisy flowers of Agathea coelestis provide welcome colour for most of the year and even after being cut back they will soon burst into flower once again.
Just 30cms high but often spreading over twice this height makes it perfect for sunny banks and borders.
Many other daisies are also valued fillers for bare patches in the garden as they are fast growing, tough and long-flowering.
Among them are the white shasta daisy and the many-coloured forms of the marguerite daisy.
Their ease of growth under the most unfavourable conditions makes them a real asset for those awkward spots.
Many grey-leafed plants make interesting subjects to fill vacant spots in the garden, their colour contrasting well with the green foliage that so often surrounds them.
The dusty miller, Centaurea cineraria is an excellent example of such plants with its silvery felted leaves on a low, compact shrub no more than 90cms in height adding a dramatic highlight to any dull spot.
On a lower growing level but equally effective is one of my favourite groundcovers the charming lamb's lugs, Stachys lantata, which spreads its silvery white velvety leaves over the ground to a height of around 20cms.
It prefers sunshine but I have known it to grow quite well in light shade.
Many annuals and herbaceous perennials can be used successfully in a new garden while waiting for the permanent plants to increase in size.
By filling in the empty spaces in your garden it will make it far easier to maintain and the general beauty will be greatly enhanced.
Diary
March 7: North West Lilium Society meeting at Penguin Baptist Centre, Ironcliffe Road, 1pm. Visit: www.liliestasmaina.com.au
March 17: Australian Native Plant Society, Max Fry Hall, Gorge Road, Trevallyn, 7.30pm. Speaker is Dr Tanya Bailey, Climate Future Plots Project: establishing an ecological research network to help adapt to a changing climate. Visitors welcome.
March 18: Launceston Horticultural Society meeting, Windmill Hill Hall, High Street, Launceston, 8pm. Visit: www.launcestonhorticultural.org.au
March 21: Annual Tasmanian Cactus & Succulent Exhibition, Australian Italian Club, 414 Westbury Road Prospect, 10am-3pm. Enquiries John Stuart 0418 316 152.