5 ways to be a great gardener

Understanding and accommodating the limitations of your garden will save time, money and effort over the long term. Here are a few tips for building and maintaining a beautiful garden.

Develop what's already in your garden, rather than try to change it. If your land is badly drained, for example, think about planting a bog garden instead of installing an expensive drainage system.

Plants can become stressed and pest- or disease-prone when they are out of their comfort zone.

• Observe and record the names of plants that thrive in your area, and the ones that don't.
• Rather than visit show gardens, seek out overgrown areas and gardens with mature plants to identify the plants that will survive on neglect.
• Get rid of plants that continually struggle to survive. If your area doesn't get enough sun, stop hankering for sun-loving plants and go for ones that prefer the shade.
• If your lawn isn't getting enough light or there's too much root competition under trees, replace the grass with a ground cover that tolerates shade.

Before buying a plant, find out about its growth habit, including its mature height and width, and plant accordingly, otherwise it will need a lot of maintenance.

Mimic nature by covering the soil with organic mulch. As well as providing regular nourishment to the soil and suppressing weeds, mulch keeps the soil cool and cuts down on moisture loss

Every garden needs at least one tree. Trees offer a wealth of benefits, such as water conservation, to your immediate surroundings and add to the natural beauty of your local area.

• If you plant a tree, you're providing shade, shelter, perches, roosts and food for birds, animals and insects.

The best way to be a great gardener and have a garden you're proud of is to work with nature, not against it.