Garden Party Time

Weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, or just plain old barbecues - the garden is a great place for holding summer parties. There's plenty of space for your guests and it seems to engender a more relaxed atmosphere. And if you are proud of your garden, what better way to show it off?

A bit of titivation is usually needed to bring the late summer garden to party time perfection. About two weeks before the party I usually go round the garden with secateurs and shears in hand, chopping and trimming ruthlessly. Plants such as hardy geraniums and lady's mantle often get untidy at this time of year - if they are chopped back they will grow a fresh dome of foliage in a fortnight's time. This is also the time to deadhead any repeat flowering plants in order to stimulate new blooms. Roses, penstemons, geum, anthemis, plus many annuals and tender perennials will benefit from this treatment.

If you have some gaps in your borders, there are various ways to fill them. You can plug them with some purchased bedding plants, or perhaps pop a pretty pot, ornament or garden light in the space.

The day before the party is the time to mow the lawn and trim the edges - it is surprising how this treatment lifts the whole of the garden. You might find you need to re-arrange your containers, as often the patio or terrace area will be quite busy and lots of pots may get in the way. You might like to move some to highlight the entrance to the garden, or to decorate a seating area.

If your's is an evening party, give some thought to the lighting. Food and drink areas require clear lighting, so electric garden lights are best. But for less busy areas of the garden, you can use candles, lamps and fairy lights to highlight the gardens best features. Nightlight type candles can be put in glass jam jars and placed in the borders for a soft glow.

In the unpredictable British climate it is always wise to have a contingency plan for wet weather. If you are organising a very grand party then you might already have a marquee in mind. Otherwise, you may need an awning of some sort for your guests to shelter under. The tent like gazebos sold by garden centres and DIY stores are very useful for this purpose, but even a tarpaulin can be rigged up for protection from the rain.

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