The weather pattern has now settled to the norm of hot, hot, hot, which brings with it positives as well as several problems. Heat encourages growth and with the addition of rain showers new growth of a soft nature which are an invitation to pest problems including aphis, caterpillars, mealy bug, scale, red spider mite and thrips.

Such conditions are also ideal for weed growth to become established especially the warm season weeds, though there could still be remnants of cool season weeds now fading away. Weeds once established can be difficult to eradicate as they can be introduced by the spread of weed seed via wind, bird droppings or animals carrying the seed on their coats.

It is important therefore to keep a happy medium between hoeing and disturbing the soil surface ― to the point you are bringing weed seed to the surface and allowing the surface of the soil to dry out more by the exercise of hoeing.

Excessive soft growth and moist conditions can encourage disease problems, aim for good air flow around plantings to encourage a quick drying of foliage; pruning excess growth to allow the drying-out process is also advisable if growth becomes too heavy and dense.

Try and avoid too many bare areas of soil being exposed to the full rays of the sun as this will compact the soil creating a pancake effect which in turn can create a problem of run-off of the rainfall thus reducing the penetration of the rain into the soil and around the root zone.

As soil depth in Bermuda can be tenuous at best it is advisable to install plantings in good sized holes which allows a quick take-off of growth and encourages the root zone to seek out and chase water around the root zone. When purchasing plants always look at the height of the plant against the size of the container to ensure the root ball has a free run and is not forming a route around the inside of the pot with the end result of the root literally strangling itself by creating a constant loop within the pot. Such growth is unlikely to create a free growth pattern once planted out and this could hamper the anchoring of the plant firmly in the soil.

Location will in many cases dictate the species of plant that can be grown in the designated area, being aware of wind direction and the possibility of salt-spray damage.

To create visual interest and taking into consideration the size of the proposed planting area create a mix of overlapping flowering times as well as plants that produce seed and fruit, taking this a step further again considering the size of the bed, consider the foundation planting first, these being the shrub’s that grow well and produce flowers on and off for much of the year.

Such shrubs include: Jatropha hastata – Peregrina; Plumbago auriculata - Plumbago; Grewia occidentalis – Lavender Star; Carissa vars – Natal Plum; Hibiscus vars – Hibiscus; Interplant with species having colourful foliage to create a bold contrast, Codiaeum variegata – Croton; Breynia disticha – Snowbush; Pseuderanthemum atropurpureum – Steak plant; Conocarpus erectus sericea – Grey Buttonwood; Sanchezia nobilis – Zebra plant; Pedilanthus tithymaloides – Lipstick plant: Alpinia zerumbet – Shell Ginger; Agave franzossinii – Needle agave.

In-fill between the foundation plantings with ground covers, which as their name indicates, they spread and cover the soil helping to cool the root zones; consider, Rosmarinus officinalis prostrates – Creeping Rosemary; Lantana hybrids; Pentas hybrids; Agapanthus africanus – Lily of the Nile; Gazania uniflora – grey leaf gazania.

The range of choice is wide and varied, however, the adage, ‘What you create you have to maintain“ is especially important when keeping the garden to a high standard in not only maintenance but also its visual impact.

• Malcolm D. Griffiths is a trained horticulturalist and fellow of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture in Britain. He is also past president of the Bermuda Horticultural Society, the Bermuda Orchid Society and the Bermuda Botanical Society