The garden is in its simplest terms an area of beauty and interest with the impact coming from the design and layout of these features.

It is a combination of background, location, height, width and depth incorporated in the mix of shape, colour, flowering, seeding and fruiting; a harmonious mix to please the eye.

Most gardens are at their best from April through to October – except for the unplanned appearances of hurricanes – but beauty and results are best achieved by good planning and maintenance.

Many plants flower several times during the season thus giving a continuous flow of visual interest. Highlighting the features of a plant is enhanced by locating it in such a way its asset is shown off to advantage. In other words, the design should be such that every plant can be seen as an individual asset while being part of the whole when viewed from a distance.

Shade and light play an important part in a plants success or otherwise, with shade-loving plants looking out of character in full sun and sun-loving plants looking miserable in a shady location.

Design is best approached by considering exposure to wind, salt spray, sun and shade. This approach also allows for the incorporation of hardy plantings to protect against harsh winds and salt spray, offering in most cases a good solid background of green or on occasion grey, which is a good backdrop to flowering plants.

Considering the assets that can be incorporated in a garden enhances the seasons in it at flowering time and thus seeding and fruiting capabilities.

The importance of good maintenance also contributes to the floriferous nature of plants. Over pruning reduces the length of flowering time as well as reducing potential flowering because every cut stem will then put all its energy into producing new growth at the expense of flower growth.

Oleander and hibiscus are perhaps the most common hedges but because of poor placement and too close planting end up being quirks of nature with leafless stems standing upright like soldiers on parade. They are not even functional as a hedge because the upright growth offers no privacy from the outside of the property.

Constant pruning reduces the flowering capability of the plant, which in turn reduces the production of seed and fruit, both important assets with regard to interest in the garden.

Without flowers there is no fragrance – another reason to literally cut back on pruning! Flowers are an important part of insect activity for pollinating and, of course, their fragrance. They also encourage avian activity.

Bark colouration can also add interest to a garden, with Allspice – Pimenta dioica being a perfect example. Other examples are Coccoloba uvifera – Baygrape, which also produces berries as an added attraction. Several guavas also exhibit bark colouration.

Consider using evergreen plants as a foil for neighbouring plants that are deciduous for part of the year, Pittosporum tobira and Conocarpus erectus sericea – grey Buttonwood, Viburnum sp and Tamarix gallica – spruce being several examples.

By using the various assets of a plant, one can increase the interest level throughout the year by extending the visual interest. Such an approach also reduces the need for too much maintenance as is often the case in many gardens.

Plant selection is also integral to the success of a garden. Monitor your plant selection to a range of plants from slow growing to fewer fast-growing species, as the latter by their very nature will outgrow slower growing species to the detriment of not only the plants future growth but also the visual impact.

As we are now in the hurricane season, it is advisable to check plant growth and thin out dense growth to allow winds to filter through branch systems, instead of shredding branches and causing further problems.

Trees should be checked for the condition of heavy boughs and, if need be, remove any showing potential weakness or likelihood of separation from the main trunk. In such cases the services of a qualified arborist should be sought.

New plantings should be such that their installation is a key factor in their long-term growth to maturity. If plants need replacing the planting hole will be a key factor in the establishment of the plant.

In tandem with this, one should consider the ‘growth rate’ of the plant and whether it will be accommodated in the allocated space without hindrance to its own potential or to its neighbours.

Remember there is as much activity above ground as there is beneath – the downside being you cannot monitor root activity. Plan for the long term and long-term results in relation to short-term abundance of growth.

• 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