As I have stated on numerous occasions, February should be removed from the garden calendar, and last month proved the point.

So moving on, it is time to shake off the cobwebs — if there are any left — and consider what needs to be done in the garden.

Time is always of the essence in creating, developing and maintaining a garden so it is worthwhile to design with this in mind.

Last year’s hurricanes did a good job in clearing out desirable and non-desirable material, the latter simply due to lack of ongoing maintenance.

Be creative with aesthetics. Hedges, for example, appear a permanent staple in the garden but can become labour-intensive when planted incorrectly, as in too close to the boundary, too close together or simply the wrong plant for the area.

Consider a mixed planting of small trees instead — shrubs and ground covers which when viewed from the house make a bold, colourful statement, and hopefully require less maintenance. If you want privacy from your neighbours, consider a fence or trellis with vines. This is useful in small gardens where land use is important to the owner.

Create footpaths which lead to a destination — narrow ones for defining a quiet area; wider paths to lead to a dominant feature such as the front entrance or BBQ. Such a feature will save a lot of wear and tear on the lawn when pedestrian traffic is eliminated.

It’s great to have shade in the garden in the hot summer months. What type to choose should be based on location and the size of the area.

On large properties the selection is greater. The albizia lebbeck (Black Ebony) is deciduous and will tolerate open locations better; the delonix regia (Royal Poinciana) and Lonchocarpus violaceus (Lilac tree) are both deciduous but require a more protected location.

Consider using groups of trees on small properties. Terminalia muelleri (small-leaved West Indian almond) has an upright habit and is relatively hardy, whilst Schefflera actinophylla (Umbrella Tree) which some think of as an invasive, is also a good tree when planted in a group. The important thing to remember with a shade tree is it needs to achieve maturity quickly in order to fulfil the requisite shade. If planted too small, the recipients may be well past caring about the shade cast.

If the garden produces a lot of waste and there is enough room to create a compost heap it is well worth the effort. Small chipping machines can reduce twigs, etc, to a compostable size; the alternative is to pay for it to be removed. Garden waste is oft determined by the design and more so the efficacy of the maintenance programme. I am of the opinion many properties are “overly” maintained in areas of pruning especially. When plants are well chosen for a specific area and they’re correctly spaced, pruning should be done two or three times per year.

The lawn occupies a fair amount of the average garden and is therefore a visual impact area — a good lawn sets off a property. A good lawn by its very nature is best kept to one specific grass type, the selection being based on the location and function of the lawn. St Augustine Floratem, usually planted as plugs, is best cut to a minimum height of three inches. It is therefore not a good grass for regular foot traffic, but more of a show lawn giving a carpet effect. It is also tolerant of coastal areas, to an extent. Bermuda grass, usually established via seeding, is a good old format for a green patch in the garden.

It can be cut short or long.

Zoysia a much maligned grass, mainly because it is not maintained correctly. It creates a fine lawn when mown close and stripped or boxed. It is however a high maintenance grass and should be mowed with a reel mower not a rotary mower.

Hard landscaping will complement the garden when proper consideration is given to layout and the surrounding areas. Bermuda offers long periods of sunny weather in which the outdoors can be well utilised.

Vistas are oft best viewed from a patio or deck and will not succumb to the wear and tear that a lawn would. To reduce the maintenance required, consider converting parts of the more difficult parts of the garden to “hard areas” such as steps or a ramp instead of grass slopes. Incorporate containers in varying sizes and shapes in both plant beds and on patios and paths with a mix of seasonal or permanent plantings that fit the area.

Shade can also be addressed by using pergolas or gazebos in the garden setting, with the latter being an entity itself when used for entertaining.

Enjoy the summer and garden in comfort — it’s yours, you paid for it!