At this time of year I can usually be seen turning in a large circle (sometimes ever decreasing), as there are so many jobs to do, and they all need my attention at the same time. This season has been very different, as my priority is to cope with the hosepipe ban which promises to be in place for many months.

My planting plan has gone up in smoke, although always rather flexible, this year the aim is to get as many plants planted asap, so they get their roots down to any available water. I have used 'Rootgrow', the mycorrhizal fungus that attaches itself to the roots, it increases the fine root hairs, hopefully enabling them to resist drought. I have been using it for the last few years when planting any permanent plants. I also used it very successfully on an old rose bed, which got re-planted without taking the old soil away or disinfecting it against rose sickness.

I have sown more hardy annuals than usual. They are in a seam of poor, dry soil in full sun. Poppies are my favourite (and the bees), but godetia, nigella (love in a mist), nicandra (shoo fly), marigolds, clarkia, phacelia (gentian blue), corncockle, linums, gypsophila (covent garden) and the silene electra (shock pink), should hold their own whatever the weather. Seed is easily saved later, and if happy, often come up on their own. They are lovely for children to sow too, but make sure you can identify the weeds, the earlier the better, so that they won't have to compete for water.