THE backbone of the summer display in most gardens is the flowering shrubs. At this time of the year, many are coming to their peak of perfection, so now is a good time to make a choice for the future.

Traditional gardeners will always plan to plant during the dormant autumn and winter season, using shrubs in most cases that have been lifted from open ground. These will generally establish and grow more quickly than container grown plants, unless you are planting large or semi-mature specimens.

Container-grown shrubs are very good, but take a lot more care to get established, especially if you choose to plant them now. Watering will be of the utmost importance, not just immediately, but for much of the summer, even if it rains regularly.

A container-grown plant has to break out of its potball into the surrounding soil before it gets properly established, whereas an open ground specimen, lifted during the winter, does so immediately. It is wise to disrupt the rootballs of new shrubs before planting. Just enough to permit the roots to break out of their containment.

A well prepared planting hole is vital, together with a liberal quantity of well-rotted garden waste or a planting compost. Such additional organic matter not only conserves moisture, but permits the rapid development of hair roots.

When selecting container grown shrubs, choose those that are not pot bound. If roots are coming out of the bottom of the pot or there is moss growing on the surface of the compost, then the shrub has been in the pot for too long and will find it difficult to get established.

Plants should look fresh and healthy with no signs of pests or diseases, although a brown leaf or two this season is nothing to worry about as many shrubs have suffered from the effects of unseasonable weather during the past few weeks.

Of the summer flowering shrubs that are most reliable for modern gardens, lilacs are difficult to beat - really hardy plants which flower reliably at this time of the year with fragrant blossoms of pink, maroon, white and creamy-yellow.

The mock oranges or philadelphus make excellent companions, old stalwarts with sweetly scented white flowers and sometimes gold and variegated leaves as well. Viburnums flower at the same time, the snowball bush producing large rounded papery flowers that are most appropriate.

The beauty bush or kolkwitzia is garlanded in pink blossoms for the next few weeks, along with the pink or white-flowered deutzias. Weigelas follow in red and pink, occasionally with variegated or purple leaves, wonderful shrubs to associate with the pastel pinks and blues of the ceanothus or Californian lilacs.

Potentillas are first class summer flowering shrubs for the smaller garden. Available in white, yellow, orange, pink and red they have a long flowering season, lasting from now until September. Of all the shrubs for the family garden these are the best. They grow in any soil and open location, and if damaged in any way, regenerate quickly.

WHAT'S NEW

Sparkler Blush is a pink cleome which can be grown both outdoors and as a successful houseplant.

Cherokee Sunset is a mixed range of orange, yellow, bronze and mahogany rudbeckias.

Tidal Wave Silver is a silver and purple bicoloured petunia.

Q I bought a healthy rhododendron with nice buds forming. The buds have opened, but no flowers, only leaves. The bud appeared earlier as tiny pink spikes. I am puzzled and wonder if I am doing anything wrong?

A The buds, although they look large and healthy were just leaf buds and the pink spikes would be part of the unfurling bud. What has happened is natural and you are doing nothing wrong.

Q We have a buddleia bush in the garden. At this time of the year it produces vigorous new shoots, but as soon as a strong wind comes they snap off. Can this loss be prevented?

ASome stability can be provided by shortening the shoots back to 12 inches in their early stages of growth. This will not affect flowering if done as the plant grows.