It's a situation that usually arises often at the end of autumn, when a plant is bought or acquired through friends and is heeled into the ground simply to help it survive winter.

Of course, when the excitement of spring grabs you, the task of moving those plants, often bought with the best of intentions, is overlooked.

Well, this year, I have resolved to put things to right.

Many of the plants in question suit the Ulster garden in that they can cope well with damp conditions.

And, in many cases, they don't mind a bit of shade either. Another bonus.

Already, I can see a raised bed that I intend altering and extending, becoming home to many of the plants.

One of the first plants I'll seek out is the columbine, currently resting between two old shrubs.

If I get to work now, I'll be able to prepare the bed to allow it to flower from mid-spring to early summer.

A euphorbia that has thrived despite my lack of attention will be joining it, again to give the eye something to focus on into early summer.

In front of the two plants I intend to place a couple of hostas, one with a variegated leaf.

If I can keep the snails and slugs from feasting on them, they should provide colour from late spring into summer.

Another plant which should take over the baton of providing interest and colour is the foxglove.

For some reason they grow for fun in my back garden.

I introduced a few of them years ago and because they are such self-seeders, I've never been without a crop in the intervening period.

The foxgloves will go behind the euphorbia and columbine, or aquilegia to give the plant its proper title, as they rise to around five feet in height.

So, with largish plants in the form of the foxglove at the back, a couple of mid-height plants in front of them and the hostas towards the front, I'll not have much room left.

However, I intend to make room for some lily of the valley or convallaria, at the very front of the bed.

They only grow to around nine inches in height, but can give off a fabulous scent, so are well worth their place.

When it's finished the bed should take the form of a crescent, largely surrounding a lawn. At the end of the bed, where the plants will be placed, they will be overshadowed by a purple lilac bush which I have been bringing on over the last two years. It all sounds great on paper - now all I have to do is get cracking with that fork and spade.