Gardening: Start planning now for your very own royal garden party

It may be a little chilly to indulge in an outdoor party on the Queen’s actual 90th birthday on April 21, but come June - the month of her official birthday - the garden should be ready for a right royal knees-up.

So, aside from Union Jack bunting and red, white and blue balloons, what else can you do to perk up your patio for your own celebratory garden party?

Flower power

Indulge in some red, white and blue themes - bedding plants are ideal and there are many options. Blue and white lobelia with red verbena or geraniums provide a patriotic theme. Get started indoors now, sowing seeds of summer bedding, or buy plug plants and by the time of the Queen’s official birthday, the flowers should be in bloom.

Pom pom patio

If red, white and blue aren’t your bag, indulge in some pink frivolity with these gorgeous pink honeycomb paper party balls to hang off trees, parasols or plants around the patio. Available from Ella James (£2.50 each, www.ellajames.co.uk)

Have your cake

No birthday celebration would be complete without a delicious Victoria sponge or a few traditional scones served al fresco on a stylish cake stand. This floral glass stand should keep things sweet (£14.99, Dobbies Garden Centres, only available in store. For nearest branch, visit www.dobbies.com).

In the shade

If it’s a sizzling party, your guests may need some down time in the shade. Invest in a stylish parasol to match your garden and keep your cool. The Shanghai parasol range from Wyevale Garden Centres comes in a choice of colours - terracotta, latte or lime (£99.99, www.wyevalegardencentres.co.uk)

Lighten up

This quirky Fork and Spade Tea Light Holder Set made from durable steel (£12.99, www.homebase.co.uk) should raise a smile from guests at the dinner table, while a Cole & Bright Solar Filigree Table Light, with a white and colour-changing solar-powered LED inside, makes for the perfect outdoor centrepiece (£9.99, for stockists go to www.gardmanstockists.co.uk). If you have a problem with insects, choose the new Heyland & Whittle Citronella Outdoor Candle in a stylish cream and black holder (£6, www.heylandandwhittle.co.uk)

Pot luck

Give your patio the wow factor with some traditional, stylish new pots to impress your guests.

Woodlodge has created a range of National Trust frost-proof glazed pots to complement and enhance the plants and colours of your garden. The designs and colours reflect the National Trust’s ethos that everyone needs beautiful views and green spaces to be inspired, feel nourished and to grow. The Inspire range of terracotta pots comes in charcoal, blue, green and white, decorated with the National Trust oak leaf, and inscribed with the words: Beauty-Inspire-Nourish-Grow. Available in four sizes (from £5.99 up to £39.99. For stockists, visit www.woodlodge.co.uk)

Designer herbs

Invite your guests to pick your freshly grown herbs for their salads and barbecue meats, but don’t just present them in a bog-standard pot. Splash out on an eye-catching trio of Orla Kiely Big Spot enamel herb pots from Wild & Wolf (£44.95, www.bloomsburystore.com) and it’s sure to make the sprigs and leaves taste better.