What a bumper month June is for the garden. Plants are rapidly growing in ideal temperatures and its hard to keep up with all the jobs that need to be done. Here’s the lowdown on what to do:
This is the best time for summer bedding plants as they’ll give you maximum flowering from now right through until the first frosts of autumn. Why not plant your own hanging baskets or containers with an array of colourful plants in a colour scheme, or mix and match trailing and upright plants for a fantastic show this summer? Alternatively, we have a lovely selection of ready planted hanging baskets and patio containers.
Lavender galore! Whether it’s a hedge or single plant to liven up your patio, lavender hits the spot in a sunny, well-drained position. Lavender grows best and produces lots of scented flowers in a sunny site with well-drained soil. English lavender is the hardiest (Lavandula angustifolia and cultivars such as ‘Hidcote’). French lavender is less hardy but has “bunny ears” flowers and flowers all summer long – ideal for growing in containers. It can also be grown in containers in a multipurpose compost or loam-based John Innes No 3 with coarse grit added to ensure it drains well. Adding controlled-release fertiliser granules such as Miracle-Gro or Gro Sure will feed the plants through the season. Pruning is best carried out after flowering in late summer (around August) although it can be done in spring. Snip off flower stalks and about an inch of this year’s foliage, to keep plants tidy.
Cordyline australis (cabbage palm), available in green, purple or variegated foliage, makes a striking feature plant for containers or sunny borders and can grow to tree size after several years if planted in a sunny or partly shaded, sheltered position in the garden
Feed your patio plants and hanging baskets regularly with all-purpose liquid fertiliser, to ensure they are getting the right nutrients to bloom all summer long. Phostrogen, Miracle-Gro and Tomorite are some product names to look out for
Roses are in bloom in our garden centres and with so many different types to choose from - patio to climbers, shrub roses to standards - you’re bound to find one for your garden.
Herbs are more popular than ever and we have a large selection of edible and fragrant herbs – why not grow them in a container or window box in a sunny position for ease of use
Hydrangeas: easy to grow, hydrangea is the ideal easy-care shrub for a border or container. Delicate, long lasting flowers in mop-head and lace-cap flower varieties are in stock now. Hydrangeas grow best in a moist but well-drained soil in part shade but can tolerate sunny positions as long as the soil does not dry out. Attractive flowers until autumn, often with colourful foliage later in the year. Hydrangea macrophylla types will show blue flowers if the soil is acid, or pink in alkaline (chalky) soils. So, if you buy a blue-flowered hydrangea and you have a chalky soil, the flower colour will change! To keep the flowers blue, you can use hydrangea blueing compound, which may work unless your soil is very chalky. Alternatively, grow in a container in acid (ericaceous) compost. White hydrangeas will stay white in any soil type.
Summer-flowering climbers: Have a think about growing climbers up a fence or wall, or even in a patio in a container. Choose a large pot and use a soil-based John Innes No 3 compost, mixed with a multi-purpose compost for best results. Incorporate continuous release fertiliser pellets such as Miracle-Gro which will feed your plants throughout the growing season. We have many different climbers available from clematis and passionflower to star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) and the potato creeper (Solanum jasminoides). Plants for shady conditions include ivy (very beneficial to wildlife, and the variegated foliage varieties really lift an otherwise dark space) climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala ‘Petiolaris’) plus honeysuckle with its heady summer fragrance.
Watering newly planted trees and shrubs is so important during the summer months to get them established. Strong winds and sunshine dry out the plants. Keep a close eye on your plants, particularly after windy conditions which dry out lush foliage and make plants become root stressed. Give them a good soaking twice a week (ideally early morning to avoid evaporation) rather than little and often (which makes plants more dependent on water). Use a hose or watering can and aim to water the base of the plant rather than the foliage. It is worth installing seep hoses or automatic irrigation systems to save time. Mulch plants (to a depth of at least 2” or 5cms) after watering the soil, to help them retain moisture around their roots and protect against drought conditions
Plants suitable for graves: a sensitive and very important question we are often asked is “what plants are suitable for a grave”? Firstly, you’ll need to check the cemetery regulations regarding what you can and cannot plant. Rabbit and deer resistant plants are essential for obvious reasons, and avoid plants that grow too vigorously which will take over the plot. In practical terms you also need to think about how often the plants will be watered, between visits. Here are some ideas for hardy plants you may like to try: heathers, hellebores, heuchera, erysimum (perennial wallflowers), hardy ferns. Native primroses and small-flowering spring bulbs such as snowdrops or miniature narcissi are also worth considering. Herbs such as thyme may thrive in sunnier places
