Ann welcomes the season of colour and abundance.
Summer is one of the most rewarding times in the garden, with borders bursting into colour and vegetable plots beginning to provide a steady supply for the kitchen. Continue sowing little and often through June and July to keep crops coming throughout the season. Salad leaves, spring onions, beetroot and carrots can all still be planted successfully, while herbs such as basil, parsley and coriander thrive in the warmer weather.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try growing something a little different this year. Compact cucumber varieties are ideal for patios, while chillies, pak choi and courgettes are all easy and productive choices. Most garden centres stock ready-grown vegetable plants, making it simple to fill gaps in the plot or add a few extra containers near the back door.
Keep an eye on watering as temperatures rise. Pots, hanging baskets and greenhouse plants will need regular attention, particularly during dry spells. Water early in the morning or later in the evening to reduce evaporation and help plants make the most of the moisture. A good mulch around shrubs and vegetables will also help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Protecting produce
Soft fruit should soon be ripening nicely, but remember the birds are just as keen to enjoy it as we are. Net strawberries, currants and blueberries before the fruit colours fully to avoid disappointment. Continue feeding tomatoes weekly once the first fruits begin to form, and pinch outside shoots on cordon varieties to encourage stronger crops.
Watch for pests such as aphids and slugs, especially after warm wet weather. Slug Gone remains a popular choice as it’s wildlife friendly and made from natural wool pellets. Regular deadheading of roses and summer bedding will keep displays looking fresh and encourage even more flowers right through into autumn.
Colour everywhere
Garden borders should be reaching their peak by now, with delphiniums, lupins, foxgloves and hardy geraniums all putting on a wonderful display. Heucheras continue to provide beautiful foliage colour even when flowers fade, while lavender and salvias bring both scent and pollinators into the garden.
Hanging baskets and patio tubs will need feeding weekly throughout summer to keep them looking their best. Use a good liquid fertiliser and remember to remove faded flowers regularly. Geraniums, calibrachoas, begonias and petunias all perform brilliantly in sunny spots and provide long-lasting colour well into September.
It’s also a good time to lightly trim evergreen hedges and shrubs once fresh spring growth begins to slow. Continue hoeing borders regularly on dry sunny days to keep weeds under control before they become established.
Looking ahead
Lawns will benefit from regular mowing during summer, although it’s best not to cut too short during hot weather as slightly longer grass copes better in dry conditions. If moss is still a problem, treatments such as MO Bacter can help improve lawn health while gently controlling moss naturally.
Hanging baskets and patio tubs will need feeding weekly throughout summer to keep them looking their best.
By August it’s already time to start thinking ahead to next spring. Early bulbs will soon begin appearing in garden centres and planting plans made now will reward you with colour and interest when winter finally comes to an end.
Happy gardening!
This issue’s tips are provided by Ann Winwood
of Lealans Garden Centre, Shipley.
