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What to do this month... HERE COMES SUMMER Fill your patio with pots of bright, beautiful bulbs for months of colour REVAMP THE PATIO! Summer-flowering bulbs provide lots of colour and interest for months on end, lasting well into autumn. Now’s the time to plant them out in the garden and, because just about all of them grow brilliantly in pots, include some in containers for your summer patio. There are lots to choose from, including agapanthus, begonias, cannas, dahlias, eucomis, gladioli, lilies, nerines and tigridia, all of which look gorgeous in decorative containers. Those that produce large, bushy plants Canna lilies give a taste of should either be grown on their own or you the tropics. H90-160cm can edge the containers with low-growing (3-5ft) S60-90cm (2-3ft) or trailing bedding plants. Smaller cultivars look fabulous when mixed together to create a riot of colour, structure and interest. Plant them in a good multipurpose potting compost or, if you intend to grow them from year to year in the same container, use John Innes No3 compost. ‘Dinnerplate’ dahlias, full-size gladioli and taller lilies can look spectacular in large pots. These will need staking, so select containers that are deep enough to take the plant support and protect them Low-growing begonias are from strong winds, or choose dwarf, ideal for edging or trailing. compact cultivars that don’t need support. H and S18-40cm (7-16in) Potted alliums look really spectacular. H60cm-1.8m (2-6ft) S10-20cm (4-8in) Gorgeous gladioli will add glamour. H45-150cm (18 -60in) S10-60cm (4-24in) Plant summer-flowering bulbs for colour into autumn Dahlias dazzle in many colour forms. H30-125cm (1-4ft) S30-50cm (1-2ft) Fragrant lilies delight the senses. H90-240cm (3-8ft) S15-50cm (6-20in) 8 <strong>Garden</strong> <strong>Answers</strong>
EASY GARDENING BOOST STRUCTURE Container-grown trees, shrubs and perennials can be planted all year round but will establish much faster if planted in spring – before temperatures get too warm and the soil starts to dry out. So, if you’re looking to boost the amount of permanent colour and structure in your beds and borders it’s best to get it done before summer arrives. Lavender, phormium, hardy fuchsia, penstemon and phygelius are best planted in spring. Cool down greenhouses and coldframes Even at this time of year, temperatures inside greenhouses, conservatories and growing frames can soar significantly on sunny days. Strong sunlight and hot temperatures can be very damaging to plants, especially seedlings and young plants. To prevent this from happening, Weatherwatch Summer’s nearly here, and it’s always tempting to get ahead by planting out tender bedding and vegetable plants. But chilly nights and even frosts are still a distinct possibility in May, so protect susceptible plants from damage by keeping them indoors a bit longer. Take time to harden them off or Thin out hardy annuals Any hardy annuals sown direct in the ground last month may need more space by now. This will ensure they develop and flower more profusely and help reduce problems with fungal diseases. For best results, thin in two or three stages at weekly intervals. The final spacings should be 23-30cm (9-12in) apart, depending on the plants’ eventual size and spread. ✿ Sow more hardy annuals now, to enjoy months of colour. open doors and vents to increase air movement and ventilation on warm, sunny days, but close them again around 4pm. If the weather really warms up it’s worth applying a summer shading wash or putting up shading materials. Keep on mowing Weekly mowing is a must now the grass is growing fast to help you achieve a good quality, great-looking lawn. It’s quicker than mowing infrequently because you won’t need to empty the grassbox as often! A good mowing regime encourages fine-leaved grasses at the expense of coarser, weedier ones – and promotes a thicker lawn that discourages weeds and moss. ✿ Keep grass around 2.5-4cm (1-1½in) high. Raise the cutting height to 5cm (2in) in shady areas. ✿ Apply a granular or liquid spring and summer feed now to help your lawn grow thick and green. Granular feeds last for some weeks. ✿ Use a feed, weed and mosskiller to get rid of weeds and moss. This will also help to strengthen the grass. 1 DIG IN LOTS OF ORGANIC MATTER. This will get new plants off to a flying start. Well-rotted manure, garden compost or tree and shrub planting compost are ideal. Add bonemeal or a controlled-release plant food to help improve root growth and establishment. 2 WATER THE PLANT THOROUGHLY. Soak its roots before moving it into its new hole. Plant at the same depth the plant was originally growing then firm soil around its roots. Give the plants another good soaking to settle the soil around their roots. 3 MULCH THE SOIL. Add a 7.5-10cm (3-4in) thick layer of bark (or gravel) to help retain soil moisture as well as discouraging weeds. ➤ Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 9
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