Mid Summer is here and your garden is in full bloom.
All that hard work earlier in the year is paying off but there are still jobs to be done….here are a few suggestions.
General gardening jobs
- Water containers and bedding if possible in the morning when plants are active (they are dormant at night) and with rainwater you have collected in waterbutts. Water around base of plants to avoid sun scorch and mildew.
- Water new plants regularly. An occasional good heavy watering encourages deep rooting rather frequent light watering which stimulates surface rooting. Mulch when soil is wet to reduce water loss.
- Lawns – Avoid the temptation to cut your grass too short. Very short grass will suffer from sun scorching and drying out particularly if you’ve had a flush of new long growth which you then cut short. Try setting your mower a bit higher and reduce the height gradually to enjoy a greener, lusher lawn.
- Continue to take cuttings. There’s still time to take softwood cuttings form tender perennials (such as Salvia) and some deciduous shrubs (such as Hydrangea). If you never tried then follow this link.
- Apply a liquid feed to container grown plants. Any slow release fertiliser already in a general purpose compost will only last about 8 weeks. There are a wide range available all doing slightly different jobs. Read the label…..look for the NPK ratio (N= Nitrogen: is needed to form leaves and shoots, P = Phosporus: needed for root growth, K = Potassium: encourages flowering & fruiting).
- Feed plants according to their needs. Floral displays over a long period, such as hanging baskets, need high levels of Potassium (K) to sustain flowering. Long-term plantings, such as shrubs need a balanced NPK ratio feed for steady, all-round performance. Fast growing, leafy plants, such as many vegetables, need more Nitrogen (N).
- Last chance to sow Biennial seeds for next seasons plants.
Plant Maintenance
- Keep weeding and deadheading flowers to ensure your borders look their best. Deadheading can stimulate new flowering. Use a hoe between plants to kill annual weeds.
- Roses are in full flower. Deadhead as they fade to encourage new flowering. Tie in Rambling and Climbing roses to supports as they are not self clinging and long growth can be damaged in heavy July downpours.
- Pinch out annuals, such as Cosmos, to bush out the plant and increase flowering
- Cut back hardy Geraniums as flowering finishes to encourage a second flush. Cut back to the ground and give them a liquid feed.
- Fill any gaps in your borders with Summer Bedding. There are plenty to choose from in garden centres now, many reduced in price. Water regularly to get them established and deadhead to maintain flowering.
- Tidy-up any group 1 Clematis (such as Clematis montana) by cutting back new long growth.
- Wisteria have finished flowering and are putting on new growth. Now is the time to summer prune them. Tie in any new growth to extend the plant’s coverage. Cut back the long, thin lateral growths produced to about 15cm.
- Remove seed heads, such as from Aquilegia, if you don’t want the plants to spread around.
Bulbs/Tubors
- Dahlias are in full growth. Support any long flowering stems with a pea stick or small cane.
- Lift & divide Iris every few years to rejuvenate the plants.
Pest/Diseases
- Pests are also thriving, so keep a watchful eye out for them. Aphids (such as Greenfly & Blackfly) are a sap sucking insects that can affect a range of plants causing distorted growth, weakening the plant and potentially killing them. Wherever possible act quickly, using non pesticide methods to control. Remove by hand, attract natural predators (such as Ladybirds) or spray with a soap based solution.
- Powdery mildews are a group fungi which attack a wide range of plants, causing a white, dusty coating on leaves, stems and flowers. Can be brought on by drought stress and/or lack of nutrients as plant is weakened. Control by managing the humidity around a plant. Increase air circulation by thinning plants, avoid overhead watering and not using high Nitrogen fertilisers.
- Keep an eye out for Vine Weevil larvae. They feed on plant roots and can kill plants. Check containers for adults regularly. Check any newly bought plants for signs of the larvae (carefully remove plant from its pot to see if any larvae are present) before planting out.