As a mostly dull and damp half-term holiday draws to a close, I almost feel nostalgic for the memories of last year’s too-hot camping trip in the Lake District, and swotting for my RHS exams in the garden. Are we going to be in for another flaming June this year? Sadly, for those of us in the north, the short answer is no, but at least this will reduce the burden of watering. Plenty of jobs to be getting on with though, as the growing season is at its peak.
Mulch
Any time is a good time to apply organic mulches to your borders, and during the summer, mulches help to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. I’ve just ordered bulk bags each of compost and manure, in order to give my borders some TLC, and top up the neglected planters at the bottom of the garden. Weed and water thoroughly before applying the mulch.
Bedding Plants
If you have identified some gaps in your borders and like a quick fix of colour, now is the time to procure and plant some bedding plants. They can then be replaced by more sustainable and longer-lasting perennials in the autumn, when they’ve finished flowering and died back.
Shrubs and climbers
Once mature deciduous shrubs such as Wiegela, Deutzia and Philadelphus have finished flowering, prune out about one in four of the oldest, thickest stems (take a view on this from below, looking up through the plant) and also any dead, diseased or damaged material. If you have climbing or rambling roses, these grow very vigorously at this time of year. Keep training and tying them in, as close to the horizontal as possible.
Philadelphus - or ‘Mock Orange’
Deadheading
Removing faded blooms from perennials, repeat-flowering roses, hardy and half-hardy annuals extends their flowering season. Removing spent flowers from camellias, rhododendrons and lilacs ensures that the plant’s energy is diverted into making new buds for next year’s flowers. Take care when removing rhododendron and camellia flowers, as the new buds form just below the flowers. Cut back flowered lilac stems down to just above a pair of leaves or buds.
In the veg garden
Keep up successional sowings of salad leaves; I definitely need to thin out the chard and spinach I sowed a few weeks ago. Any French or dwarf beans, runner beans, or courgettes raised indoors can be planted outside, now the risk of frost has passed.
Tomato plants can also be planted outside, in pots, growbags or directly into the soil. Choose a sheltered, south-facing spot against a wall, if possible.
Keep calm and keep on mowing
And finally, keep mowing the lawn, remembering that it is better to remove a smaller amount more frequently than to completely scalp it every fortnight.