By Kath Chattelle
We have had some wonderfully warm weather in June, but normally July is one of the hottest months, so fingers crossed it will be hot for this year and we can all just sit and enjoy our gardens.
Deadheading plants
Deadheading is the term used for the removal of flowers from plants when they are fading or dead. It is done to keep plants looking attractive and encourage more blooms, whether in beds, border, containers or hanging baskets.
Deadheading directs energy into stronger growth and more flowers. Once the flowers are pollinated; seed heads, pods or capsules develop which limits/stops further growth and flower development.
When and what to deadhead
Remove the spent flowers as soon as they look tattered. Remove them as soon as you can for maximum effect.
Plants to deadhead
Bedding plants The faded blooms of pansies, polyanthus and petunias can be removed with a finger and thumb For Geraniums (Pelargonium) hold the faded flower stalk near the base and pull downwards. The old bloom will snap out cleanly
Roses Gently snap off the faded flowers, breaking the stalk just below the head. Rather than cutting just above a leaf, as the snapping method results in more blooms being produced more quickly on repeat-flowering plants.
With secateurs, scissors or a knife
To deadhead plants with tough or stringy stems, use secateurs, scissors or a knife. This includes dahlias, calendulas, marigolds and shrubs such as lilac.
Some hardy geraniums, delphiniums and lupins produce a second flush of flowers if cut back close to ground level after flowering. Others, such as lady’s mantle and oriental poppies, can still be cut back near ground level but, usually, only produce fresh foliage.
However
- Do not remove the faded flowers on plants that produce seed loved by birds, including Rudbeckia, cornflower and sunflower
- There is no need to deadhead rose plants that bear hips or other plants that bear berries in the autumn
- Leave plants that have ornamental seeds or fruits without deadheading; examples include alliums; love-in-a-mist (Nigella), stinking iris (Iris foetidissima)
Wisteria
Prune and train established wisteria. Shorten long wispy side shoots on established plants reducing the length on each one to 15-20 cms. Cut just above a pair of leaves. If there are any broken stems prune those back to healthy green wood. Pruning at this time of year encourages flower buds to form. During dry spells water wisteria growing in containers or recently planted in the ground to encourage good growth and assist next year’s flower buds to develop.
Care for houseplants while on holiday
If you are fortunate enough to be going on holiday don’t forget your houseplants will need some attention. If you are away for a week or less watering your plants thoroughly before you leave should be ok. Place your houseplants in a sink or bath, with shallow water for about 10 minutes. Then remove them and put them back in their display pot so they will not be sitting in stagnant water.
Plants for containers
Almost any type of plant can be grown in a container. The bigger the pot and the plant, the easier it is to care for. Soft, fleshy, leafy plants such as tomatoes and fuchsias are more demanding than ‘leathery’ plants such as tender geraniums or lavender.
Tomatoes
If you are growing tomatoes, they are probably putting on growth and setting fruit .Tie growing stems to supports each week, pinch out all the side shoots. It is important to water regularly to keep the moisture steady and not let the plants dry out too much.
Weeds
Weeds can spread like wildfire at this time of year and quickly take over. Bindweed is one of these culprits. It winds its way up a plant quickly smothering it before producing its trumpet-shaped flowers.
Under the soil’s surface it is just as tricky as its roots intertwine with root balls of garden plants. It makes this one extremely difficult to get rid of as even if you use systemic weedkiller directly on to the leaves when they are dry you first have to isolate the bindweed leaves so you do not affect other plants nearby. Digging it out is the safest bet but this takes repeated efforts as even one small piece left in the ground can grow again so quickly.