Summer is here
This month we celebrate the longest day of the year on June 21st. That extra light and hopefully warmth will encourage growth spurts on many plants. It also encourages the growth of weeds which necessitates regular weeding.

Weigela from Kathryn’s garden
It is at this time of year that cosmos, tagetes, tithonia and zinnia can be planted outside now the risk of frosts is over. Fork over the area you want to plant and mix in some compost and plant deep enough to cover the root ball completely. Firm the soil around the plant to give support to the stems. Water in well and ideally after watering apply five cms of well-rotted garden compost around the plant to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
A plant needs room to grow into a space and not to have to compete with its neighbour where it will be denied the opportunity to look its best. Allow plenty of room for growth between your plants.
Hanging baskets
Hanging baskets provide valuable colour at eye level. Choose vibrant bedding plants for a short-term show.
Plant up summer hanging baskets now as the risk of frost is over.
Plants for summer baskets may include: Argyranthemum, Creeping Jenny, Dichondra ‘Silver Falls, Viola, Fuchsia, Geraniums, Lobelia, Petunias.
To create a hanging basket firstly line a standard wire basket, you can buy ready-made cardboard liners and/or fibrous materials to do this.

Hanging baskets tend to dry out more quickly than other types of containers, and water can easily be wasted from them. Plants grow better with rainwater.
A good quality, peat-free multipurpose is fine for a hanging basket display as it only has to last for a season.
Choosing and arranging the plants
- When you begin to arrange the plants in the basket, it is easier to start with one, central plant . This can be used to create structure and impact.
- Around this, position some trailing plants to cover the sides of the basket,
- Once all the plants are in, fill around the root balls carefully with more compost, firming gently, so that you don’t leave any large air gaps. Then water slowly, so that water doesn’t run out of the bottom of the basket.
- Check baskets every day in summer, always watering them unless the compost is wet. Drying out is a problem as the plants grow and days are warm or windy.
- In spring, summer and early autumn (April to September), apply a liquid fertiliser, preferably after normal watering.
- Deadhead regularly to prevent the plants’ energy going into seed production, rather than more flowers.
Bedding plants
From the grandest to the smallest of gardens bedding plants provide a temporary decorative seasonal display for beds, borders, containers and hanging baskets. Bedding plants are readily available now in garden centres bought as plug plants or as pot-grown specimens, often in multi-packs and cellular trays, ready for planting.

Summer Pots
Plant up containers with tender perennials (these are plants sensitive to cold temperatures; in a warm climate they will live year after year but will die in a cold climate) and summer bedding for displays throughout the summer months.
- For pots you need to look for plants that flower over a long period and will do well in containers, for example fuchsias.
- Bedding plants are usually colourful half-hardy, short-lived or annual plants, grown for displays in beds or containers.
- Choose a focal plant such as a structural shrub like a small cordyline or a canna to grow in the centre of the pot and surround this one plant with a mix of upright bedding plants and some that trail over the side of the container. Be generous with your planting but consider restricting the colour scheme
- Combine plants that have similar requirements; most summer bedding plants do best in full sun but some, such as begonias and tobacco plants, will tolerate light shade.

French Lavender
When planting up summer containers a range of plants are used from the tender perennials, these are plants that come from warm climates and without special care will not usually survive our winters and these include verbena, bidens, gazanias and argyranthemums. We also use perennials which are any plant living for at least three years.
Bedding plants are usually tender annuals that last for one season, although some plants, such as geraniums can be brought indoors to overwinter,
To create a summer container choose a focal plant such as a structural shrub surround the focal plant with a mix of upright bedding plants and some that trail over the side of the container.
Herbs
Fresh herbs give a wonderful flavour to a range of dishes and growing your own herbs also enhances your garden. Many have beautiful small flowers and the smell when you rub your fingers on their leaves is exquisite.

Most of us will have a variety of mint in our garden; spearmint is probably the most popular and we all know it is a vigorous plant so is best grown in a pot to prevent it spreading. Try some of the more unusual varieties including banana, grapefruit, chocolate, Moroccan, strawberry and pineapple.
Lemon verbena is a tender deciduous shrub which has small white delicate flowers. The flowers and leaves can be used in drinks, jellies, ice cream and cakes.
Lemon thyme is a hardy evergreen shrub with small, dark green, oval scented leaves. Again, the flowers and leaves can be eaten, and they have a good lemon flavour which are very good in chicken dishes.