Author Archives: Gaby Heagerty

protecting plants from the cold

PROTECTING PLANTS FROM THE COLD

As winter approaches, protecting tender (not hardy) plants from harsh weather is essential to ensuring their survival through the cold months. Here are some effective ways to safeguard your garden’s most vulnerable plants:

Mulching: A thick layer of mulch—such as straw, leaves, or wood bark chips —around the base of plants helps insulate roots from freezing temperatures. Mulch also prevents soil erosion and maintains moisture levels, which is crucial during winter dormancy. A mulch can also suppress weed growth so it’s a win win!

Covering with Frost Fleece Cloth: Fleece cloths or garden fabric are breathable covers that trap heat and shield plants from frost. Make sure the fabric doesn’t touch the leaves directly, as it can cause damage. Support with stakes or canes to create an air pocket around the plant.

Potted Plant Protection: Bring potted plants indoors or into a conservatory where possible or place them in a sheltered area, such as a garage or porch. If that’s not possible, group pots together and wrap them in insulating materials like burlap or bubble wrap.

Wind Barriers: Winds can cause rapid temperature fluctuations, drying out plants. Erect a windbreak using fencing or wind break fabric (which we sell).

Lifting: Where soils become saturated in winter you should lift any tender bulbs, corms or tubers and store them in a frost free dark place (like a garage) before replanting them in the spring.

With these precautions, your tender plants will have a better chance of thriving when the spring thaw arrives!

 

WILDLIFE NOVEMBER

SUPPORT WILDLIFE IN NOVEMBER

November is a time when many of us start to wind down our gardening activities, but it’s also an important month for supporting local wildlife as they prepare for winter. By making a few simple adjustments, you can help create a welcoming habitat for birds, insects, and small mammals, even in the colder months.

Leave Some Leaves

Instead of clearing all the fallen leaves, leave some in corners of your garden. These provide shelter for wildlife which need a warm, protected space to overwinter. They also act as a natural mulch, enriching the soil.

Create a Winter Bird Buffet

Birds will begin to struggle with food sources as temperatures drop. Make your garden a haven for them by putting out high-energy foods like suet, sunflower seeds and fat balls. You can also plant berry-producing shrubs, such as holly or rowan, to provide natural food during the winter months.

Build a Bug Hotel

Insects like bees, butterflies, and beetles need places to hibernate over the winter. Build a simple bug hotel using materials like sticks, pine cones, bamboo, and bricks with holes. Place it in a sunny, sheltered spot to encourage wildlife to take up residence.

Provide Fresh Water

Even in the colder months, wildlife needs fresh water. Ensure your birdbaths or shallow dishes are topped up regularly, and consider adding a stone or two to allow birds to perch safely.

By taking these steps, you’re helping to sustain wildlife through the colder months while fostering a thriving, eco-friendly garden all year round.

 

What to do garden november

WHAT TO DO IN YOUR ENGLISH GARDEN IN NOVEMBER

As the days grow shorter and colder, we’re well on our way to winter. It’s the perfect time to wrap up your garden for the season while making preparations to ensure a healthy and vibrant space come spring. While much of the garden may be winding down, there are still essential tasks to keep it flourishing through the colder months. Here are the key tasks to focus on in your garden in November.

Tidy Up Fallen Leaves

As the last of the leaves fall from trees, it’s tempting to leave them for a natural mulch. However, a thick blanket of wet leaves can smother your grass and perennials, promoting rot and fungal diseases.

Practical Tip: Rake or mow leaves regularly to prevent them from accumulating. If you have a lot, you can shred them to create leaf mold—an excellent soil conditioner that can be added to your compost or used as mulch around plants next spring.

Protect Tender Plants from Frost

Frost can arrive any time now, so it’s essential to protect your tender plants, including plants in pots, tropicals and any half hardy perennials.

Practical Tip: Cover plants with frost fleece or horticultural fabric to provide extra warmth. For pots, either bring them indoors or group them together in a sheltered corner of the garden. Wrap the pots with bubble wrap or hessian sacks to keep the roots from freezing.

For larger plants, consider constructing a makeshift cloche using clear plastic or old garden hoops with plastic sheeting. Make sure to leave ventilation gaps to prevent condensation buildup, which can encourage mould growth.

Plant Spring Bulbs

November is the prime time to plant spring-flowering bulbs, including daffodils, tulips, crocuses, and hyacinths. Planting these bulbs now ensures you’ll have a vibrant spring display once the weather warms up. But hurry, we don’t have many left in stock.

Practical Tip: Choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil for best results. Dig a hole that’s about three times as deep as the bulb, and space them out to allow for good air circulation. If you’re planting tulips, which prefer drier conditions, ensure that the drainage is particularly good. Adding grit or sand to the soil can help improve drainage if necessary.

If you’re planting in containers, make sure to choose large, deep pots and use a bag of bulb fibre (available from our garden centre). Bulbs need room to grow, and they’ll thrive better when they’re not overcrowded.

Prune Dead or Damaged Growth

November is the time to tidy up your plants, especially those that have finished blooming or have dead and damaged growth. This helps reduce the risk of pests and disease over the winter months.

Practical Tip: Cut back dead stems and foliage on perennials, but leave those that provide structure or interest through the winter. For deciduous shrubs and trees, remove any damaged or diseased wood. Avoid heavy pruning of healthy plants now, as this can encourage new growth that might be damaged by frost.

Be sure to clean your pruning tools after each use to avoid spreading disease between plants. A simple wipe with rubbing alcohol or a solution of bleach and water will help keep your tools in good condition.

Prepare the Soil for Winter

Preparing your soil for the colder months not only helps protect it from erosion but also ensures it’s nutrient-rich for next spring’s planting season.

Practical Tip: Add a layer of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure, compost, or leaf mould, to improve the soil structure. This helps maintain moisture levels and provides valuable nutrients for next year’s plants. In particular, apply compost or manure to vegetable plots and areas where you plan to plant flowers or shrubs next season.

Clean and Store Garden Tools

It’s essential to maintain your garden tools during the off-season to prolong their lifespan and ensure they’re ready for use come spring.

Practical Tip: Clean tools thoroughly to remove any soil, plant sap, and rust. Use a wire brush to remove dirt, then soak the metal parts in a solution of water and vinegar or a commercial rust remover. After drying, oil the metal surfaces with vegetable oil or a specialised tool oil to prevent further rusting.

Sharpen blades on secateurs, shears, and spade. Store tools in a dry, frost-free shed or garage to prevent damage.

Move Hardy Containers into Sheltered Areas

If you have containers with hardy plants, it’s a good idea to move them to more sheltered spots to protect them from the elements. In windy or exposed gardens, containers are more vulnerable to frost damage.

Practical Tip: Group your pots together in a corner near a wall or fence, ideally out of direct line of strong winds. You can also raise pots off the ground with pot feet to prevent frost from damaging the roots. Adding a layer of mulch to the top of the soil in containers can also help insulate the roots.

Harvest Late Crops and Vegetables

If you’ve planted late crops, such as Kale, Brussels sprouts, or Leeks; November is a great time to harvest them before the really cold weather sets in.

Practical Tip: Be sure to harvest leafy greens like kale and spinach before they’re damaged by frost. For crops like leeks and carrots, you can leave them in the ground but harvest them when needed, as they tend to taste better after a light frost.

Consider protecting remaining crops with fleece or cloches to extend the harvest season.

Check Your Greenhouse and Cold Frames

If you have a greenhouse or cold frames, make sure they are in good condition and ready for the winter. These structures can extend the growing season and provide protection for sensitive plants.

Practical Tip: Clean the glass or plastic panels to allow maximum sunlight during the darker months. Check for any cracks or gaps and repair them to avoid drafts. You can insulate greenhouses by using bubble wrap or horticultural fleece on the inside of the glass. Keep the space well-ventilated, as condensation can lead to mould and mildew.

Conclusion

While the garden may appear quiet in November, there are plenty of essential tasks to complete before winter settles in. By preparing your plants, soil, and tools now, you’re setting yourself up for a successful spring. We have all the tools you need for the above tasks in our garden centre.

 

What to do garden october

WHAT TO DO IN YOUR ENGLISH GARDEN IN OCTOBER

October is a pivotal month in the gardening calendar, marking the transition from the mild days of early autumn to the cooler, shorter days of late autumn and early winter. With the arrival of October, there’s a great deal of practical work to be done in your English garden to prepare for the winter months ahead, while also planting the seeds of next year’s success. Here are the key tasks to focus on in your garden this month.

Plant Spring Bulbs

October is the perfect time to plant spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils, tulips, crocuses and alliums. These bulbs need the cold winter months to establish their roots before bursting into colour when spring arrives.

Practical Tip: Plant bulbs at a depth about two to three times their size. For instance, if your tulip bulb is 5cm/2 inches tall, plant it 10-15cm / 4-6 inches deep. Ensure they are planted with the pointed end facing upwards. Choose a sunny, well-drained spot and ideally use bulb fibre as a planting media giving best results.

Tidy Up Perennials

As perennial plants start to die back in October, it’s essential to cut them down to encourage new growth next year. However, leave plants with seed heads, like echinacea or allium, standing for a while. Their seeds provide food for birds and their skeletal structure adds interest to the winter garden.

Practical Tip: Use clean, sharp secateurs to cut back perennials to about 2-3 inches from the soil. Compost the healthy clippings but avoid composting diseased plant clippings.

Prepare Beds for Winter

By October, many vegetable and flower beds will be finished for the year. Remove dead plants and debris, turning over the soil to expose pests to the cold. It’s also an ideal time to dig in organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure, improving the soil’s structure and fertility for next year.

Practical Tip: Mulch bare soil with a thick layer of organic material (about 2-3 inches). This helps suppress weeds and keeps the soil warm. Over time, the mulch will break down and enrich your beds.

Plant Trees, Shrubs, and Roses

October offers cooler, wetter conditions, making it the perfect time to plant trees, shrubs and roses. The roots will have time to establish before the ground freezes, giving them a good head start for next spring.

Practical Tip: When planting, dig a hole that’s twice the width of the root ball but no deeper than its height. Water thoroughly after planting, and mulch around the base to retain moisture and protect roots from frost.

Harvest Late Crops and Protect Tender Plants

Many vegetables such as Kale, Brussels Sprouts and Parsnips thrive in the cool autumn air. Make sure to harvest these late crops before the weather turns too cold. At the same time, protect tender plants like pelargoniums and fuchsias from frost by bringing them indoors or into a greenhouse.

Practical Tip: Use horticultural fleece or cloches to protect crops that are still growing. You can also dig up tender plants, pot them and move them to a more sheltered location like a conservatory.

Rake Fallen Leaves

Fallen leaves can be both a blessing and a curse. While they’re beautiful to look at, if left to pile up on your lawn, they can suffocate the grass and promote disease. Rake them up regularly and consider adding them to a compost heap where they can break down into leaf mould, a valuable soil conditioner.

Practical Tip: Make lighter work by using products like Darlac’s Big Hands. These simple scoops enable you to pick up more leaves with your hands

Feed the Birds

As natural food sources dwindle, October is a good time to start supplementing garden birds’ diets by putting out feeders filled with seeds, suet and peanuts. Not only will you help the local bird population, but they can also help control pests in your garden.

Practical Tip: Place feeders in a sheltered spot, away from predators like cats. Clean your feeders regularly to prevent the spread of disease among birds.

Conclusion

October is a busy and rewarding time for gardeners in the UK. By planting spring bulbs, tidying perennials, protecting tender plants, and prepping your garden for the colder months, you’ll ensure a healthy, vibrant garden in the spring. So, grab your gardening gloves and make the most of this golden autumn month!

 

September gardening

WHAT TO DO IN YOUR ENGLISH GARDEN IN SEPTEMBER

September marks the start of autumn in the English garden, a time when the last of summer’s warmth meets the cooler breezes of autumn. It’s a crucial month for both enjoying the beauty of late blooms and preparing for the coming months. From harvesting crops to planting for next year, here are some key tasks to keep your garden looking its best in September.

Harvest the Last of Summer Crops

By September, many fruits and vegetables are ready for harvesting. Courgettes, beans, and sweetcorn will be ripening, while fruits like apples, pears, and plums are also reaching their peak.

Practical Tip: Pick fruits and vegetables as soon as they ripen to encourage the plants to keep producing for as long as possible. If frost is forecast, harvest any remaining tender crops like tomatoes and courgettes, as even a light frost can damage them.

Sow Hardy Vegetables for Winter

It’s not too late to sow hardy vegetables that will provide fresh produce over the winter months. Spinach, kale, and winter lettuce can be sown in September, and with a little protection from frost, they’ll provide fresh greens well into winter.

Practical Tip: Use cloches, fleece, or cold frames to protect these crops from colder weather. If you’re growing them in pots, consider moving them to a sheltered location, such as a greenhouse, as temperatures drop.

Divide Perennials

September is the ideal time to divide and transplant herbaceous perennials like hostas, daylilies, and asters. Dividing perennials rejuvenates the plants, encourages healthy growth, and provides extra plants to fill gaps in your garden or share with friends.

Practical Tip: Lift the clumps of perennials carefully using a garden fork, and gently pull apart the roots into smaller sections, ensuring each section has a good portion of root and shoots. Replant them at the same depth they were originally growing and water them in well.

Plant Spring Bulbs

September marks the beginning of bulb-planting season. Start planting daffodils, crocuses, and other spring bulbs now so they can establish roots over the winter. If you wait too long, they won’t have enough time to settle before the cold weather sets in.

Practical Tip: Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Plant bulbs at a depth roughly three times their height and space them out to allow for future growth. Make sure to plant with the pointed end facing up!

Deadhead Flowers

Many late-summer bloomers, such as dahlias, roses, and cosmos, will still be flowering in September. Deadheading—removing spent blooms—will encourage them to continue flowering for as long as possible.

Practical Tip: Use clean, sharp secateurs or scissors to cut off faded blooms, taking care not to damage surrounding buds. This will help your plants focus their energy on producing new flowers instead of seeds.

Lawn Care

With cooler weather and occasional rain, September is a good time to give your lawn some attention. You can scarify (rake out the thatch), aerate, and even overseed thin or bare patches. The soil is still warm enough for grass seed to germinate, but cool enough to prevent it from drying out too quickly.

Practical Tip: After aerating your lawn with a garden fork or aerator, spread a layer of lawn feed and grass seed over bare areas. Water the lawn thoroughly, especially if the weather remains dry, to help establish strong roots before winter.

Compost and Mulch

As you begin cutting back faded flowers and clearing vegetable beds, there will be plenty of plant material for composting. Fallen leaves and grass clippings can be added to your compost heap to break down over the coming months.

Practical Tip: To balance the nitrogen-rich “green” waste (like grass clippings), add some “brown” materials such as shredded cardboard or fallen leaves. This will help your compost decompose more efficiently and prevent it from becoming too wet.

Prepare for Frost

Although September is generally mild, frosts can occur later in the month. Prepare by bringing tender plants, such as pelargoniums and begonias, under cover. If you can’t bring plants indoors, consider covering them with horticultural fleece (available from our garden centre) on colder nights.

Practical Tip: Keep an eye on the weather forecast, and have some horticultural fleece or old sheets handy to protect plants in case of an unexpected frost. We sell fleece by the metre in our garden centre, near the tills.

Conclusion

September is a month of transition in the English garden, offering a mix of harvesting, planting, and tidying up. By taking care of tasks like dividing perennials, sowing hardy crops, and preparing for colder weather, you’ll set your garden up for success throughout the autumn and into next spring. Happy gardening!

 

how to plant spring bulbs

PLANTING SPRING FLOWERING BULBS

Planting spring bulbs is a simple yet rewarding task that ensures a beautiful garden once winter passes. With the right timing and technique, you can enjoy vibrant displays of daffodils, tulips, crocuses, and hyacinths as early as March. Here’s how to get started:

When to Plant

The best time to plant bulbs is between September and November, before the ground freezes. Bulbs need cooler temperatures to develop strong roots during the winter months. However, it’s essential to plant before heavy frost sets in, allowing the bulbs time to settle.

Choosing the Right Location

Spring bulbs thrive in well-drained, sunny locations. If your soil tends to hold moisture, improve drainage by adding grit or compost. Bulbs like daffodils and crocuses are perfect for lawns, while tulips and hyacinths do well in flower beds and borders. Bulbs can also be planted in pots for patio displays.

How to Plant

For most bulbs, plant them at a depth roughly two to three times their height. For example, a 5cm tulip bulb should be planted about 15cm deep. Ensure the pointed end is facing upwards. Space bulbs according to the instructions on the packet, usually around 10-15cm apart, to give them room to grow. We also recommend using Empathy’s “Bulb Starter,” which contains mycorrhizal fungi that help your plants’ roots establish, promoting strong, healthy growth. Additionally, bulb fibre is recommended as a planting medium/compost.

Aftercare

Once planted, bulbs require little maintenance. Water them well after planting but avoid waterlogging. As the shoots emerge in early spring, lightly feed them with a balanced fertiliser to encourage strong blooms.

Conclusion

By planting bulbs in the autumn, you’ll be rewarded with a burst of colour when spring arrives. With minimal effort, you can enjoy the timeless beauty of flowering bulbs in your garden.

 

september gardening tips

SEPTEMBER GARDENING TIPS

As September ushers in cooler temperatures and shorter days, it marks the transition from summer to autumn in the garden. This is a busy time for gardeners, with harvests in full swing and preparations for the next season underway. It’s the perfect moment to plant spring-flowering bulbs, collect seeds for next summer, and begin repairing any damage from the summer months. Amidst the vibrant reds and golds of early autumn, take advantage of the lingering warmth to complete these essential gardening tasks and set the stage for a beautiful garden next year.

Here are our tips for making the most of the month ahead:

– Cut deciduous hedges such as hawthorn, hornbeam and beech now that birds have finished nesting.

– Sow green manure in your vegetable beds that are going to be left fallow over winter. Green manure will prevent the leaching of soluble nutrients from your soil, build soil organic matter and soil structure, supply nitrogen and other nutrients for a following crop as well as providing ground cover to prevent damage to soil structure and bringing crop nutrients up from lower soil profiles. So many benefits from just one packet of seed! Green manure mixes are available to buy from seed in our garden centre.

– Continue to water and feed your tomatoes as cropping in a greenhouse can continue into the autumn.

– Dahlias, Begonias and Impatiens can continue to flower into the autumn so continue to deadhead, water and feed your plants.

– If you are growing pumpkins, raise them onto straw, wood or bricks as they ripen.

– Apply a barrier glue or grease band to your fruit trees to deter winter moth.

– Plant new strawberry plants for fruiting next year.

– Choose and plant spring flowering bulbs now but hold off on planting tulips until November.

– Maintain your lawn by killing and removing moss. Scarify, aerate and feed for improved growth next year.

– Net your garden pond in preparation for autumn leaf fall and preventing leaves from falling in and gunking up your pond.

– If you need to lay a new lawn, start by removing all weeds by hand weeding or using a weedkiller. Remove the existing turf to create an even surface. Turn over the top 20-25cm (8-10 inches) of soil and remove any large stones as you go. Add a 2-3cm (1inch) layer of organic matter / soil conditioner and gently dig in. Add topsoil to raise the level where needed. Leave the site to settle for at least a week (ideally a month). Weed again then rake with a soil rake to get a nice flat surface. Then firm the surface using a wooden board and your weight. The soil needs to be level and firm but with a fine crumb on the surface. This preparation will result in a better lawn so it is worth the effort. Now simply lay turf or sow grass seed and then stay off the area for as long as possible.

– Clean birdbaths using a mild detergent to help prevent the spread of bird diseases.

– Replace summer bedding that has finished flowering with winter interest such as cyclamens and chysanths. We recommend replacing compost in pots to prevent the spread of disease and pests.

– Plant indoor “prepared” hyacinth bulbs for Christmas flowering gifts. Remember to protect your hand when handling hyacinths as most people find they irritate the skin.

– Plant evergreens now while the soil is still warm and they have time to establish before winter.

– Plant autumn onion sets.

–Dig up any remaining potatoes before late blight or slug damage gets them.

– Cut out any raspberry canes that fruited this year. Leave new green canes as these will be next year’s crop.

august gardening tips

AUGUST GARDENING TIPS

August, the last official month of summer, offers the perfect chance to appreciate your garden’s peak beauty and enjoy fresh produce of your own. As one of the hottest months, August necessitates diligent watering, particularly if the season has been dry and water butts are running low. The month also coincides with holiday season, so arranging for friends or family to care for your garden in your absence is a wise move. When you are home, make sure to prune wisteria and other summer-flowering shrubs, like lavender, after they’ve finished blooming. By staying on top of these tasks, you can ensure your garden remains vibrant and well-maintained throughout the month.

Here are our tips for making the most of the month ahead:

– Carry out a trim of your evergreen hedges.

– Keep your spring flowering shrubs such as Rhododendrons and camellias well watered as they will be setting their buds for next year now.

– Lightly trim lavender after they have finished flowering leaving 2.5cm (1inch) of the current season’s growth i.e. not into woody sections.

– Plan next year’s spring flowering bulb displays as they will be available later this month. Flowers like daffodils, tulips, crocus, snowdrops and hyacinths.

– Your strawberry plants may have produced runners (long shoots with small ‘baby plants’ along them). These baby plants can be cut off and planted in pots to establish a bigger root system before planting them out.

– It is good to allow some flowering and vegetable plants to run to seed to provide natural food for garden birds and other wildlife.

– In hot weather, ensure you keep bird baths or trays topped up to provide essential water for wildlife.

– As you cut back flowering annuals and perennials, shake their ripe seed heads over bare sol for more flowers next year.

– Indoors, you can revitalise houseplants by checking if any are getting pot bound. You can tell this is roots are bulging out the base of the pot. Choose a pot about 2cm (1 inch) wider in diameter to the one the plant is already in and fill with houseplant repotting mix. Give your pot a good tap to ensure there are no air pockets in the soil.

– Raise the height of cut on lawnmowers during dry periods and mow less frequently. This will prevent your lawn from scorch.

– Prolong seasonal container displays by feeding your plants with a high-potassium fertiliser. Continue to deadhead flowers that have gone over to encourage new flowers to form.

– Watch out for vine weevil grub damage and apply biological controls. Plants in containers are particularly susceptible.

– Take cuttings from your penstemon plants as many do not survive over winter. Fill a 9cm pot with a cuttings compost or 50:50 mix of perlite and a free draining compost. Take a cutting from a non flowering shoot that is 10-12.5cm long trim it with a sharp knife to just below a leaf node (below where a leaf leaves the stem) Dip the end in a rooting powder and place up to 5 cuttings in the pot. Label and water. Place the pot in a propagator or cover with a plastic bag and rubber band. Position in a warm light position but not in direct sunlight. Cuttings should root in about 4 weeks but can be left undisturbed over winter. Keep soil moist but not wet.

– Clear fallen leaves with black spot from around the base of roses.

– Sow spring cabbage and spring onions for overwintering.

 

JULY GARDENING TIPS

JULY GARDENING TIPS

As summer progresses, the garden is in full swing. Many gardens are at their peak in July, filled with beautiful scents and abundant produce in the vegetable plot. It’s a lovely time of year to enjoy your outdoor space. As one of the hottest months, make sure to keep your plants watered and regularly deadhead flowers to keep plants looking good and enjoy a longer display of blooms.

Here are our tips for making the most of the month ahead:

– Keep plants looking attractive and encourage more blooms in beds, borders, containers, and hanging baskets by deadheading bedding plants and repeat-flowering perennials to encourage continuous flowering.

– Water plants in pots or containers regularly during hot spells. These dry out much quicker, especially if it has been breezy too. In addition keep an eye on any plants you have planted in the last year or so. They will still be establishing themselves and so the occasional water will prevent stress on the plants.

– Cut sweet pea flowers regularly to encourage continuous flowering. Sweet peas are hungry and thirsty plants and a lot of that demand comes from the large leaves. If you cut off any large leaves that have gone matte and slightly dusty looking, you allow the nutrients and water to get to the new growth and flowers.

– Cut lavender for drying by choosing newly opened flowers for the best fragrance. Hang them in a cool, dark place. Trim lavender after flowering to keep plants compact and bushy, but avoid cutting into old wood.

– Watch out for clematis wilt, which causes wilting leaves and black discolouration on leaves and stems. Remove all affected material and dispose of it in your household waste. To add resilience against clematis wilt in the first place, we always recommend planting new clematis plants about a couple of inches deeper than the existing soil level. This helps bury some latent buds so that the plant can sprout new shoots from underground if the top of the plant wilts or is damaged.

– Pick courgettes while they’re young. Regular picking encourages more fruit.

– Harvest runner beans regularly to prevent them from becoming stringy and to make room for developing pods. Leaving mature pods on the plant can reduce your crop.

– Start picking tomatoes as they ripen. Continue to remove side shoots, and feed and water the plants. Apply tomato feed fortnightly to crops in pots and grow bags to encourage fruiting. Remove the main shoot on cordon tomatoes where they hit the greenhouse roof or a leaf ot two above the seventh flower truss.

– Get ready, we will soon have potato tubers to plant for a Christmas crop. Grow in a sheltered spot.

– Protect your brassicas with butterfly netting to prevent cabbage white butterflies laying their eggs on your crops.

– Pick herbs often to prevent them getting woody and to encourage fresh bushy growth.

– If you have a greenhouse, dampen it down on hot days to increase humidity and deter red spider mites. Open vents and doors daily for adequate ventilation, and use blinds or shade paint to prevent overheating.

– Clear algae, blanket weeds, and debris from ponds, and keep the water level topped up. Algae can cause discoloured water, green scum at the edges, or dense mats of green growth under the surface, spreading rapidly in warm, sunny weather.

– Ensure frogs, toads, newts and hedgehogs can exit ponds via shallow edges or by laying a wooden ramp at the edge.

– Mow lawns regularly, but raise the cutting height during dry weather to leave the grass longer. Don’t worry if your lawn turns brown; it will recover when it rains.

– Don’t forget to arrange care for your plants while if you are going on holiday!

 

june gardening tips

JUNE GARDENING TIPS

June is a magical time in the garden, where the gradual process of tending and nurturing plants transforms into a vibrant explosion. In your outside space, you’ll find that fruit is ripe for picking, flowers are in full, glorious bloom, and every corner is teeming with energy. This month, the hard work of Spring pays off, making June a favourite for gardeners everywhere. As you enjoy the beauty of your garden, remember to tackle this month’s essential tasks to keep it flourishing.

Here are our tips for making the most of the month ahead:

– Fill gaps in beds and borders with long flowering summer bedding plants like Osteospermum and Cosmos. We have these and others in our garden centre.

Keep on top of weed growth by hoeing weed seedlings regularly. Hand pull annual weeds and use a hand fork to dig out perennial ones so you get all the roots.

– If any of your vegetable seedlings failed, you may want to plant young plants ready to plant from our garden centre to fill in your gaps. You can also still sow vegetable seeds like salad leaves and annual herbs like dill and coriander.

– Regularly pinch out sideshoots on cordon tomatoes and make sure the main stem is well supported.

– Pay attention to watering as the weather warms, particularly for any newly planted trees and shrubs as well as emerging seedlings.

– Plant focus: Cistus (Rock Roses). Generally preferring a more mediterranean setting, Cistus have delicate tissue-paper like flowers and they love sunny positions, perfect for your driest site. Apart from Cistus, closely related shrubs like Halimium perform equally as well but are a little more sensitive to cold winds. These plants are perfect for planting out in the garden growing to about 2 ft in height.

– Put up codling moth traps in apple trees and plum fruit moth traps in plum trees to avoid maggots invading your fruit.

– Add lawn clippings to compost in small amounts, mix with other straw like material so your compost doesn’t get too soggy.

– Liquid feed your plants in containers – following the directions (and dilution) on the packet.
Protect Lillies, Delphiniums and Hostas from slugs and snails.

– Cut Oriental Poppies back to ground level after flowering, new foliage should follow.
Continue planting out or sowing runner and French Beans.

– Protect soft fruit from birds by using netting.

– Use gaps between brassicas to sow quick growing radishes and salad leaf crops.

– During the summer you can mow your lawn once a week but mow part shaded lawns less often as they grow slower. Never mow after it has rained as you will compact the soil. Apply a Spring/Summer feed to lawns if they loose vigour following the instructions on the packet. If you have newly laid your lawn, feed and water to aid establishing but don’t over water and avoid using the new lawn while it establishes.

– Hopefully we will see some sunshine this Summer but with that comes the risk of hosepipe bans! Invest in a rainwater butt and collect water from your roof to use in your garden.