Tag Archives: July gardening

Drought tolerant plants

With the recent beautiful sustained sunshine we’ve been having; lots of our customers are asking about drought tolerant plants.

There are numerous plants that can tolerate dry conditions and make excellent colourful garden features. These plants have developed ways of coping with drought conditions – including fleshy, hairy or waxy leaves, silvery or grey leaves and even reduced thin grass-like leaves or thorns.

We recommend looking at Ceanothus, Ceratostigma, Cistus, Cytisus, Euonymus, Hebe, Lavender, Rosemary, Red Hot Poker, Catmint and Sea Holly. Of course there are many others to consider so have a think about what you are looking for or ask one of our experts for advice if none of these are quite right for your needs. Our nursery staff are always very obliging, happy to help and share a wealth of knowledge should you need some advice.

Bear in mind that nearly all of them only become drought tolerant once they are well established. So, water them in well after planting – give a good soaking every week or so rather than little and often. This ensures that they become established as soon as possible.

Applying a thick mulch of bark, cocoa shell or gravel after planting will help insulate the roots from hot, sunny conditions and maintain soil moisture. Remember to lay down mulch only when the soil is already moist, as it will ensure a good level is locked in from the start.

For all your garden needs, visit one of our Exeter garden centres today.

 

Happy gardening everyone!

How to care for your garden beds & borders this July

We’ve been asked what maintenance beds and borders need at this time of year, here is our handy how to care guide.

Many plants that have produced their first flush of summer flowers, especially bedding plants and roses, will produce even more flowers if you regularly remove the faded flowers and seed heads/pods.

Many herbaceous perennials will also produce a second flush of flowers if the flowering stems are cut right back to ground level. Those with faded or damaged leaves can also be tidied up by removing this foliage.

After cutting back, we like to feed them with a high potash liquid fertiliser this helps encourage strong growth and further flushes of flowers.

All bedding plants and anything planted from last autumn onwards, will benefit from a good soaking once a week during hot and dry weather.

Finally, we recommend adding a thick mulch of bark, cocoa shell or gravel to moist soil as it will help to conserve soil moisture and keep weeds away.

In addition to this, laying down mulch provides a great way of insulating plant roots so they don’t become scorched in the sun.

 

Happy gardening everyone!

July in the Kitchen Garden

It’s gearing up to be a busy time in the kitchen garden. Here our our top tips for July:

Top Tips

Plant specially prepared potato tubers for a Christmas crop. Imagine home grown puds on Christmas Day – yum yum. Plant in a sheltered spot.

Treat woolly aphid on apples by scrubbing off their white protective ‘wool’ with a stiff bristled brush.

Ensure all your fruit and vegetables get watered regularly ideally using harvested rainwater.

If you find orange spots on the top of pear leaves, it is pear rust. Pick off and destroy the affected leaves.

If you are growing cordon tomatoes, remove the main shoot where they hit your greenhouse roof or a leaf or two above the seventh flower truss if that is sooner.

Prune your plums and cherries after fruiting. Remove the damaged, weak and crossing branches first and then thin out remaining branches if necessary.

For more detailed advice please visit one of our Exeter based garden centres and ask one of our friendly plant team.