Midsummer
A rewarding time now for the gardener whose earlier
work is now paying dividends, but guard against
drought by watering well and providing mulches
of well-rotted leaves or old compost. Keep a careful
lookout for greenfly attack on any young, soft
shoots, and prepare new and worn lawn areas for
autumn sowing.
TREES AND SHRUBS
Continue thinning out shrubs that have finished
flowering, including philadelphus and weigela,
cutting old stems down to base.
Take semi-hardwood cuttings of shrubs whose new
stems are starting to get woody, such as cistus
and deutzia.
CLIMBERS
Prune the current year’s growth of wisteria
to the first five leaves to keep in trim and promote
more vigorous flowering.
ROSES
Deadhead as soon as blooms fade to encourage new
growth.
Feed with a proprietary fertiliser while the plants
are in full bloom.
Take action against pests and diseases only if
there are still signs of attack.
HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS
Deadhead and remove any yellowing foliage.
ALPINES
Sow freshly gathered seeds of Pulsatilla vulgaris
and Gentiana
verna for spring flowering.
Take healthy, non-flowering cuttings of spring-flowering
alpines, including thyme,
phlox, aubrietia,
helianthemum
and arabis.
WATER AND BOG PLANTS
Rake algae from ponds.
BULBS, CORMS AND TUBERS
Plant Sternbergia
lutea, autumn-flowering crocuses
and colchicums
as soon as the bulbs become available.
Lift tulip bulbs
when the foliage has started to die down. Dry
and store.
Stake tall-growing plants such as dahlias.
Deadhead lilies.
ANNUALS AND BIENNIALS
Keep annuals flowering continuously by deadheading
regularly.
LAWNS
Water regularly and copiously in dry weather and
do not cut too close.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Hoe beds and borders regularly to keep them free
from weeds.
Next:
Late Summer
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