Paul Gargan
Green Fingers
The main reason to grow plants, be they trees, shrubs, flowers, fruit or vegetables, is the pleasure we get from it. It doesn’t matter whether you measure your garden in hectares or your balcony in metres – grow something.
It is from June onwards that your hard work over the last few months pays off. It is also the time when you shall take time to sit in the sun and take in the fruits of your labour.
If you grow tulips or hyacinths in containers, now that the foliage has died off, take them out, leave them to dry for a few days and store them wrapped in paper in a cool, dark place, ready for planting in the autumn.
Daffodils that are naturalised in lawns (provided that it is six weeks since they finished flowering) can be cut now. A strimmer is the easiest method, but if you haven’t got one, a lawnmower will do. Put it to the highest setting and cut without the grass collection box. Rake up and cut again on a lower setting. When you are finished, compost everything that you have cut.
Cut back early flowering perennials that have gone over, such as oriental poppies. When the faded flower stems of hellebores start to turn brown, remove them to tidy up the plant.
Hanging baskets
If you planted up containers and hanging baskets early and kept them under glass to protect them from frost, take them out now. If you haven’t planted them yet, do it now. Containers and baskets that are looked after properly – watered, fed and deadheaded – will keep flowering from now until the first frost.
When first planted, containers only need watering every three to four days but as the weather warms up they may need it every day. Check daily and if you can feel moisture when you put your finger into the compost, leave it. If they feel dry, water them. Letting them dry out and then watering will bring the best out of them. Don’t keep them wet. Liquid feed them every week for the best results.
After the first flush of flowers has ended, get into the habit of deadheading every week at minimum. This prevents the plant from setting seed.
The plant wants to set seed, so this makes them try harder and they will produce more buds and flowers.
When deadheading, don’t just remove the flower head, nip off the stem as close as possible to the joint with the main stem.
Deadhead daffodils to tidy them up, by pinching the flower head between finger and thumb, but let the leaves to die naturally if possible. If not, give them at least six weeks after flowering before cutting and composting.
This is so that the bulbs can recharge and give a full display next year.