Hello Everybody,
Sorry to be so late with my tips - I know you have all been waiting with spades poised and shears at the ready, waiting to hear what to do next!
You will be pleased to know that the next few weeks are really about maintaining what you have done in previous months. One of the most important jobs is to keep your tubs and baskets well watered and fed regularly, and dead heading really does prolong the show. Tomato feed is a good fertilizer, and remember what I always say: little and often is better than a big dose when you think about it.
If you are going away, try to get a neighbour to water for you and train them up properly. Make sure they put the nozzle of the can or the hose right into the container; it's no good waving the hose vaguely around the leaves, as most of the water will bounce off. If this is not possible try to get the containers in a group in the shade and stand them in plastic trays of water.
You can also put houseplants out for a summer break - the fresh air and rain will do them no end of good. Make sure the containers can drain, i.e. take them out of their decorative pots.
This is also the time to prune early flowering shrubs like Philadelphus. Cut back flowered growth to a strong lower shoot and thin out about one fifth of the old woody stems down to the ground to keep new flowering growth coming for the future.
If you have a wisteria, cut off the long whippy shoots that are now waving in the breeze; keep only the ones that you want to extend the coverage of the plant.
Make sure any newly planted trees and shrubs are well watered - a good soaking occasionally is better than tormenting them with a dribble every night.
Bearded iris need thinning sometimes to promote better flowering. If congested, dig up the rhizomes, keep the young fresh ones, trim leaves back to six inches and replant in a sunny spot, on a ridge of soil if your ground is heavy and wet.
Pinch out the tops of climbing beans and the tips of tomatoes: not all the trusses will ripen if you keep too many. Use or clip herbs to keep them compact and fresh. Early potatoes should be ready to harvest. You just about have time to sow lettuce in containers for a last crop.
If you grow raspberries, cut out the fruited canes to the ground. Autumn fruiting ones need to be cut down in January.
Now is the time to treat the lawn for moss and weeds; this is best done when there is the prospect of rain. Then scarify to get the thatch and dead stuff out. An electric scarifier is not very dear and worth its weight in gold if you like a good lawn. If you are hedge cutting make sure the birds have finished nesting.
Make sure rhododendrons and camellias are well watered or they will suffer from bud drop in the spring. Trim back the flowers of lavender, but do not cut too deep into the wood.
Collect any seeds of plants you like for next year: harvest them when dry and store in paper bags or envelopes, or leave seed heads on for the birds and let the seeds germinate where they fall for a free show next year.
Plan your bulb displays for next year. It's much cheaper to buy a large quantity on line, and a big display looks better than a few flowers dotted about. You may just have time to plant wallflower seeds and grow on for next spring.
So harvest your veg, make jam and pickles to stock your larder for the winter and above all enjoy your plot.
Happy hols, all the best, Caroline
Sorry to be so late with my tips - I know you have all been waiting with spades poised and shears at the ready, waiting to hear what to do next!
You will be pleased to know that the next few weeks are really about maintaining what you have done in previous months. One of the most important jobs is to keep your tubs and baskets well watered and fed regularly, and dead heading really does prolong the show. Tomato feed is a good fertilizer, and remember what I always say: little and often is better than a big dose when you think about it.
If you are going away, try to get a neighbour to water for you and train them up properly. Make sure they put the nozzle of the can or the hose right into the container; it's no good waving the hose vaguely around the leaves, as most of the water will bounce off. If this is not possible try to get the containers in a group in the shade and stand them in plastic trays of water.
You can also put houseplants out for a summer break - the fresh air and rain will do them no end of good. Make sure the containers can drain, i.e. take them out of their decorative pots.
This is also the time to prune early flowering shrubs like Philadelphus. Cut back flowered growth to a strong lower shoot and thin out about one fifth of the old woody stems down to the ground to keep new flowering growth coming for the future.
If you have a wisteria, cut off the long whippy shoots that are now waving in the breeze; keep only the ones that you want to extend the coverage of the plant.
Make sure any newly planted trees and shrubs are well watered - a good soaking occasionally is better than tormenting them with a dribble every night.
Bearded iris need thinning sometimes to promote better flowering. If congested, dig up the rhizomes, keep the young fresh ones, trim leaves back to six inches and replant in a sunny spot, on a ridge of soil if your ground is heavy and wet.
Pinch out the tops of climbing beans and the tips of tomatoes: not all the trusses will ripen if you keep too many. Use or clip herbs to keep them compact and fresh. Early potatoes should be ready to harvest. You just about have time to sow lettuce in containers for a last crop.
If you grow raspberries, cut out the fruited canes to the ground. Autumn fruiting ones need to be cut down in January.
Now is the time to treat the lawn for moss and weeds; this is best done when there is the prospect of rain. Then scarify to get the thatch and dead stuff out. An electric scarifier is not very dear and worth its weight in gold if you like a good lawn. If you are hedge cutting make sure the birds have finished nesting.
Make sure rhododendrons and camellias are well watered or they will suffer from bud drop in the spring. Trim back the flowers of lavender, but do not cut too deep into the wood.
Collect any seeds of plants you like for next year: harvest them when dry and store in paper bags or envelopes, or leave seed heads on for the birds and let the seeds germinate where they fall for a free show next year.
Plan your bulb displays for next year. It's much cheaper to buy a large quantity on line, and a big display looks better than a few flowers dotted about. You may just have time to plant wallflower seeds and grow on for next spring.
So harvest your veg, make jam and pickles to stock your larder for the winter and above all enjoy your plot.
Happy hols, all the best, Caroline