Bare beds and empty pots? You still have time to make a blaze of colour
THERE’S no doubt that it’s been trickier than usual to get hold of bedding plants this spring. With garden centres and other plant outlets shut during the lock down, gardener s turned to online suppliers for their annual flowers.
Some were lucky enough to find their choices in stock, but huge demand meant that many were left disappointed.
As a result, the containers in my local area seem to be lacking their normal punch, as gardeners make do with whatever they can get their hands on.
Of course, the difficulty in getting hold of compost too has meant that some folk haven’t bothered to plant up hanging baskets, window boxes or patio planters at all.
Well, it’s not too late to fill your garden with seasonal colour. The easing of some restrictions has seen garden centres reopen recently, with sales tables stocked with summer beauties.
As the spring bedding season was lost, small plug plants have made way for larger specimens that will provide instant impact.
Among the plants that are likely to be on offer are pelargoniums, petunias, fuchsias, marguerites and osteospermum.
These can be planted on their own in containers or mixed with each other for a more vibrant show. Taller annuals can be used as the centrepiece for an arrangement, alongside grasses and foliage perennials.
Cheer up any bare walls or fences by displaying plants in hanging baskets.
Available in many shapes, sizes and styles, baskets have space around the outside for trailing plants and room on top for larger, upright specimens.
Under-plant with lower-growing species and set more trailers around edges.
It’s possible to buy special hanging- basket compost, but I use multi-purpose, with a handful of controlled-release fertiliser granules mixed in to ensure the plants don’t run out of steam.
If you really want to go to town, incorporate some water-retaining crystals to keep the compost damp.
Use pots and planters to add interest on the ground. If you already have a pot, work out roughly how many plants you will need before going shopping.
If you’re starting from scratch and are unsure how many plants you need for a pot, just select a container and t hen create a dummy pl anti ng s cheme by arranging plants next to it.
Add or remove plants during this trial run until you are happy.
If the pot has a single drainage hole in the base, cover with stones to prevent it clogging up. Partially fill with compost and then arrange plants, filling gaps between root balls with compost.
Make sure plants are at the same depth as they were in their original pots and leave a 2in gap at the top for watering.
Containers will earn their keep until the first frosts of autumn with a little attention.
Water plants regularly – twice a day during the height of summer – and feed weekly with a fertiliser that’s high in potash.
For a long-lasting display, spend five minutes a day removing fading blooms to prevent plants setting seed.