From ponds to panes, 5 key jobs to tackle
KEEP GREENHOUSES COOL
Temperatures can build up rapidly inside greenhouses on warm days, causing damage to plants. Keep things cool by opening doors and vents early in the morning, and closing before temperatures fall in the evening. As a further measure, fix shade netting to the inside or paint the glass with Coolglass whitewash.
TAME ROWDY CLIMBERS
Unruly stems of honeysuckle, roses, clematis and other climbers are easily snapped off by a gust of wind. To prevent unwanted damage, tie in regularly to trellis, wires or other structures using garden twine. If shoots are growing away from supports and can’t be controlled, cut back to keep plants looking tidy.
BOOST DAFFODILS
Once they have finished flowering, nip off the heads of daffodils to prevent self-seeding but allow leaves to die back naturally – don’t tie the foliage in a knot as this will hinder photosynthesis. For a great display next spring, plump up bulbs by watering the soil with liquid tomato food or another fertiliser high in potash.
MAKE PONDS SPARKLE
Prevent ponds from turning into an eyesore by rejuvenating overcrowded plants. Lift containers from the water, decant the rootball and split it into several pieces. Repot a section in the same container using fresh aquatic compost. If the display is looking sparse, snap up some new aquatics from a mail-order supplier.
SPRUCE UP LAVENDER
Keep lavender plants compact, bushy and attractive by removing about 1in of growth to leave a symmetrical mound shape. Avoid cutting into leafless, woody branches as new leaves are unlikely to regenerate. Trim again lightly in late summer, removing all of the stalks holding fading flower heads.