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GARDEN DOES TOO
SOW SOME SEEDS
Spring time is sowing time and while it’s too early to put tender seeds outdoors, you can get them started in a frost-free place such as a conservatory or windowsill.
Zinnias are a good choice, coming in lots of bright colours such as oranges, reds and purples and they will also make lovely cut flowers for indoors. If you sow now, they will be flowering in around 12 weeks.
You’ll need to harden them off before planting outdoors and pinch out the top growing point to encourage bushiness and more flowers.
2. PLANT HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS The soil is soft and warming up so it’s the perfect time to get some hard-working perennials into the ground. Buy or propagate plants that will suit your situation – damp, dry, shade, sun. Avoid the temptation to plant too closely together to create an instant look. Allow plants sufficient room to spread their wings and expand to their full size – check plant labels before planting to ascertain how high and wide they will grow. Hard-working choices include hardy geraniums, Alchemilla mollis, penstemons, astilbe, nepeta, geum, astrantia, achillea and campanulas.
3. PLANT A ROSE
For the month of June and then for a second flush later in the summer, include roses in your plot. You can choose from climbing, rambling, patio, carpet, hybrid tea or shrub roses.
Soil preparation is key here as roses are hungry feeders so incorporate a generous quantity of well-rotted organic matter before planting. Give them a good liquid feed now and dead head during the summer to keep the flowers coming. My top choice for perfume are ‘Gertrude Jekyll’, the classic pink English rose and ‘Munstead Wood’ for a fruity fragrance.
4. PLANT SUMMER
BULBS AND TUBERS
It’s also high time to get your summer bulbs and tubers into action. Lilies are hardy so can be planted straight away outdoors into pots or in the ground. If you want scent, choose Oriental lilies. Asiatic varieties come in a variety of colours but usually have no fragrance. Frost-tender bulbs can be planted now but keep in a bright frostfree place such as a polytunnel or greenhouse to protect and encourage growth.
In late May or when the likelihood of frost is over in your part of the country, they can be planted outdoors. This applies to begonias, which will brighten hanging baskets and pots, and gladioli that stand tall with magnificent spears of flowers in fabulous colours. Don’t forget dahlias for October colour.
5. SUMMER-FLOWERING SHRUBS These play an important role in the flower garden, providing volume and structure as well as some of the strongest displays of flowers. For example, lavatera or tree mallow does a great job if you’ve a larger space to fill and will be dripping with pretty pink flowers through the summer. It’s not a fussy shrub and does well in most soils.
Other contenders are lavender, perovskia, buddleja and hydrangeas – mop head, lace cap or paniculata are all summer stalwarts.