June Maintenance

What to do in your garden in June

·         Plant out summer bedding

·         Plant up containers

·         Plant out Cannas and Dahlias

·         Continue to thin out hardy annuals if they are overcrowded

·         Lift and divide snowdrops and bluebells

·         Lift and divide overcrowded bulbs

·         Keep newly planted trees and shrubs well watered

·         Annuals can still be sown such as Calendula, Godetia, and Clarkia

·         Perennials such as Delphiniums and Lupins can be sown directly into drills outside once the seed heads have ripened and started to split naturally

·         Pinch out the tips of Fuschias to encourage a bushy habit and more flowers

·         Once your sweet peas start to flower, pick them out to encourage more flowers

·         Dead-head and cut back oriental poppies to just above ground level to stimulate new growth

·         Near the end of June, cut back hardy geraniums to encourage new flowers and foliage

·         Cut back bulb foliage as soon as they have died down naturally

·         Stake tall or floppy perennials to prevent wind damage

·         Tie in and train climbing plants to their supports

·         Prune out overcrowded or dead stems of evergreen clematis to maintain a good shape

·         Harvest flower heads from your lavender to use in baking

·         Winter bedding plants can be sown from May to July ready for the following winter

·         Hellebore seed can be harvested once the seed heads have ripened. The seeds need to be sown immediately whilst fresh, and need a winter’s cold season in order to break their dormancy in order for germination to occur

·         Spreading and trailing plants should be trimmed back after flowering to encourage fresh growth and new flowers

·         Pinch out the leading shoots on plants such as Chrysanthemum and Helianthus to encourage bushy plants

·         Divide Hostas as they come into growth

·         Divide Primula after flowering, planting in a nursery bed until they are ready for planting out again in the autumn

·         Hoe borders to prevent annual and perennial weeds from spreading and seeding themselves

·         Tackle bindweed as and when it appears

 

(Information provided by www.thompson-morgan.com and www.rhs.org.uk)

 

May maintenance

Apologies for not posting this at the beginning of May but I thought I'd still share it with you so you know what to tackle next May.

   

What to do in your garden in May

• Thin out hardy annuals
• Herbaceous perennials can still be divided
• Divide Hostas
• Trim back spreading plants such as Aubretia and Alyssum after flowering to encourage new growth
• Prune Penstemons by cutting all the old shoots back to the base provided there is new growth at the bottom, if not then cut to just above the lowest set of leaves
• Take cuttings of tender perennials such as Fuchsia and Pelargoniums
• Take softwood cuttings of shrubby herbs such as sage and lemon verbena
• Prune out overcrowded and dead stems of early-flowering clematis after flowering
• Tie in climbing and rambling roses
• Tie in sweet peas to encourage climbing
• Prune spring flowering shrubs after flowering
• Cut back flowered shoots of Choisya to encourage a second flush of flowers in autumn
• Trim lavender plants
• Feed and water container plants
• Top-dress permanent pot plants to refresh the compost
• Plant up pots and baskets of summer bedding and harden off before placing in position
• Inspect your plants for pests and diseases
• Pick off larvae of rosemary, viburnum and lily beetles as soon as they are seen
• Look out for signs of blackspot on roses
• Earth up potatoes
• Continue to weed beds and borders
• Prune wall-trained pyracantha, removing any shoots that are coming away from the wall

(Information provided by www.thompson-morgan.com and www.rhs.org.uk)

 

Apologies

I'd like to just take a moment to apologise for not updating the blog for awhile.
Unfortunately I've been off sick from work so haven't been able to update the blog with new pictures and information from around campus. But I'm back at work now so I'll be sure to keep you all updated as we progress through the year.
We're in the run up to graduation now so we're working hard to get the grounds into tip top shape ready for the week of the 25th July which means I should have lots of photographs to share with you over the coming weeks.