Beginneth the watering
It’s that time of year again where we start badgering you all to remember to water your gardens. As temperatures increase and plants begin to grow with aplomb, you’ll need to take extra care to remember to check that soil is damp, that leaves are looking fulsome and alive, and to give everything a good water if not. It’s not too hot yet and so you probably won’t need to be watering every day – but remember that you’ve got all that to look forward to as summer progresses so it’s a good idea to establish good habits now!
Dig Top Tip – If you’re watering new or smaller plants, we recommend using a watering can rose (the shower head that goes on the end of your watering can spout) as this will give you a good, even distribution, and will avoid damaging fragile plants with a heavy flow.
(And, if you’re totally new to this whole gardening thing, here’s our Beginners Guide to Watering!)
Look after your climbers
As Clematis, Passiflora, Jasmine and many other climbs unfurl their wily tendrils and begin to climb up pergolas, fences, other plants and anywhere else that’ll have them, it’s a good idea to tie in loose tendrils to guide the plant where you want it to go. It’s much better to do this as the plant grows because, once established, many climbers will have really cemented themselves in place with winding vines which are, frankly, a bit of a pain to disentangle.
Plant Dahlias and Cannas
Dahlias are a brilliant late summer addition to many gardening styles and will give you mountains of flowers from August through to early autumn. Now is the time to plant them. Planted as tubers in a sunny spot, you can’t really go wrong with Dahlias. Choose a colour that compliments the rest of your garden. If you have our Cottage theme, pastel coloured Dahlias will work wonders. If you have our Jungle them, consider bolder colours such as reds, oranges and purples. Cannas are a great addition to the Jungle too and, now that frosts have passed, it’s the right time to get them in the ground too.
Feeding time
As leaves and blooms begin to emerge, it’s a good idea to give everything a feed. Whether shop bought or home made (whether coffee grinds, crushed eggshells, homemade comfrey feed or shop bought and mixed into your watering can) it’s a good time to give everything a boost. The easiest way to do this is with a shop-bought plant food added to your watering once every two weeks or so. Make sure to read the instructions to ensure you’re getting the right balance between water and fertiliser. Always add the feed to your watering can first to ensure its evenly mixed.
Feed and seed your lawn
Feeding and seeding your lawn now will give you a healthier green carpet through summer months. Around now is when plants are doing most of their growing and so it’s a perfect opportunity to supplement nutrients and fill any gaps with loose lawn seed.
Plant succulents
These drought-friendly plants make brilliant additions to any garden – but complement our Mediterranean theme very nicely. They’re easy to plant, look great in low and small pots and make great table centrepieces or nestled among other plants in a sunny spot. They need very little water as their leaves retain a lot, and so make excellent sure-fire eye-catchers that require very little maintenance. They like free-draining soil so, if you’re planting up, it’s a good idea to add a few handfuls of potting grit to your peat-free compost.
Encourage growth
As well as feeding your plants, ‘pinching out’ can have a huge impact on bushier looking plants and better flowering periods. Many summer flowering bedding plants benefit from removing the tops of shoots. Reducing by a third is a good start and encourages side-shoots to strengthen and produce more flowers.
Cut back Thyme
If you have our Mediterranean theme, you’ll very likely have some Thyme in and amongst your plants. It’s a good idea to give it a trim at this time of year. The leaves can be kept and dried, or used immediately in the kitchen and the light prune will encourage more growth, more flowers, and more fragrance for your aromatic Mediterranean paradise.
Nature Watch
Each month, we’ll also give you gardening advice to keep your outdoor space as inviting as possible for birds, mammals and insects. If every garden in the country was an inviting habitat for wildlife the impact on British nature would be astronomical and we firmly believe that our gardens should be refuges for local wildlife, as much as they are for us.
No Mow May
With increasing popularity each year, No Mow May is a great way to boost habitats for insects, birds and mammals in your garden during this intense growing period. The basic principle is to leave some or all of your lawn unmown through the month of May. You even can go further by leaving it in place through ‘Let It Bloom’ June.
For wilder gardens, No Mow May can add a beautiful natural look to any central areas. For gardens with a more manicured look, it’s understandable that you might want to continue mowing through May – but we can heartily recommend leaving even a small section unmown.
It’s worth noting that No Mow May is sometimes expected to produce fields of wildflowers which often isn’t, unfortunately, the case – wildflower meadows can take time to establish and require quite poor soil. More often than not, you’ll be left with beautiful swathes of longer grasses that are normally kept at bay by mowers. Sections of long grass are so beneficial to wildlife, and, as these longer varieties of grasses begin to emerge through the month, we’re confident you’ll see them for their own beautiful charm.
Keep an eye out for Hedgehogs
We mentioned hedgehogs last month which will all be out of hibernation now. Ensure there are access points in your fences for hedgehogs to pass back and forth during their nighttime wanderings (these are known as hedgehog highways, charmingly) and consider leaving out some meat-based cat/dog food or specific hedgehog feed. While hedgehog numbers are reported to be on the rise, encouragingly, they still need all the help they can get.
Leave bird boxes
If you have a bird box, it may well still be in use in May. Though many birds will have fledged and flown the nest, it’s safest to leave it in place until a little later in the summer when you can safely take it down and clean it ready for next year.
Boost your birdfeed
With local birdlife very likely in overdrive feeding their demanding youngsters – in or out of the nest – it’s a good idea to add some extra nutrients to what you’re putting out for the birds. Mealworms are a top tier addition and you should be able to buy them from most garden centres and even the pet aisle of your local supermarket.
