|
|
|
|
|
|
| Summer Gardening Jobs |
Gardening Jobs for the Summer:
The summer period is one of the most exciting and relaxing for the established gardener – especially if the garden is mostly composed of perennial planting and established borders. In the case of the more vibrant gardener, however, this time of the year is all the more exciting in a garden filled with yearly planting displays of annual varieties – each year, my family and I compete as to whose border looks the most vibrant and regimented! Key tasks at this time of the year include pruning, cleaning, dead-heading, replacing and enjoying! Let us start, however, with the less enjoyable aspects of garden maintenance, before moving to the BBQ elements!
- With the maximum available sunlight, all of the plants, both annual and perennial, will be growing their socks off at this time of the year. This in turn, will necessitate a fair amount of pruning and light trimming to control unruly growth and encourage appropriate shapes to be taken be wandering plant varieties. Hedging should be kept neat, as should lawns and low lavender hedges should be lightly trimmed with Secateurs if necessary.
- Areas of the garden still unoccupied by plants, such as the compost heap, areas behind sheds and outbuildings and underneath the staging in the greenhouse will need to be cleaned to prevent them becoming a breeding area for slugs and snails. Greenhouses at this stage of the year should also be relatively empty and as this is the perfect time for deep cleaning, including the glazing and a spray down of the bars and staging. A good household cleanser such as Jeyes Fluid will be ideal for this job and will kill the bacteria present in the wood and mould.
- With all of the planting completed in the spring, the main task involving the annual plants will be removing the dead-heads and expired flower heads in order to encourage further growth and flowering. Flowers should be removed carefully, using Secateurs if appropriate, taking care to remove the entire seed pod on plants such as petunias and marigolds. These dead heads can be composted on many plants but avoid composting any that contain semi-developed seeds, such as morning glory, marigolds, Tagetes or cornflowers as these will plague your compost heap for years to come!
- With regard to the issue of replacement, this is often a particular issue for ornamental gardens with young children. Every year, sure as certain, one of my marigolds, edging the borders with military precision, takes a direct hit from a football or renegade cricket bat. Having a couple planted in a trough out of site, allows for swift fully developed plant replacement in the height of the summer. This is achieved seamlessly if conducted in the late evening and watered thoroughly and prevents the most painstakingly created displays from being destroyed too early in the season.
- The final stage, ‘enjoyment’ is the most vital of all at this time in the year. Enjoying the fruits of your labour is one of the most important aspects of the gardening year. Sit back relax and bask in the glory of the flowering masterpiece that you have created in the year so far.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Organic Vegetable Gardening Feature Article |
| Jobs to do in May (Growing Techniques and Planting) Part 2 |
Details |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Gardening Fairs & Events |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Your Recent History (Recently Viewed Articles)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
