Country Images Magazine North Edition July 2017 | Page 52

• If going on holiday this month, set up a watering area using a growbag tray and some capillary matting. • Water down the greenhouse floor each morning on hot days to increase humidity. • Open all vents and prop doors open on warm days to improve ventilation • Pick tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and other greenhouse crops regularly to encourage further flowers to develop. General Garden Maintenance: • Feed the lawn with a suitable lawn fertiliser, ideally one that also contains iron. • Keep mowing the lawn regularly, but don’t cut too short if weather stays warm. • Remembering to water newly planted trees and shrubs well if there is a lack of rain. • Apply a deep layer of bark mulch around newly planted or established trees and shrubs to retain much needed moisture and help suppress weeds. • Feed hanging baskets and patio pots with a liquid fertilizer every week. • Top up bird baths regularly with fresh water. They very quickly dry out in hot weather. • Turn over and refill compost heaps to help the composting process. Plants that are a must this month: Verbena bonariensis: Very popular herbaceous perennial with tall green sparsely-leafed stems and flat, lavender, purple flowers which attract butterflies and bees. Ideal for the back of a border as it will reach about 150cm (5ft) if this is too tall try verbena rigida, this will reach 60cm (2ft) both are classed as half hardy but planted in-between other plants should give winter protection. TIP: Buy this now as when it comes into flower it’s usually sold out! Heuchera (coral flower ): Fantastic herbaceous perennial with brightly coloured, compact foliage and neat flower spikes which appear from June to September. A good plant for border or containers which will give you colour all year long as it keeps its leaf in winter. There are now hundreds of varieties but some new varieties are “Midnight Rose”, “Jade Gloss” and “Mahogany”. Agapanthus: Great herbaceous plant that does best in a container when the roots are restricted. Large round blooms of pure white or the deepest blues appear now till late August. Expect agapanthus plants to be more expensive than most herbaceous perennials. Dahlias (herbaceous): A great herbaceous plant that gives weeks and weeks of stunning colour, most people pick the fabulous dahlia “Bishop of Llandaff” but many other varieties are equally stunning “Bishop of Canterbury”, “Caribbean Fantasy”, “Fascination”, “Karma Choc” , “Moon Fire”, “Procyon” and “Swan lake” are well worth a look. These are very easy to grow for borders or containers but do require winter protection in exposed areas. TIP: Buy this now as when it comes into flower it’s usually sold out! Amber Valley Garden Services TREE SURGERY AND HEDGE SPECIALIST • TREE FELLING • HEDGE CUTTING • TREE PRUNING & TOPPING • CONIFERS REDUCED OR TAKEN OUT • LANDSCAPING WORK • FENCING WORK Quality Service & High Standard Assured Fully Insured For a Free No Obligation Quote Call Rob on 07841 422 310 or 01773 607409 52 | CountryImagesMagazine.co.uk Come and see me at Markeaton Garden Centre in Derby or tel: [phone] or search on Facebook Markeaton Garden Centre for advice or please contact me via email [email protected] Remember to send photos ! WAYSIDE Garden Services ‘For all your gardening needs’ (RHS level 2 qualifi ed) Seasonal pruning • Hedge trimming Paving & Decking Advice, design & planting schemes Regular maintenance For a free no obligation quote Call Steve on 07752 650588 • Chemical Free Rotary Cleaning • All Types of Flat Surfaces Est • Block Paving, 2004 Slabs, Decking • Printed Concrete • Resin Weather Sealing Tarmac Recolouring (Black or Red) • Free Quotations No job too big & Advice or small Any Genuine Find us on Quote Beaten! Facebook Tel: Martin 01246 865537 or 07970 482956 www.premierpowercleaning.co.uk