’ m often asked the question in July whether it’ s too late to plant bedding and my answer is always:“ It’ s never too late!”

While we begin planting out our geometric shapes and colourful patterns in our beds in May, you can actually plant bedding through June and into July. And if you think about it, from 1 July to 1 October is over 90 days, which is plenty of time to nurture and grow an impressive display of colour.

JULY PLANTING RULES:

Time: The days are longer and the sun is hotter, so if you’ re going to plant out in July, it’ s best to do it in the evening and to water thoroughly morning and night for the duration.

Place: Bedding plants delight in the sunshine and don’ t much enjoy dappled shade. Their natural bright disposition means annuals really do need sunlight.

Selection: Choosing the right plants for your beds is going to depend on the design you have in mind, the shape and size of the patch. If you want to create a three-dimensional‘ picture’, go for shorter, compact varieties like begonia, geranium, cineraria( Silver Dust) and lobelia. If you are going for something‘ wilder’ and more

freeform, you can add in height with cosmos or celosia( Cock’ s Comb) with its feathery flowers- these two bedding stars are really good doers and last long into autumn.

Size: You don’ t have to go‘ big’, you can make a statement with a well-planted tub or pot. Even just popping a selection of brightly coloured marigolds in a planter or basket outside your front door will make a statement in July!

Water: We always suggest water conservation and utilising all the tricks: save as much of your household water as possible- whether it’ s your bath water, water collected in your rain butts, your washing up water or the left over tea in your tea pot- save this and use it to water your bedding and pots; they’ ll thank you for it and reward you with blooms.

Shady choices: Not all of us enjoy southfacing gardens and most of us have some shade to deal with in the garden. If you have a bed that’ s situated in dappled shade, then it might be worth thinking about a perennial border rather than an annual display.

My top shade-loving plants include ferns, hostas and perennial geraniums for a little bit of colour. If you’ re going to plant ferns in July, ensure the space is sheltered

and improve your soil with homegrown compost or peat-free compost. Mulch around the plants to ensure you keep the moisture in and keep the trunk and crown well watered.

As with most things in life, it’ s never too late, so grab your trowel and get outside! It’ s easy and not too expensive to add some colour to your borders, your pots and even a shady space this July.

If you have time, please do pop in to Hever Castle & Gardens for added inspiration- you’ ll find cool greens on Pergola Walk and a blaze of colour in the Italian Garden, Faith’ s Garden and in the Long Border on Two Sisters’ Lawn.

Don’ t forget, Hever in Bloom runs from Monday 22 June to Friday 3 July, and the Plant Fairs Roadshow returns on Sunday 28 June.

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