insideKENT Magazine Issue 63 - June 2017 | Page 156

OUTDOORLIVING
YOUR GARDEN NEEDS THIS MONTH cont.
PLANT OUT SUMMER BEDDING
For successional planting: many public
gardens change their bedding displays twice
a year, replanting in late spring (for summer)
and early autumn (for winter/spring). However,
the highest maintenance displays require late
spring, mid-to-late summer and autumn
plantings. Whichever regime you choose, this
can be done in small gardens too.
For replanting twice a year: try the summer
combination of begonia, the flowering
seedheads of ornamental grasses (such as
Pennisetum setaceum Rubrum) and late-
flowering salvia and verbena. For winter, plant
perennials such as bergenia, cyclamen,
hellebores and viola to give interesting foliage
as well as flower colour during mild spells.
SHADE GREENHOUSES
There are various means of shading
greenhouses and conservatories.
External blinds: give shade and also provide
the maximum cooling effect by preventing
the sun's rays from passing through the glass.
In periods of dull weather they can be easily
drawn up again to allow maximum light onto
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plants. However, they are likely to be one of
the more expensive options (and may interfere
with vents).
Internal blinds: do not have the same cooling
effect as external blinds since sunlight is
allowed to pass through the glass and
generates heat. However, they are probably
more easily automated than external blinds
in order to provide shade when it is most
required. There are a wide variety of materials
available in a range of degrees of shading and
with varying permeability to allow air
exchange.
Polyethylene mesh or netting
(shade netting): is usually placed inside the
glasshouse and fixed with clips. External fitting
is better, but harder to arrange. This is a
cheaper option than blinds. The plastic is likely
to biodegrade over a number of years, but is
not expensive to replace.
Shading paints: are diluted in water and
painted onto the outside of the glass in spring
– examples include SunClear, Varishade and
Nixol. As the season progresses, thicker
applications can be applied. In early autumn
the coating is washed and brushed off. Shade
paints are less suitable for unpainted timber
structures that are left as natural wood and for
structures glazed with acrylic or polycarbonate
because even thorough cleansing may fail to
remove all visible traces of paint. Some paints
are designed to become translucent when
wetted.
The RHS is a UK charity established to
share the best in gardening. Their work
is driven by a simple love of plants and
the belief that gardeners make the world
a better place.
For more information visit
www.rhs.org.uk