insideKENT Magazine Issue 75 - June 2018 | Page 148

OUTDOORLIVING YOUR GARDEN THIS MONTH: JUNE TOP 10 JOBS THIS MONTH 1. Hoe borders regularly to keep down weeds 2. Be water wise, especially in drought- affected areas 3. Pinch out sideshoots on tomatoes 4. Harvest lettuce, radish, other salads and early potatoes 5. Position summer hanging baskets and containers outside 6. Mow lawns at least once a week 7. Plant out summer bedding 8. Stake tall or floppy plants 9. Prune many spring-flowering shrubs 10. Shade greenhouses to keep them cool and prevent scorch Be aware that clay soils can feel damp even when all available water has been used and that sand soils can feel dry even if some water is available. The only way around this is to develop experience in matching the observed state of an individual garden’s soil to the growth rate of the plants. Wilting is usually preceded by changes in leaf position and darkening of leaf colour. For plants in pots, the compost looking paler or feeling dry to the touch and the pot becoming lighter in weight (and consequently more prone to blowing over) are all signs that the compost is beginning to dry and is in need of water. BE WATER WISE Ideally water plants early in the morning to avoid evaporation loss during the day. On warm summer days, evening watering is also likely to be effective, the dry soil soaking it in readily and low humidity at night reducing risk of disease. To determine the need for watering, inspec t the soil at a spade's depth. If the soil feels damp, there is unlikely to be any need to water, but if it is dry then watering is probably required for some plants. 148 POSITION SUMMER HANGING BASKETS AND CONTAINERS OUTSIDE Although summer hanging baskets can be planted from April onwards, they will need protection from frost until the middle or end of May. If you do not have a greenhouse, it is usually easier to plant in situ once the frosts have passed. The basic principles of creating a hanging basket for winter and summer are the same: LINING First of all, if you are using a standard wire basket it will need to be lined. You can buy readymade cardboard liners and fibrous materials sold for the purpose, but a thrifty option is to collect moss from the lawn. Aim to cover the inside with about a 1.5cm-thick layer of the material and then half fill the basket with compost. COMPOST A multipurpose is fine for a display that only has to last for one year, but John Innes No 2 is better for a longer-lasting arrangement. CHOOSING AND ARRANGING THE PLANTS When you begin to arrange the plants in the basket, it is usually easiest to start with one, central plant. This can be used to create structure and impact, which is particularly important in winter if its other companions fail to flower in cold snaps. Around this, position some trailing plants to cover the sides of the basket, particularly if it is made from wire. However, using a more decorative basket is best where it will be easily seen.