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It’s hardly been an idyllic summer so far, has it? Let’s hope that we start to see a bit more of that warm yellow ball in the sky, which has been so shy of late! It would be lovely to actually have a chance to sit out and enjoy our gardens, which have become, you must agree, unbelievably lush, green and full.

Sally has covered ‘garden tasks’ later in this newsletter, but one thing I’d like to emphasise is the need to FEED at this time of year.

Most of us are pretty good at nurturing our new plants; at the start of the season we dig in lots of rich new compost or manure into our beds, and probably incorporate something to help the roots of new plants get established too. But many weeks have passed since then, and all the nutrients found in that compost and manure will have been used up by your plants or will have leeched down beyond their roots’ reach with all this rain. Starting a feeding regime now will ensure your plants continue to perform their best for you, with extended flowering (especially if you’ve been snipping off spent flowers) and strong growth.

Another trick is to cut some perennials, which have had their first full flush of flowers, right back. It can feel a bit scary, as they’re still looking quite good, but doing so now will encourage them to put on a burst of new growth and reward you with another wonderful display of flowers in a few weeks’ time. I did this last week with my Geranium Rosanne and Erysimum Bowles Mauve, which I then drenched in seaweed feed, and they have already sprung back into leaf.

You know we’re always happy to help advise you on which fertilizer is best for your needs, so just ask one of us when you’re next in.

Now – news of what’s new in stock for your delight ….

Looking gorgeous at the moment are some of the later flowering herbaceous perennials:

• Penstemon
• Achillea
• Knautia
• Campanula
• Potentilla
• Primula viallii
• Tradescantia
• Verbascum
• We’ve just got in some chunky vibrant Fuchsias, to add a splash of colour in your garden borders or containers.
• New in are Cosmos in large specimen pots, with their delicate feathery leaves, and constant flowers from now until the first frosts.
• The Hairy Pot herbs are growing so fast you can almost see it. I’ve been keeping them in check, so they are dense, and smelling wonderful. Try a pot of marjoram or oregano near the kitchen door and get the kids to grab a handful to add to their pasta or pizzas – they’ll love it!
• There’s still enough time to grow some vegetables – the Franchi range of Italian vegetable seeds have plenty of varieties you can plant in July. We also have pots of tomatoes, peppers and chillies ready to go, as well as hanging baskets of tomatoes and strawberries.

Elsewhere at the garden centre, you can pick up a deckchair (either new or Vintage) in which to lounge in the sun … which really HAS to come out soon, surely?... or grab a beautiful parasol to provide shade.

Tash and I finally managed to get hold of a couple of gorgeous French cots/daybeds at a recent antique fair. We’ve converted them into garden benches, with foam seats covered in funky striped fabric. These items are getting harder and harder to find, so if you’ve always wanted one, come and snap one up soon before they go.

Lastly, a heads up that on Saturday 22^nd September we’ll be having an evening event to show off the new Italian stock that will be in by then (larger shrubs, trees and specimen pieces) as well as celebrating our Vintage Shed’s 2^nd birthday! Put the date in your diary, as we’d love you to join us …. full details to come nearer the time.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer, and look forward to seeing you soon.

Karen

PS:

Remember that in August our hours are reduced - 10am to 4pm each day.

July Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:30am – 5:30pm Sundays: 10am – 4pm

Tel:020 8670 7788 www.alleynpark.co.uk

Garden jobs for June

I’m not going to comment on the weather, since each time I do it seems to change the next day. However, gardens seem to be doing really well this year and driving around the countryside everywhere is gloriously green and healthy. You may be glued to the Olympics, but hopefully you'll have the time and inclination to step out into the garden over the next couple of months.

Planting

• There are often gaps in the garden at this time of year. It’s fine to continue planting, just make sure you dig a hole bigger than the pot, add some good compost and use Rootgrow along with a preferred fertiliser.
• Although it seems counter intuitive, when planting flowering herbaceous perennials, cut down the flowering stems. This will help root establishment as the plant won't be putting energy into flower or seed production. It will soon send up more flowers.

Plant and garden maintenance

• As a minimum, feed, weed, stake and water. That’ll keep you busy!
• Keep watering and feeding hanging baskets and containers. They will soon dry out and the plants will die if you don't keep an eye on them. Water in the morning and evening to minimise evaporation.
• Deadhead roses, bedding plants and repeat-flowering perennials, to ensure continuous flowering.
• As the summer progresses, think about any plants that will have lovely seed heads over the winter so that you can keep the secateurs away from them.
• Keep the weeds down by hoeing the borders. As I mentioned last month, weeds compete with plants for water and nutrients, so get rid of them!
• Summer prune Wisteria – cut the long wispy shoots back to 5 buds.
• To stop Alchemilla mollis self-seeding everywhere, cut down the spent flower stems – this will encourage new, fresher growth too.
• Feed Camellias with ericaceous fertiliser. This helps the bud development for next spring, and is essential for plants in containers.
• Keep an eye on ponds and fish, making sure water levels don't drop and keeping pond weed down.
• A handy piece of advice I read on ‘Shoot’ today was to plan ahead if you need work done to trees in the autumn. Get a quote and make a booking now, as tree surgeons get busy in the autumn months.

Grow your own

• Pick courgettes before they become marrows.
• Harvest sweetcorn and other vegetables as they become ready.
• Pick the side shoots out of tomatoes so that you have only one main stem – these are little shoots that emerge where the leaves join the main stem. If you leave them, they take valuable energy from the developing fruits.
• Cut out old fruited canes on raspberries.
• Lift and pot up rooted strawberry runners.
• Blueberries and cranberries growing in pots need to be kept moist at all times, preferably with rain water or soft water as they don’t like lime.

Lawn maintenance

• The recent rain has greened the grass, so keep cutting regularly, but in drought conditions, raise the mowing height.
• Use a summer feed if you missed feeding earlier in the year.

Garden pests

• Continue to protect lily, delphinium, hosta and other susceptible plants from slugs and snails. These populations have reached very high numbers with the damp weather.
• Watch out for powdery mildew on roses and honeysuckle – remove and dispose of all affected plant debris now and at the end of the season; mulch and improve watering in dry periods; improve air circulation around the plant if possible. If necessary, treat with an appropriate fungicide.
• Watch out for other pests and infestations and treat quickly.

Wildlife

• Maintain food and water supplies for the birds – they are still raising their young, and it’s important to keep the supply of food going. Some people worry about feeding peanuts, but it’s fine to do so as long as they are in a feeder.
• Check the cleanliness of your bird feeders. You can use a mild bleach solution to get rid of any bugs and bacteria.

Holidays

• If possible, move container plants to a shady position when you go away and ask a friend to water them – and return the favour when they go on their holidays!

Enjoy the coming summer weeks and I’ll look forward to starting the next season off in September.

Sally

PS:

Remember that in August our hours are reduced - 10am to 4pm each day.

July Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:30am – 5:30pm Sundays: 10am – 4pm

Tel:020 8670 7788 www.alleynpark.co.uk