Plant purple loosestrife around ponds.
If you are looking to elevate your bog garden or add a striking vertical element to the margins of your pond, few plants offer the impact of Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). This hardy, native wildflower is renowned for its architectural…
After the Chelsea chop
There I was, standing in some glorious sunshine in late May, staring down a Purple Loosestrife that had developed ideas above its station. It was lunging skyward like a teenager who’d discovered protein shakes, all lanky stems. If left to…
Continue to plant out bedding
As we move through the heart of the season, there is still a fantastic opportunity to continue planting summer bedding in your pots, containers, and garden borders. Many gardeners make the mistake of thinking the planting window closes entirely in…
Enchanting Night-Scented Stock
As the long days of June stretch into warm, golden evenings, your garden has the potential to become a sensory sanctuary. One of the most rewarding additions you can make this month is Night-Scented Stock (Matthiola longipetala). While it may…
Sowing and Growing Nasturtiums in June
June is a fantastic time to get nasturtiums into your garden. If you missed the early spring rush, do not worry; these cheerful, peppery-scented flowers are rapid growers that thrive in the warmth of early summer. Whether you are aiming…
Lawn care in drought
When a hot, dry spell settles in and the rain clouds seem to completely vanish, your lawn quickly starts to bear the brunt of the harsh weather. During these parched periods, the instinct for many homeowners is to keep up…
Revitalise geraniums
Midsummer is a transitional time for the garden, and taking a closer look at your perennial borders can pay off in a big way for the rest of the season. Hardy geraniums are a classic staple in many landscapes, loved…
Pruning Wisteria
There is nothing quite like the romantic, cascading drama of a wisteria in full bloom. But once those stunning purple tassels fade around the middle of June, the real work begins. If left to its own devices, this vigorous climber…
Pinch out tomato side shoots
There is a quiet, almost meditative ritual to growing tomatoes that anyone with a bit of dirt under their fingernails knows well. At the heart of it is the constant battle against the side-shoots—those ambitious little suckers that sprout in…
The June apple drop
Finding a carpet of tiny, unripe apples scattered across your garden floor can be a disheartening sight. If your fruit trees suddenly deposit hundreds of small fruits on the ground in early summer, it is easy to panic and assume…