A lot of red, white and blue recently, eh?!
These are not colours you would particularly find much of in the natural world – they are a combination that you normally associate with formal bedding plants, all neatly set out in rows and kept weed free. And this was the norm for many gardens until about 100 years ago.
Since then, there has been a wide range of experimenting in garden substance and styles: just look at the range on offer at RHS Chelsea flower show this year. Gardens evoking wilderness, shelter using newly developed building materials and spectacular colours all featured.
We have come a long way from Edwardian and Victorian bedding displays so proudly set out in country houses and parks!
There is, however, an interesting variation to this: more and more, home owners are experimenting with wildflower seed to cover just a part of their garden, or their allotment. They await not only the colours but the flying visitors too.
Talking of which – if you want a treat over the coming months, go to visit the Tower of London: wildflower seeding on a massive scale in the moat. Mind-blowing! Put together by the same team who gave us the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, this is bedding on acid. Wear sunglasses.
So, when you are not listening to Jimi Hendrix, there are plenty of jobs to do this month:
• Putting out summer bedding hanging baskets and bedding now the frosts are over.
• Cutting down the stems of the spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils.
• Cutting and clipping Privet, box and evergreen honeysuckle hedges (Lonicera nitida)
• Philadelphus, Kolkwitzia, Weigela and Deutzia can all be pruned after they have flowered. In doing so the new growth will have time to develop in order that they may flower the following year.
• Give Clematis montana a good hacking if needed when they are over (they can take it!) and tie in other climbers.
• Remove stems of any variegated plants that are reverting to their original colour or the whole plant will ‘revert’.
• Divide Hosta as they come into growth and fill out any gaps in the borders with bedding.
• Stay on top of the weeds, especially the thugs such as ground elder, bindweed, mare’s tail and bramble: nothing like a spade to get them out.
• Give ailing plants a shot of liquid feed as that is the best way to give them a lift.
• Keep a close eye on the soil moisture levels as newly established plants can easily suffer.
• Evergreens such as Viburnum tinus and Choisya can also be cut and shaped once they have flowered.
• Roses can be deadheaded to encourage repeat flowering when they fade. Do this by cutting just above the first leaf below the faded bloom.
• Keep your lawn trimmed and edged but do not cut too close if drought conditions appear.
And enjoy your garden, your colours and even your purple haze.