Summer is (nearly) a-coming in...
The first blossom has fallen and the early summer flowers and shrubs are filled with buds.
Philadelphus, mock orange and lilacs are beginning to open their heavily-scented flowers, which for me always marks the start of summer.
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Hide AdThe tapestry of green leaves is a great backdrop for early flowering perennials such as bearded iris, lupins, erysimums, herbaceous geraniums and geums.
Bedding plant season is now fully under way. Bedding is a fabulous way to add vibrant colour throughout the summer. These plants can be hardened off now, but beware of late frosts.
Colour-schemed baskets are very in-vogue at the moment. For a vibrant display, try hot pink geraniums, white bacopa, baby pink diascias and fresh green and white nepeta. Alternatively, to achieve a contemporary feel, black and cream petunias with vanilla African marigolds and golden lysmachia give a striking display, particularly against a light coloured wall. For best results add a slow release fertiliser when potting, water daily, feed weekly and dead head regularly.