Plymouth Garden Centre, plant nurseries in Devon, gardening advicePlymouth Garden Centre, garden centre in Devon Cornwall UK,

July

BEATING THE DROUGHT

Unusual weather performance is now not a new thing…It is not even as predictable as it used to be. . I remember in the early 60’s that it snowed in the winter regularly, We were always sent home from school because the toilets froze. . Now snow is a rarity. Too often we now hear that September was the hottest in 100 years or May was the wettest since records began. April was the driest etc.

We need to plant, to be up to date, and this year there is a drought warning in certain parts of the U.K. Luckily not here in the South West. .

I remember in 1987 there were local drought warnings here in the U.K. and possible hose pipe bans in certain areas of the country. Ironically I went on holiday to Egypt where there  is Cairo , just built on a dessert, and the hotel gardener was liberally watering the grass with a fire hose……

However here in the UK we need to conserve water and we can plant to assist this.

When planting pots with summer bedding use ‘swell gel’ crystals to hold in water. They swell up and hold onto water that is released slowly, these are also a great help in hanging baskets. Some modern composts also incorporate these into the mix.

Plant drought resistant plants which include the following.

Agaves, succulents for sunny positions, perennial Mesembryanthemums  including the “hot,n,tot” fig grown on coastal areas. Olives live on poor and dry soils as well. Brooms and Genistas will thrive on hot dry banks. Palm trees and Cycads if you have a sheltered site. Bechornaria and Fuchraia all live in dry habitats. Anything with grey hairy leaves resist dessication .Citrus plants such as Lemons and Oranges love hot dry conditions and the scent of the flowers in the summer months is beyond description. I have a whole host of them in the garden and we have lemons at Xmas as a bonus but the flowers just fill the air with a superb perfume that defies any scent bottle. We are always here to help with advice on the plants that will thrive in near dessert conditions. You can even grow the prickly pear cactus (opuntia) in sheltered areas and it will over winter if given a little protection from the wet of the winter.

Other measures to take. Save your own water. Get a down pipe adaptor and fill your own water butt with rain water.

When planting a large plant or tree, push a 1 inch pipe into the ground close by and water down this tube to avoid wetting the surface where the water will not penetrate the roots it will just evaporate.

THINGS TO DO IN THE GARDEN 

 

July is a time of rapid growth. Sweet peas need rings to keep them in place on the canes, pinch out the side shoots from the main stem to give exhibition blooms.

Conifer hedges cut at this time of year will ensure a year free of further trimming.

Wisterias, especially those that fail to flower, should have all of the new growth cut back to just 5 or 7 leaves from the main stem.

Perennial plants are growing tall now, so get support rings to help to keep them vertical against the prevailing winds.

Hanging baskets will be filling out now and will benefit from a half dose of Miracle- Gro liquid feed  every other day. Follow the guide “Water they will survive. Feed they will grow”.

Roses will have finished the first flush of flowers . The books dictate that you do not feed roses after June for fear of soft growth. If you feed with Tomorite, the second flush of flowers will be better and the potash will help to give you the hard wood that you need to over winter.

Large flowered begonias grown from tubers should have the female , smaller flowers removed to give large male blooms.

 

 
Plymouth Garden Centre, Fort Austin Avenue, Crownhill, Plymouth PL6 5NU Telephone 01752 771820 Fax 01752 767152 Email: