|
|
|
Maintenance though the summer
 Deadheading The term deadheading simply means the removal of flowers that have faded. Old flower-heads can look unsightly in a display, so cutting them off will ensure your plants look fresh and tidy. Also, by preventing the flowers wasting energy by producing seeds, extra resources can be put towards producing even more flowers.
 Pinching out This refers to the removal of the growing tips of young plants such as fuchsias. It stimulates the growth of more side-shoots, which in turn encourages the plants to produce more flowers.
Weed problems The best way to keep weeds at bay is to plant densely. This effectively crowds out the weeds, leaving them nowhere to grow. If weeds do become a problem, hoe them off in hot weather or apply a mulch around the plants to smother annual weeds.
Pests and diseases Although relatively trouble-free, summer bedding is subject to common garden pests and diseases. However, with careful attention to tidiness and a good eye to spot trouble early on, you shouldn't find that your bedding suffers any lasting effects.
In hotter, drier weather, you may find that powdery mildew and pests generally thought of as greenhouse inhabitants, such as whitefly and red spider mite, take a liking to your bedding. Check your plants regularly and treat any infestation as soon as you see it. This way your plants should remain healthy for the duration of the summer.
Holiday-care checklist
- Stand your pots in a tray of water before you go away on holiday and ask a neighbour to top it up every day or so if the weather is hot.
- Stand any large flowerpots in saucers, as this will help to retain a little extra moisture after watering.
- Add water-retaining granules to the compost of smaller pots and tubs.
- Ask a neighbour to babysit any thirsty plants in containers, such as hanging baskets which always seem to require copious watering.
- If plants have to stay in your garden while you're away, try to group them together in a cooler spot out of the heat of the midday sun.
- Apply a liquid feed to all your bedding before you go away or push a slow-release fertiliser pellet into each of your pots and hanging baskets.
- Consider installing an automatic watering system. These can be bought in kit form. A fairly standard system consists or a run of semi-rigid pipework that is attached to your mains water suply.
Along the length of the pipework, thinner flexible pipes can be attached. These can be inserted into the compost of pots and hanging baskets. Most pipes are fitted with a drip nozzle so that the right amount of water reaches the plant.
A timing device can be fitted to the tap to turn the water supply on and off at set times while you're on holiday.
|
|
