For expert information and advice, please call to Ardcarne Garden Centre, Ardcarne, Boyle. Telephone 071 966 7091
Trees, Shrubs and Roses
Early flowering shrub roses and ramblers that have now finished flowering could be pruned by removing some of the shoots that flowered.
Young trees and shrubs, planted in the last year or so, should be checked for signs of drought.
Garden hedge clipping can continue during this period, but make sure to check there are no nesting birds.
Some hedges, such as privet, lonicera and cotoneaster need more frequent clipping than others, such as beech, holly and laurel, and this requires more effort.
Flowers
Water bedding plants in pots and baskets. Because the roots have filled the pots, watering has become more critical.
Feed the plants regularly, even as often once a week, because the plants are now big and need more food to keep them growing and flowering.
Seeds of perennial flowers such as heleniums, delphiniums, lupins, mallows and foxgloves could be sown now for flowering next year.
Take off the seed heads of ladys mantle to prevent unwanted self-sowing.
Stake dahlias that become top-heavy, especially the large-flowered double forms.
Lawn
Mow lightly, raising the level of the blades one or two notches.
Do not apply lawn fertilizer until the soil is moist after plenty of rain.
Wear and tear on a lawn in summer is quickly repaired when the weather gets cooler and the grass plants recover.
Fruit, Vegetables and Herbs
Repeat sow the salad vegetables that mature quickly.
Sow spring cabbage especially in the northern half of the country.
Weed control in the vegetable garden should be kept up to prevent weeds from going to seed and causing trouble in the years to come.
Begin summer pruning of young fruit trees that are overly vigorous, and trained trees. removing some young shoots and shortening ones over several weeks
Plant out Savoy cabbage and other winter varieties including cauliflower, if not already done.
It is not necessary to spray apple trees for apple scab, and pears for pear scab, unless there are long periods when the foliage is wet.
Pick herbs as they reach readiness and remove flowers to encourage new growth.
Greenhouse and House Plants
Take cuttings of all kinds of shrubs now, using half and half peat/sand and covering with white polythene. Use rooting powder.
Continue watering and feeding greenhouse plants.
Be sure to water plants in pots or grow-bags regularly.
Train and side-shoot tomatoes and cucumbers.
Sow seeds of greenhouse primulas and poor man’s orchid for spring flowering.
Continue to water and feed hippeastrum bulbs regularly.
For expert information and advice, please call to Ardcarne Garden Centre, Ardcarne, Boyle. Telephone 071 966 7091