Most flowering plants are happiest now when the risk of frost is past. Wait until mid-May (late spring) before planting out more tender varieties. Summer-flowering bulbs are an excellent path to beautiful flowers and most are easy to work with. Plant them in spring (end of April/beginning of May isn’t too late) in well-worked soil. Choose a spot where they will look good, give them some food and they’ll do the rest. Your reward will be wonderful blooms.
Suggestion for an easy summer makeover?
Plant some summer bulbs like Gladiolus, Freesia, Allium or Crocosmia in a pot or container and put it wherever you want color. Doing this can help to make your ‘outside room’ in an instant summer oasis.
A welcome for all
Is the insect hotel in your garden ready for visitors? Beneficial insects are the lifeblood of the garden. Without insects, your flowers would’t bloom, plants could not bear fruit and birds would go very hungry, so make sure there are places for them to live and breed, from piles of logs to specially built insect habitats.
A list of top-performers
Multicolored snapdragons, salvia, Rudbeckia, the evergreen African lily, lupins, yellow and purple coneflower (Echinacea) love sun and drier soil. The flowering Phlox is at home almost anywhere. Summer flowering plants that love shade and moisture include Spirea, foxgloves and Heuchera.
