Seasonal Care Calender

SUMMER – JUNE/JULY/AUGUST

Overview

The Summer brings long days of warm sunshine however dry weather sometimes inhibits rapid plant growth.  Adequate moisture at the roots will facilitate growth.

Watering

• Regular water is essential through the Summer months to avoid losses due to drought.
• Check irrigation systems regularly.
• Drench plants once or twice a week – do not water lightly or during the heat of the day.

Seasonal Tasks

• Continue to check for aphids and treat accordingly.
• A high potash fertilizer applied now to perennials such as Salvia can accentuate flower colour and increase resistance to pests and diseases.
• Check and adjust irrigation systems and watering requirements.   Keep automatic watering to a minimum, allowing gaps of several days between watering coverage to encourage plant roots to quest deeper into surrounding soil for available water reserves.
• Top up water feature reservoirs regularly.

Pruning & Training

• Prune back flowered shoots of Spring flowering shrubs (e.g. Philadelphus) and smaller plants such as aubretia, iberis etc.
• Clip hedges and trim back topiary.
• Tie in climbers and cut back unwanted growth.

Feeding and Fertilising

• If growth is slow, fertilise with half-strength fertiliser.

Weed Control

• Keep control of annual and perennial weeds as above.