Your Summer Garden
Summer is a wonderful time to enjoy your garden, with borders bursting into colour, homegrown crops ready to harvest and outdoor spaces at their best. This year has also brought prolonged hot, dry weather across bucks/oxon making it even more important to help your plants cope with the heat.
Whether you’re looking for plants that flower right through to autumn or practical ways to make every drop of water count, our seasonal summer guide has you covered.
In The Plant Area Now...
Hydrangea
Russian Sage
Crocosmia
Echinacea
Rudbeckia
Hebe
Create a Bee-Friendly Garden
Summer is one of the busiest times for bees, and by planting nectar-rich flowers, you can provide a valuable food source while adding beautiful colour to your garden.
Bees are vital pollinators, helping many of the fruits, vegetables and flowers we enjoy to grow. Even adding a few bee-friendly plants to your borders or containers can make a real difference.
Our plant team’s summer favourites include:
- Lavender
- Verbascum
- Allium ‘Millenium’
- Campanula
Gardening Through Hot, Dry Weather
If you’re gardening during a hosepipe ban or prolonged dry spell, a few simple changes can make a big difference.
Top-dress containers
Rather than disturbing plants by repotting, refresh the top few centimetres of compost. Using Westland Boost All Purpose Compost helps improve moisture retention thanks to its Moisture Lock Technology.
Water wisely
Water thoroughly in the early morning or late evening, allowing moisture to soak down to the roots rather than evaporating quickly.
Reuse grey water
Water from baths, showers, paddling pools or washing machine rinse cycles can all be safely reused in the garden (provided it doesn’t contain harsh chemicals).
Add mulch to beds and borders
A layer of compost around plants helps keep the soil cooler and slows moisture loss during hot weather.
Add gravel to containers
Decorative gravel or pebbles on the surface of pots reduce evaporation while giving containers a neat finish.
Raise pots off hot patios
Pot feet improve drainage and allow air to circulate beneath containers, helping keep roots cooler.
Group containers together
Grouping pots creates a more humid microclimate and reduces moisture loss.
Watch for drought stress
Wilting, scorched leaves and early leaf drop are all signs plants may need extra attention.
Collect rainwater
Whenever rainfall arrives, make the most of it by filling water butts or storing rainwater for future dry spells.
Garden Jobs
Not sure what to tackle first? We’ve pulled together some easy seasonal tips to keep your garden happy.
Read our latest blog post.
