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| As flowers on bulbs begin to fade, pinch them off with your fingers. This will stop the bulb putting any effort into producing seeds, allowing it to build up strength for next year's flowers. Do not remove or tie down the foliage until it begins to turn brown - the foliage is absorbing energy from the sun for next year's display of flowers. |
| Prune forsythia as soon as the flowers fade. This will ensure a good display again next year. Forsythia flowers on wood produced the previous year so pruning too late in the year will reduce flowering next year. Prune the forsythia bush to roughly half its height and width. |
| Black spot is the most common problem with roses. Buy varieties which are resistant to black spot and meticulously clean up all fallen leaves. Spraying with a systemic insecticide and fungicide should begin early in the season, because the spores which cause blackspot are already awakening from their winter sleep in the soil. They hibernate on old rose leaves in the soil, and will soon begin to take a hold - don't wait for the blackspot to appear, spray now and again every six weeks |
| Select a flexible branch near the base of the shrub, ensuring it has a couple of buds on it. Bend the branch down to ground and scoop out a hollow in the soil where the branch (with a bud on it) touches the soil. Place the branch in the hollow and cover it with soil to hold it down - it may need to be pegged to keep it in place. Most shrubs will have rooted in four or five months time. When it has rooted, cut the stem from the parent plant. It will send out shoots next spring and can then be dug up and placed in it's final position. All shrubs with flexible branches near to the ground are suitable. |
| Buddleias produce flowers on wood produced this year. They grow very quickly, so this month is an ideal time to prune them. Be brutal - cut away two thirds of the height and width - no special technique is required, a pair of secateurs will do the job. |
| Shop bought or your own from seed, violas and pansies should be planted mid month. Plant in a partially shaded area and water well for the first few weeks if conditions are dry. |
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Achillea filipendula, achillea millefolium, achillea ptarmica Sow outdoors in the flower bed, 6mm (1/4 in) deep. |
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Alyssum maritimum, Lobularia maritima Sow outdoors in the flower bed, 6mm (1/4 in) deep. |
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Aubretia deltoidea Sow outdoors in the flower bed, 6mm (1/4 in) deep. |
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Campanula medium (Canterbury Bells) Sow outdoors in the flower bed, 6mm (1/4 in) deep. |
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Clarkia elegans, Clarkia pulchella Sow outdoors in the flower bed, 6mm (1/4 in) deep. |
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Coreopsis tinctoria (tickseed) Sow outdoors in the flower bed, 6mm (1/4 in) deep. |
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Cosmos bipinnatus, cosmea Sow outdoors in the flower bed, 6mm (1/4 in) deep. |
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Erigeron speciosus (Midsummer Daisy) Sow outdoors in the flower bed, 6mm (1/4 in) deep. |
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Aster novi-belgii (Michaelmas Daisy) Sow outdoors in the flower bed late in the month, 12mm (1/2 in) deep. |
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Nicotiana alata, Nicotiana affinis Sow inside, temperature 15-20C / 60-69F, 3mm (1/8 in) deep. |
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Papaver rodeas (Field Poppy, Shirley Poppy) Sow outdoors in the flower bed, 6mm (1/4 in) deep. |
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Chrysanthemum maximum (Shasta Daisy) Sow outdoors late in the month in the flower bed, 6mm (1/4 in) deep. |
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Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Pea) Sweet Peas sown inside earlier in the year can be planted out now. Alternatively sow outdoors early in the month in the flower bed, 12mm (1/2 in) deep. |
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Zinnia elegans Sow inside, temperature 15-20C / 60-69F, 3mm (1/8 in) deep. |
