We love a summer garden full of blooms, which attract pollinators and adds an abundance of colour to our outdoor space. Flowers are refreshing, beautiful and they bring your garden to life. As Audrey Hepburn once said, “to plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow”. We caught up with our lovely friends and experts in growing flowers, Love Delivered, to give us their top tips for growing summer flowers this year!
- Don’t prune anything in hot, dry weather – try to prune on a cloudy day to avoid excessive leaf burn.
- To remove aphids, spray with soapy water, use one teaspoon of washing up liquid to three litres of water.
- Always give plants enough space.
- Check your soil type first. Is it light and sandy or heavy and clay?
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Always be gentle with young plants.
- Check to see if plants enjoy full sunlight. Many enjoy the shade.
- Check the height plants will grow to.
- It's always good to have a little area in the garden for weeds to grow as they attract pollinators.
- Make sure you water correctly. You need enough water for the plants to grow, but avoid waterlogging the soil. Water slowly, the soil should be moist five to six centimetres below the surface.
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If you want to go big and bold, then go for sunflowers. These will stand mild frosts but remember to cover the seeds when drilled as the birds will steal them for food.
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When it comes to hedges never cut them between 01/03 – 31/07 due to birds nesting. Trim them when fully dormant during winter.
- Always choose something easy to start with, choose something that self-seeds and is generally quick to grow. These three below are quick to grow (60 – 70 days). They have good germination rates and need little encouragement. They just need to be kept moist and are cheap for when you are learning.
- Nigella, commonly known as love-in-a-mist
- Cornflowers, commonly known as bachelor’s buttons
- Nasturtiums, which attract bees and other pollinators
If you loved reading this, then head over to our blog on How To Make Your Cut Flowers Last Longer here, perfect for brightening your home too! Have you got any top tips for growing summer flowers? Let us know in the comments below.
