Tales from the potting shed

May

Plant dahlia tubers

Tie in climbers

Sow runner beans phlox, iberis and osteospermum are the perfect front runners of any summer bed. Plant gaps with colourful annuals such as cosmos, marigold and nicotiana, whose gorgeous scent fills the garden at dusk, just as you decide it’s time to put down the hoe and sit back to enjoy your hard work in all its glory.

As we move into July things hot up. Bold and beautiful echinaceas, rudbeckias and crocosmia contrast well with drifts of bronze grasses and the fluttery flowers of Gaura, known as ‘whirling butterflies’, that dance on the warm summer’s breeze. Keep your borders tidy and remember to deadhead so that you can enjoy the pick of the crop, bringing the outside in and filling vases with gorgeous, scented stems that will brighten the kitchen table whatever the weather.

June

Stake tall perennials

Lift and divide bluebells & snowdrops

Net ripening fruit

July

Deadhead bedding plants

Cutback hardy geranium

Pinch out tomatoes