TOP OF THE POTS TOP OF THE POTS

THRIVING: Well cared for containers –pink pelargoniums (geraniums) and trailing petunias

THERE’S a simple key to keeping patio pots pretty, hanging baskets beautiful and window boxes wonderful: tend to them little and often.

It is the best way to enjoy the results of your planting efforts all summer

Fill a watering can with a half-strength solution of high-potash fertiliser – rose or tomato feed is fine – to promote continuous flowering Then make a daily tour of inspection with the can, a pair of secateurs and a spray bottle containing insecticide

The secateurs are for dead-heading, that is trimming off plants’ dying flower heads In many cases, when blooms die the plant automatically cuts off the hormones which produce flowers and instead starts to set seed Dead-heading keeps the hormones flowing and the flowers blooming

Look closely at the foliage, on the surface and the underside, for the first signs of any aphids or other pests and spray immediately to minimise damage

All the popular container and bedding flowers such as petunias, lobelias, pelargoniums (geraniums), begonias, sweet peas and pansies benefit from this attention and treatment

Many varieties of rose, whether shrubs or climbers, will also produce more flowers if dead-headed as soon as petals fade on individual blooms Trim them to a leaf joint below the dying bloom

For late summer blooming, sow in early July seeds of quick-growing flowers; night-scented stocks for perfume, and nemesias for colour

OR a tidy looking lawn –despite any patches turned brown by shortage of rain – keep the edges clipped and the whole garden will suddenly look smarter after just a few minutes’ work.

Freshly hoed soil, especially at the border edge, not only controls weeds but adds to that smart appearance Carried out once or twice a week, hoeing can be a fairly quick task

As well as dead-heading container and bedding plants, trim perennial border plants and they’ll keep flowering longer Dead-headed rhododendrons and azaleas will flower better next year A little heavier

Fpruning with shears, over spring-flowering heathers and aubrieta, will encourage the formation of new side shoots bearing flower Mulching flower and fruit borders saves work in the long run A 5cm-8cm (2in-3in) layer of well-rotted organic matter –manure, garden compost, leaf mould or shredded bark – on the soil surface will save water and keep weeds down, and any that grow through will be much easier to pull out

Mulch can be applied at any time of year but, in summer, is best put on after heavy rain or a thorough watering

Finally, before going on holiday, don’t leave your garden in full bloom Snip off all the flowers – tough love, maybe – and your return should be greeted by a fresh flush of bloom rather than a collec of dead flowers

Starspot Crossword

Can you find the celebrity name hidden in this Starspot Crossword? Complete the crossword in the normal way then make a note of the letters contained in all the squares which are marked with shaded stars. These letters will make an anagram of the name you are looking for.