Beds, Borders, Bowls & Baskets

Now we have seen the back of an unpredictable May and the weather seems to have settled into its normal seasonal routine, it’s time to talk about Bedding! Beds, Borders, Bowls & Baskets

Annual bedding plants produce a riot of colour throughout your garden, lasting right through the summer. They are the perfect plants to create planted containers and patio pots, to plant directly into your garden beds and borders, and of course they make stunning hanging baskets.

A beautiful hanging basket is a real must for your summer garden. Easy to plant and satisfying to look after, you will achieve a really fantastic display.

The garden centre is bursting at the seams with beautiful bedding at this time of year and there are very many different varieties to choose from. If you are planting into containers, window boxes, pots or directly in the ground, you will be looking at upright varieties, such as: Zonal Geranium, Begonia, Bush Fuchsia, Lobelia, Nemesia, Osteospermum, Argyranthemum, Dahlia, Impatiens, Marigold, and Cosmos.

Plus there lots of unusual coloured foliage plants such as Cineraria to add an extra dimension to your planting.

When it comes to hanging baskets, there are lots of lovely trailing varieties, each with their own range of colours. Some you will have heard of, some may be new to you. Choose from Ivy leaf geranium; Trailing fuchsia; Begonia (choose trailing varieties); Bacopa; Diascia; Petunia Surfinia, Tumbelina & Calibrachoa; Centradina; andBrachycome.

Again, there are lovely foliage plants that will add texture and interest to your basket, such as nepeta and helichrysum.

Here is a handy guide to making your own hanging basket: • If you are using a wicker basket with a plastic liner make sure you poke a few holes in the sides of the liner. This allows water to drain through so the plants do not end up waterlogged.

• Fill the basket with a good quality multipurpose compost leaving about an inch space at the top.

• Whether you are using plug plants or larger potted plants, select trailing varieties and plant them in a circle around the edge of the basket. For a 14 inch basket we would recommend using 6-8 trailing plants.

• It is nice to balance the trailing plants with some height in the centre, so choose 2-3 nice upright plants and add them to the centre of your basket.

Once your basket is made, make sure that you care for it to keep it looking at its best.

Water it regularly. Depending on the weather, you may need to water 3 times a day with a litre or more of water on hot days. But even on dull or wet days your basket may need watering. Feel the weight of it to see if it is dry, you will soon get a feel for when it needs water.

If it really dries out, you can soak the whole basket in a large container or bucket of water for a short time to rehydrate it thoroughly.

Feeding is important as the plants will quickly use up the nutrients in the soil. Feed every 7-10 days with a multi-purpose NPK nitrogen, phosphorus & potassium feed to encourage growth and flower production.

Once your basket is established, ensure that it will look great throughout the whole summer by dead heading the flowers that have gone over. This helps the plants to continue flowering. Some plants, such as begonias, even dead head themselves!

Another way to ensure a gorgeous display is to prune back any plants that get unruly or if there is one plant that is overpowering the whole basket. Do not be afraid to trim them back to maintain a good shape.

Creating a summer container or window box is a great activity for children. They are easy to plant, easy to look after and are fast growing. Get the whole family involved in choosing the plants too. A visit to the garden centre is always a great way to pass an afternoon!

Whatever basket, container or garden area you choose for your bedding, whether it is on a small scale or as a lavish splash, bedding plants are an easy and fun way to make your garden pop with colour all through summer! n Botany Bay Nurseries, Garden Centre & Café Edgioake Lane, Astwood Bank, Redditch. B96 6BG 01527 893885 www.botany-bay.co.uk Find us on Facebook & Instagram

Once your basket is established, ensure that it will look great throughout the whole summer by dead heading the flowers that have gone over.