Garden Styles

Idbury Fire Pit, £85, gardentrading.co.uk Candela Pendant Electric Patio Heater, £99.99, gardenesque.com

STYLISH SPACES

Here are the latest trends to help you create your perfect outdoor space for entertaining friends and family or chilling out and catching some rays...

Recycled Wool Waterproof Picnic Blanket in Stewart Muted Blue Tartan, £70, tartanblanketco.com

Large Moroccan Solar Lantern, £29.99, lights4fun.co.uk

Tanso 2 Seater Sofa, £2015, casefurniture.com

10 Warm White LED Ultimate Flex Festoon Lights, £59.99, lights4fun.co.uk Diamond Throw, 130 x 180 cm, Green, £40, peppersq.com

Bistro Patio Set, £120, cielshopinteriors.com

3m Deluxe Round Aluminium Grey Parasol, £149, bridgman.co.uk

Seaton Lightweight Steel Fire Pit With Grate, £279.99, gardenesque.com

Ada Botanical White & Green Outdoor Rug, £17.99, homescapesonline.com

Felix Lounger Beanbag, Grey, £399, limelace.co.uk

Solar Decorative Metal Lanterns, £29, ellajames.co.uk

3m Sun shade sail, £299, dobbies.com

Charcoal Grey Art Deco Geometric Print Outdoor Cushion, £14.99, beanbagbazaar.co.uk

PRIVATE WALLED GARDEN TOURS

Bowood House & Gardens reopened its doors to visitors last month and also commenced its private garden tours.

Entered through a ‘secret’ door, Lord and Lady Lansdowne’s private four-acre walled garden is made up of four distinct one-acre squares comprising formal borders, a picking garden, glass houses and a working kitchen garden packed with fruit and vegetables. New for 2021 is a series of guided tours by Head Gardener,

David Glass. Focusing on late spring flowers, roses and the herbaceous borders, respectively, his first tour took place on 18 May with more to come on 15 June and 13 July. David has worked at Bowood for the past 13 years, so his 90-minute guided tours (for a maximum 12 people) will be packed with incredible insight and also let you put your gardening questions to him.

The already well-established Private Walled Garden Tours, led by Bowood’s team of garden guides, have also returned with monthly midweek dates available from now through to autumn.

More details, including timings and ticket pricing for Private Walled Garden Tours and the new Head Gardener Tours, can be found on the website.

• The guided tours begin at 10.45am and the ticket price of £23.75 per person also includes admission to the House & Gardens. Alternatively, private groups of some 10 visitors can plan their own midweek date with Bowood.

• All guided tours must be booked in advance by contacting the Estate Office on 01249 812102 or via email: houseandgardens@bowood.org

Garden lovers visiting in early June can also head to the Woodland Garden to catch the end of this year's display; the season's annual curtain call comes as the late-flowering ‘Marchioness of Lansdowne’ emerges in its gentle pink - standing out once other plants have had their run. There are plenty more events planned at Bowood over the coming months too, including triathlons, balloon racees and a performance of David Walliams' Mr Stink. See the website for further information.

• bowood.org

Enjoy a tour of Lord and Lady Lansdowne's Private Walled Garden

"New for 2021 is a series of guided tours by Head Gardener David Glass."

UPCOMING EVENTS

Bowood Triathlon: 26 & 27 June Great Balloon Race: 2-4 July Giffords Circus: 15 - 19 July Classic Ibiza: 23 & 24 July Mr Stink by David Walliams: 21 August Summer Screens Open Air Cinema: 1, 2 & 3 September Outlaw Triathlon: 12 September

...keep safe and well fti

WELCOME BACK, SUPPORT LOCAL!

GARDEN JOBS

Here are some of the top jobs to be getting on with in the garden this month...

1. Hoe borders regularly to keep down weeds. Do this on a dry day so the weeds dry out on the surface of the soil.

2. Be water-wise, especially in drought-affected areas. Gather rainwater in butts, even those connected to a greenhouse or shed can collect surprisingly large amounts of water. It's easy to do, better for your plants and it's free!

Half hardy annuals like cosmos can be planted out

watered well or they could bolt in hot, dry conditions.

Collect rain water wherever you can 5. Position summer hanging baskets and containers outside. The last frosts are over so even tender plants can be planted out into their final positions.

Pinch out tomato side shoots

3. Pinch out sideshoots on tomatoes. This ensures the plant's energy goges into the growth of the main stem and cordens, and not into creating unproductive vegetation.

4. Harvest lettuce, radish, other salads and early potatoes. The hungry gap is over! Ensure repeat sowings to keep the supplies coming throughout the summer. Vegetables are thirsty plants so ensure they are 6. Mow lawns at least once a week. Growth should be at its best so regular mowing will produce a beautiful dense turf. If conditions are dry then growth will slow but continue to mow at least every 10 to 14 days to control coarse grasses and seed heads.

7. Plant out summer bedding. It's time to plant out half hardy annuals you have grown from seed or bought from garden centres/ nurseries for a hit of summer colour.

8. Stake tall or floppy plants. Perennials in borders often put on strong lush growth that makes them vulnerable to collapse, especially after heavy rain or strong winds. Staking them early will give a more natural look. Tall plants and hybrids with large flowers are most likely to require support.

9. Prune many spring-flowering shrubs. Deciduous shrubs that flower in late winter, spring and early summer need annual pruning to encourage strong, healthy shoots and improve flowering. See the RHS website for species specific pruning advice.

10. Shade greenhouses to keep them cool and prevent scorch. Greenhouses, whether of glass or plastic, can overheat in sunny weather. Plants can be protected from excess heat by shading and ventilation.