Summer gardening...

The performance of plants in new garden design projects in Glasgow and beyond is key to the success of the project. Garden designers will always want to see every plant establishing and thriving - this comes down to three key things, good stock, correct planting, and effective aftercare (especially being watered in the days, weeks and months after planting). However, with the best care in the world, garden designers see every day how some plants do better than others, with no obvious reasons. Oftentimes, some plants just seem to take a bit longer to get into their stride.

Looking out on my garden as I write this, I am enjoying the spectacle of a happy Clematis 
montana, a vigorous deciduous climber that has looked good this year, but for whatever reason not quite so good as other recent years. It is funny how garden plants can have good and bad years, and a timely reminder for me not to panic when some of my other plants are not doing so well. It seems that some plants are still benefitting from the effects of the hot summer we had last year, including many pernicious weeds such as bindweed. Other years, gardeners and garden designers in Glasgow noticed an effect of one of our particularly cold winters - some
internal plant processes actually require a cold winter to stimulate growth and flowering in a process known as vernalisation. Some plants in my garden at the moment are not having their finest years, but I am keeping them watered and fed and I am keeping the faith that they will come back stronger than ever in time. However, ever-watchful of pests and diseases, I do a daily tour of the garden to keep an eye on any issues that might suggest a deeper problem. I recently made the discovery that rabbits enjoy eating my Rudbeckia fulgida, so that adds to the list of purchases I will not be making again!

In the months of spring I happily add nitrogen fertilizer to my garden, in the form of granules and also well-rotted horse manure. However, from July I stop this and will only apply less nitrogen-heavy fertilizers such as bonemeal. This supplies nutrients that will stimulate plants’ roots, without creating lots of lush new foliage. The danger with stimulating foliage growth from mid-summer onwards is that tender leaves get hit by early frosts.

Finally, a few tips for your lawn. During the height of the growing season you may find you need to mow your lawns weekly, but as July moves on you will find growth slowing. Regardless, the key rule is not to let the weeds set seed, and leaving a gap of over two weeks between cuts normally means this happens. If weeds set seed they will gradually outcompete the grass plants in your lawn. In times of dry weather, do not forget to raise the blades on your mower to reduce stress on the lawn. (Indeed, it is best not to cut your grass too short generally for the same reason). In times of wet weather, don’t worry too much about not mowing damp grass with your petrol mower. If it needs doing, just cut it – any muddy marks or tears to the grass are only temporary, and unless you’re wanting a super-formal lawn you do not need to worry too much.

Tom Angel works as a garden designer and horticultural consultant in Glasgow, offering everything from planting plans to japanese knotweed surveys.

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