June - bulbs, bedding & baldness !

Well I hope the excitement of seeing sunshine, Chelsea flower show and the explosion of green in the garden has fired up the enthusiasm once more. I have to say - I find the incredible spurts of growth at this time of year something of a miracle and something that never ceases to amaze me.

Here are some more seasonal thoughts on caring for your garden..........

Bulbs

I am often asked when to cut back the straggly, yellowing leaves of Daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs. A rule of thumb is to mow them at a very high setting ( or strim ) in June. This allows the bulb to be 'fed' by the green shoots for a few months before you cut down the source of the photosynthesis and therefore the energy.

If they are in long grass then there is something to be said for leaving them until the autumn meadow cut.

Bedding

I used to know a canny old nurseryman who was delighted when the crowds came along to his garden centre to buy bedding plants in April & May. He knew they would probably be back for another batch if there was any frost in those months....and there usually is!

That was over 25 years ago and it is fair to say that the climate has changed. This year the weather has been mild compared to the temperatures last year. We have been very wet but the soil temperature has not been so plants have been growing much earlier.

So given on what sort of winter we would have had, if you can resist planting out your annuals until June then do so........ Truth is however that I planted mine out 2 weeks ago!

Lawns

I was once taken aside by a dear retired couple who separately whispered in my ear " He is cutting the lawn too low isn't he? Could you tell him" and "She keeps on telling me to set the mower on a higher cut. Could you tell her?"

In fact most men (sorry - it's true ) want to cut the lawn too low! The trouble with this is that you are not doing your grass any favours. I am sure there is no metaphysical connection with men's baldness.

As with the bulbs, the grass needs to photosynthesize in order to generate energy in order to survive. In dry spells the lawns need to have something to keep them going and if you cut too hard it will suffer.

Generally a 'utility' lawn will keep it's colour, be able to take wear and tear cope with adverse weather conditions if you keep it at a height of 25-30mm in the summer. If the lawn is a high grade luxury lawn you can go down to 12mm in rhe summer but beware - you will start sapping it of strength if it is full of coarse grasses that are used to growing taller.

I got into a lot of hot water by telling the quite formidable man of the house that his wife had it right - and he had got it wrong!