As the vibrant hues of high summer approach, gardeners everywhere eagerly anticipate the peak season when their hard work blooms into stunning displays of color. However, gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh offers a stark warning: if essential preparatory tasks aren’t completed within the next week, your garden’s potential could be lost this year.
Speaking to Saga Magazine, Alan emphasized, “The beginning of June is the time to really get things in. By the middle of the month, if your garden isn’t looking good, then there’s not much hope.” His advice points to a critical window for planting, refining, and prepping gardens to set the stage for summer success.
For areas of the garden that appear dull or patchy, Alan encourages adding vibrant annuals such as salvias, begonias, and pelargoniums immediately. These plants bring color and life when introduced promptly. Following planting, attention should shift to regular watering, feeding container plants, and deadheading flowers to encourage further blooms.
Alan explained that removing wilting flowers can lead to a secondary flush of blossoms, turning gardening into a gentle, rewarding task accompanied by birdsong. But vigilance against weeds is essential, as these opportunistic plants take advantage of warm conditions just as much as your flowers.
Summer also offers an ideal time for sowing poppy seeds directly into the soil. Poppies are relatively easy to grow and will soon add vivid color to your garden if planted now.
For gardeners with greenhouses, Alan suggests sprinkling water on the floor to help control rising temperatures during hot spells. Interestingly, he advises against watering lawns even if they appear brown, noting that grass typically bounces back after rainfall. While rewilding lawns is trendy, Alan cautions against letting grass grow too tall, as birds like blackbirds, thrushes, and starlings rely on shorter grass to feed on worms and grubs.
Ultimately, achieving a balance between a natural and neatly maintained lawn supports both plant health and local wildlife. Alan reminds gardeners that amidst the hard work, it’s equally important to pause and enjoy the beauty and satisfaction that gardening brings.