'Flying the Flag for Beautiful Summer Bedding'

Summer bedding has been experiencing a quiet revolution, with large-scale municipal bedding schemes all but disappearing due, in part, to financial constraints over our civic displays.... while imaginative gardeners are leading the way - boldly taking the lead and flying the flag for exceptional summer displays.

Breaking with convention, experimenting with the newest introductions, overlooked varieties and previously unimagined colour schemes, has led to revolutionary progress in the bedding plant world. Sweeps of scarlet, blue and white - salvias, lobelia and alyssum might be out of favour, replaced instead by succulent “houseplants” for a drought-resistant summer, begonias that never seem to stop flowering... and a new range of trailing plants that are way beyond comprehension.


Of course, many of these varieties are so new that there are, as yet, no trial results or text books written detailing their every whim. However, through knowledge gleaned from the experience of gardeners and growers alike, we can all benefit from top tips for success, for a wide variety of bedding plants, regardless of their fame or familiarity.


TOP TIPS FOR BEAUTIFUL BEDDING THIS SUMMER...
Cut corners, but not at the expense of quality... If pushed for time, leave out the tricky seed-sowing stage and buy pot, plug or “pack” bedding for reliable results.

• Love your plants... Keep them warm and always frost free – to prevent a needless check in growth, spoilt foliage and flowers.

• Save time, by leaving a bag or two of fresh multi-purpose compost in the greenhouse for immediate potting-on. Slightly warmed, this is the prefect growing medium for seed-sowing or re-planting, at a moment’s notice.

• Add water-retaining granules and slow-release fertiliser to your compost for hanging baskets and wall troughs, to lock in litres of extra moisture and provide months of easy feeding.

• Never rush plants outside... wait for the summer to arrive. Harden tender bedding plants off gradually, slowly acclimatising them to the harsher outdoor conditions. Begin gently by leaving the greenhouse or conservatory door a-jar for a few hours a day, before moving the plants to a sheltered position only during mild spells - returning them to the protection of a covered area at night. After 10-14 days, ONLY leave them outside at night, if there are no frosts forecast and the weather is mild.

• Use a potting sleeve to make light work of planting up your hanging baskets... Wrap a handkerchief-sized piece of plastic around the base of trailing plants, before pushing them – roots first – through the mossed sides of wire hanging baskets, to prevent root damage and bruised crowns.

• Whether planted in the garden, pots or baskets, water all bedding plants frequently – especially during hot, dry or blustery weather. Hanging baskets and small wall planters may require watering twice-daily during sunny weather, to prevent them drying out completely.

• Feed once or twice a week... using a soluble liquid or powder feed. Alternatively, sprinkle labour-saving slow-release feed granules amongst your plants at the beginning of the season and simply water with a hose, to deliver a measured dose of balanced plant food every time.

• Deadhead regularly. Preventing plants from “setting seed” – their singular purpose in life, marking the end of their natural growth cycle – will prolong their life span and maintain flowering beauty. Snap off spent blooms between thumb and fore-finger, or use scissors for tougher-stemmed varieties, picking over plants at regular intervals... ideally on a daily basis, when watering.

• Choose colour themes to flatter your aspect and position... white, pink’s and blue’s are very “cooling” and “soothing”, while red, oranges and yellows lend a fiery intensity and “warmth” to even the shadiest of areas.

• Pad-out your displays will handsome foliage plants for texture and interest. Felty-leaved Plectranthus, spear-shaped non-flowering Ipomea or the pewter-silver penny leaves of trailing Dichondra are so beautiful in their own right, that brightly coloured flowers almost seem superfluous. OBSERVATIONS FROM THE GARDEN GATE... Heavenly herbs.... adding a handful or two of your favourite flavours whilst cooking is a sure way to gastronomic success. Growing herbs in your own garden makes perfect sense; within easy reach of the back door, and saving a small fortune over pre-packed, cut and dried options.

• In practice, some herbs will always thrive better in your garden soil than others – but don’t miss out - cater for the remainder in pots, troughs and raised beds, offering freer drainage and cosseting conditions.

• Lighten your garden soil with organic matter – adding horticultural grit for permanent improvement and plant in the warmer weather of spring and early summer.

• Grow fragile “top note” herbs in sheltered places, out of cold winds and protected from frost. Fresh-tasting basil, chervil, coriander and tarragon are better added at the end of cooking, to preserve their delicate flavours and bright leafy colours.

• Woody-stemmed herbs such as bay, rosemary, sage and thyme will happily remain in the garden all year round – subtly changing in flavour with the coldness of winter. Providing a strong “base note”, they may be added early on in the cooking process; as they are ideal for slow simmering and roasting.