Gardening by Month - June

Gardens are often at their peak in June, so enjoy outdoor living this month. As this can be the driest time of year, we’re sharing our water-wise tips.

Choose some drought-resistant plants. They are usually hardy and cope with less attention than other plants. Drought-tolerant plants can have the following characteristics:

• Small leaves, for example rosemary.
• Long narrow leaves which are good for shedding heat without losing water, such as phormiums.
• Grey leaves, such as sage and lavender.
• Hairy leaves, for example geranium and lambs’ ears.
• Fleshy or succulent leaves, particularly the large range of sedums in a variety of colours.

Mediterranean plants are often drought-tolerant and they mix well with cottage plants and native shrubs. Olive trees are evergreen and look particularly stunning in the garden. They can grow tall without impeding smaller plants around them. Ground cover plants, such as saxifrage, work particularly well in rockeries.

Verbena bonariensis has arching stalks and delicate purple flowers which create a lovely softening effect. The hardy geranium, also known as everlasting geranium, is known for its long lasting blooms, and it often spreads. Both are low maintenance and can spring up year after year.

Drought-tolerant plants still need to be watered well when you plant them, and kept watered until they are established and during very dry spells. Use good quality compost and mulch around the base of all your plants to help them retain water. Avoid planting them in areas that become waterlogged.

When watering plants, aim for the root base and ideally water in the evenings. For new plants, two to three times a week is sufficient. If you notice new or established plants drooping in hot weather, give them a big drink of water.

Weed regularly to stop weeds soaking up water that would benefit other plants. Don’t worry if your lawn dries out in hot weather as it soon bounces back. Lastly, invest in a water butt to save water.

Garsons has everything you need for your drought-tolerant garden. View the range and ask the planteria staff for advice. Remember to provide a fresh water source for wildlife at ground level, along with a raised bird bath to add interest.

With more emphasis on outdoor living this time of year, it’s easy to forget houseplants. But now is the growing season and they dry out more frequently, so keep them watered and treat them to a weekly liquid feed. To save water, you can give them cooled water from the kettle.

Enjoy your garden in June, and here’s a reminder that Garsons card holders have 20% off the Plants of the Month range, which in June is the rose.