Seasonal Tips for Summer - Pots & Containers

You can’t beat the effect of plenty of pots and containers all around the garden for colour and interest. It’s a great way to ring the changes on a regular basis. Even in August there are plenty of sun loving plants that you can grow in pots on the patio.

Keep feeding your container plants. Even though you may have used a controlled release fertiliser you can still give plants a boost by a tonic feed of Nutri Plant Feed Water the plants thoroughly before applying and then apply the diluted feed via a watering can.
If it is very hot and dry keep a close eye on hanging baskets and terracotta pots. Drying winds will quickly desiccate the compost and hot weather can scorch plants that have no shade. Move exposed baskets to a more sheltered, shady position. Make sure they are thoroughly watered. Bring them down off their brackets in the evening. Stand them on buckets and give them a really thorough soaking until the compost is saturated. Collect any run off in the buckets below and use this water for other container plants. Re-hang the baskets at night to keep them away from marauding slugs.
If you haven’t already done so, feed potted shrubs and perennials. Top dress the compost surface with fresh Multi-Purpose Compost with added John Innes and push Feed-all Slow Release Tablets into the compost. Water thoroughly.
In hot weather your patio pots will be very demanding in terms of water. Water them at dusk, and make sure that the compost is thoroughly soaked. If the weather is intense, consider moving the planters into the shade so that the plants do not suffer.
Continue to dead head flowering plants in pots and baskets so that they keep flowering.
Prepare your pots and containers well in advance if you are planning a holiday. For complete convenience set up an automatic watering system with a water timer that will water your plants in your absence. Make sure you try it out before you leave and be sure to switch the tap on. Move all the pots together to make watering easier if a friend is helping to water them and place them in the shade out of direct sunlight to keep the compost moist for longer.

Gardening tips for this Summer:

If you would like to refer back to the Seasonal Tips for April/May click here.

If you would like to refer back to the Seasonal Tips for February/March click here.