The weather has taken time to warm up. April temperatures were generally cool but with some exceptionally hot days, especially towards the end of the month.
The wind stayed easterly and northerly, which also made for chilly nighttime temperatures. These are tricky growing conditions for plants.
To prepare the garden and window boxes for summer have a mid-season tidy-up; remove faded and dying blooms from Spring bulbs and shrubs, weed around plants and then add compost (mulch) this provides nutrient and helps preserve moisture.
Combinations of dwarf Lavenders and scented Geraniums look good in window boxes. Herbs like Parsley grown with Calendula (Pot marigold) and Cosmos in containers or borders make an unusual display. Miniature roses, thyme and scented stocks can be used to fill gaps in beds.
There are some stunning flowers to see in the May garden – including Peonies (Illini Warrior) and the magnificent Wisteria. Ceanothus is shimmering with an electric blue display of flowers; Choisya began flowering in mid-April and Rhododendrons are about to bloom.
Plants need regular feeding during flowering times as they quickly exhaust nutrients in the soil (especially ones in containers). envii SeaFeed Xtra – Organic Seaweed Fertiliser is a liquid plant food suitable for all plants, lawns, gardens and also house plants. It costs around £12.95 for a litre pack and is available from various online outlets.
There were lots of bees during early April but flowers were in short supply due to the cold conditions. Sowing wild flower seeds will encourage butterflies, bees, birds and hover flies to visit your garden or window boxes. If seeds cannot be sown during May wait until September (and they will come up the following spring). Alternatively, sow a few seeds into pots that already have plants growing (providing there is some space) if this option is chosen make sure the top soil is loosened lightly and new compost is added. Here are some wild flowers to include.
Oxeye daisy (perennial) with interesting leaf variations on the same plant produces small white flowers and large yellow centres. Corn chamomile (annual) can grow to about 60cm, has white daisy like flowers and feathery foliage. Once planted it naturalises quickly. Musk mallow has delicate pink flowers and pale green foliage.
Once established it will come up each year. Corn marigold is an annual and seeds readily; the golden yellow flowers appear throughout the summer.
Annual Corn poppy – has strikingly red delicate papery flowers. It seeds freely and makes a stunning impact when grown in large numbers. And finally, the annual Cornflower (C. cyanus) has deep blue flowers and light green foliage. It also seeds freely and usually comes up each year.