The start of the school holidays seems to have been the signal for the hot, dry weather to give way to cooler temperatures and showers, at least for the moment.
I can’t say we are sorry.
Our IBCs and water butts were very low again and we were really worried about how we would keep our plants going over the coming months.
Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’ (Image: Norfolk School of Gardening) For the moment disaster has been averted, and we are quietly delighted that it is a little cooler.
It has made gardening easier this week, and we have been busy cutting back lots of perennials which will flower again if given a short haircut at this stage of the summer.
Nepeta, perennial geraniums, oregano, mint and some salvias have all had this treatment, and although they look a little sad for a couple of weeks they already have green shoots emerging and will soon have flowers.
We have also been deadheading the roses, some of which are already flowering for the second time, and the cosmos.
The sweet peas look likely to be over rather early this year.
They don’t like the really hot weather and their stems have got shorter and shorter over the past few weeks.
Bixley greenhouse beds July (Image: Norfolk School of Gardening) We have carried on cutting them in the hope that they will recover and we have given them as much water as possible, as well as some liquid seaweed feed.
Another key job this week was moving all the plants we still have in pots into one place and putting them as close together as possible.
This will make watering over the summer much easier and having them closely packed will also reduce evaporation from the individual pots.
We will be keeping an eye out for pests such as vine weevil which made an appearance early on this summer, this time attacking potted hostas.
The telltale signs were an increasing number of brown, dying leaves.
Closer inspection revealed the bright white larvae in the soil, and as we emptied the pots we spotted some of the brown adult weevils scurrying away.
There is a very good biological control available, and we have watered liberally with the nematodes which should sort the problem for the moment.
These are some of the first courses next term which have spaces available.
Let us know if you’d like to join us:
· Introduction to Garden Design – 11th September
· Certificate in Practical Horticulture – 12th September
· Advanced Practical Gardening – 17th September
· Plants for Free – 24th September
· Border Renovation – 1st October
Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’ Bixley (Image: Norfolk School of Gardening) Plant of the Week
Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’ is a branching shrub with magnificent, almost black-purple, succulent, polished leaf rosettes with a lime-green centre, at the ends of its branches.
It’s perfect for growing in containers on a sunny patio, or as summer bedding in a hot, dry border.
Aeoniums are fleshy, architectural plants native to Madeira, the Canary Islands and North Africa and seen throughout Spain.
For best results grow in well-drained soil or containers in a sunny, sheltered position.
We currently have one in a large urn in the centre of the garden outside the Victorian greenhouse.
It looks splendid!
Water plants sparingly.
Provide protection from frost and winter rain, or bring plants indoors in autumn.
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