Clients often ask me to plant up a garden that will give them colour throughout the summer. Right now, 23rd May, we are in early summer – then there is mid summer from mid July to August and and late summer from late August through to first frosts.
Early summer has lots of pastel shades blues, pinks, purples, soft-lemon and these combinations are easy on the eye, relaxing and fresh. The lawn is still bright green and there is still a newness to the garden as the herbaceous unravel and delight us with the scent of summer. If there is space we plant lupins in groups of five or more and this creates some dynamism in the garden. Make sure they are planted in full sun with a watchful eye for a slug attack. They will look strong adjacent to shrubs, or next to grasses as they themselves emerge. I usually pull the lower leaves off lupins to keep the plant tidy and to provide less food for our slimy friends!
Lupins are predisposed to mildew later so it’s important that there is air circulating around the plants and that they have enough sun and water. You can spray against mildew if you want. Lupins will try and flower twice but sometimes they just don’t’ make it and they wilt off so it’s important to think about their neighbours. This means that if they have petered out there is something else taking their place nearby. They are perfect next plants that will fill out mid/late summer or behind shorter growing grasses like Stipa Tenuissima. If grasses aren’t your thing try a group of rounded shrubs/topiary like yew balls or Pittosporum Tom Thumb.
I also love Sidalcea – a perennial that has rounded basal leaves with tall stems of silky pink/mauve flowers – check out S.Elsie Hughes. It is soft in colour, lingers around for a long time and is pure delight. I plant this in the middle of my borders so that when it stops flowering there is something to hide the gaps.
We are seeing geraniums flowering now – Geranium Rozanne will keep going through the summer. It might get leggy so you may have to tame it back. I like to plant it so that it scrambles through roses or hydrangeas. Seen here through Rosa Graham Thomas and also mid summer through Hydrangea Limelight.
No garden can be complete without the gorgeous aroma of nepeta – it creates a
haze of soft blue/purple or white and with the bonus of aromatic leaves. Cats will go mad for it, hence the name catmint! It comes in all sizes from a plant that will get to at least a metre high/wide to daintier versions that will achieve 30cms in height. After the first flush you may want to cut it back in preparation for another go.
Now is the time for roses – they are looking fabulous as the first blooms burst forth just like a song bird! All colours and for every situation including north facing! They do best in full sun. I love them but I do plant beneath them to screen the stems. Geraniums are perfect combinations as I described earlier or lavender. A simple scheme using roses and lavender and you can’t go wrong!
For mid summer the colour palette gets stronger – echinaceas are combining with dahlias, rudbekia and heleniums. This palette is hot and fiery – orange, red, golden and generally taller plants. Soften them up with slender grasses woven through.
You will see the second innings of roses and penstemons will be ongoing if deadheaded. If you want to try something new try Monarda. It has aromatic foliage, attracting bees and butterflies by the masses, flowering from mid summer to early autumn and planted in large groups will look striking. It’s vibrant colours are purples, reds, pinks and it’s worth the risk of mildew. Keep it in full sun, watered and aired.
Don’t forget to stake these later perennials early to avoid disappointment and having given some of these plants the ‘Chelsea Chop’ at the end of May will ensure nothing gets lanky and falls flat.
From late August the flower heads on the grasses will be looking spectacular and they look fantastic with sedums and asters. Sedums stand strong for months and well into autumn/winter, turning from fleshy domes to dried seedheads. They are undemanding not minding hot’n’dry or wind’n’wet and will be thankful for an embracing ‘Chelsea Chop’ by at least a third to prevent then from falling outwards just when you want them at their best.
So much more to show and tell … if you’d like a private chat about plants, your borders or your garden why not give me a call!
Susanne
07900 312120
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