After a week of very mixed weather, the past few days have been lovely.  So warm and sunny, which means the weeds are growing at a pace.  Weeding out seedlings and small plants is so much easier than waiting until they get larger, and whatever you do, don’t let them flower and set seed.  If you do this they’ll be back next year and the year after at least!

The garden is looking good, and there are plenty of things in flower.  Some have flowered early this year, but if you want to extend their season, I have a few tricks up my sleeve.

Regular feeding and watering is the first thing, this will keep plants healthy.  Then, deadhead spent faded flowers to encourage more new ones.  The theory is that if you don’t let the plant set seed it will send out more new flowers (it’s a survival tactic).  The other thing you can try is known as the ‘Chelsea Chop’.  This is when you reduce the height of herbaceous perennials by around 50% (yes, by just removing the top half with a pair of sheers in one swift chop!).  This will encourage new buds and therefore flowers later in the season.  But make sure you do it before mid-June.

Finally, by chopping early flowering herbaceous perennials (such as Delphiniums) which have already flowered, right down to 15cm high.  This way they will re-generate and flower in autumn.  Make sure they have plenty of water and food though! 

Tool of the week