Be kind to your garden and plants they are going through a stressful time due to the weather. The recent hot dry spell followed by torrential rain has been tough for all living things including your garden.
Be kind to your pots
Keep watering and if possible stand a plant in a pot in a bucket of water for 6-12 hours to let the compost get really wet. Allow the pot to drain well afterwards to prevent water logging.
Feed generously to help keep plants growing and flowering. There are lots of commercial plant feeds available or make your own, soak nettles or comfy leaves in water for a couple of weeks, drain, put the sludge on your compost heap and dilute the stinky liquid 1:20 (or a splash per watering can) when you water.
Be kind to tall plants and shrubs
They may be drooping so use stakes and plant supports to keep them upright and take pressure off stems and roots. You will see the flowers better too. Keep watering and feeding, mulch if possible and remove weeds that will be taking water and nutrients from them.
Leave established plants alone
They are probably coping with the weather better than other parts of your garden, although the leaves may turn sooner. Already some horse chestnuts in parks and hedgerows are starting to turn and show their autumn colours.
Check ponds and water features.
If you have a wildlife pond that needs topping up, use water butt water if possible or if you have to use tap, let buckets of water stand for 12-24 hours before adding to your pond. This allows chemicals used to purify the water for drinking to evaporate.
Grass and lawns
These are starting to regrow after the scorching a few weeks ago. Mow gently and mulch mow if possible so help nutrients go back into the soil
If you need help to get your garden looking better after the recent weather give Chopwell a call. Our friendly professional team can help to make you ‘garden-proud’.
