What a fantastic spring we have had in the Gardens! As many a long-time Gardens resident would attest, this spring has been one of the most spectacular. The magnolias and cherry blossom were simply bursting with color, and the array of snowdrops, tulips and daffodils was a sight to behold. Now, as the cherry blossoms start to fade, and the tulips have seen better days, we can look forward to preparing our gardens for the summer. 

Summer Gardening Tips:

1. Bulb Foliage - Wait 8 weeks before cutting back the leaves from your bulbs (snowdrops, daffodils, tulips, irises etc.) in order to allow the bulb to absorb the nutrients necessary for blooming next year.

2. Prune your flowering shrubs once they have bloomed, this includes azaleas and rhododendrons which benefit from a strong pruning.

3. Fertilize your garden in the early summer, as by July it is time to put away the fertilizer and wait until the fall. It is recommended to use organic products and fertilizing the day before it is forecast to rain, so the fertilizer can quickly enter the soil.

4. Plant your Annuals
Recommendations for sunny spots:
-Geraniums
-Marigolds
-Petunias
-Mandevilla
Recommendations for shady spots:
-Begonias
-New Guinea Impatience
-Sweet Potato Vine

5. Plant your Perennials
Recommendations for sunny spots:
-Rudbeckia (black eyed Susan)
-Echinacea (purple cone flower)
-Salvia
-Bee balm
-Carefree Roses – this variety is the easiest to grow and resistant to the diseases that plague so many roses
-Clematis – as these are vines, you will need a fence for them to climb. Clematis produce exceptional blooms, but they can be tricky to establish. Most clematis like plenty of sunshine and wet but NOT soggy soil.
Recommendations for shady spots:
-Astilbe
-Hosta
-Jack Frost

6. Plant your Veggies
Head to your local nursery and pick up a few tomatoes and peppers (hot chili peppers are particularly easy to grow). Make sure to plant them a minimum of two feet apart to allow space for them to grow. Vegetables need plenty of water so make sure they never dry out! If you want to plant more drought tolerant plants, opt for herbs such as Rosemary, Lavender, Thyme, Sage and Oregano. However, please make sure that even they are well watered for at least their first month in the ground…In fact, is very important to ensure that all your new plantings are watered regularly for at least for the first month to allow their roots to take hold in the soil. At that point you can water a little less frequently. However, during those sweltering hot summer days plants are NOT HAPPY and will require plenty of water.

7. Deadhead Flowers to encourage plants to re-bloom. This is particularly effective for roses but all flowering plants benefit from deadheading.

8. Weeding may be the most hated chore in the garden. Try to keep weeds under control by tackling daily (or at least weekly) then it never becomes overwhelming! Many are fans of certain weeds like clover, dandelions and wild violets and allow them to coexist with their lawns!

9. Leaf blowing is NOT necessary during the summer months. Ask your landscaper to kindly put away the leaf blowers until the fall. In fact, leaf blowers deplete the soil, blowing away organic matter needed for healthy plants and is one of the reasons so many plants struggle to survive. Please wait until the leaves start to fall before using the leaf blower again, and in the meantime relax and enjoy the serenity of your garden surrounded by happy plants!