Pelargonium
Most people fail to over-winter their pelargonium (geranium) plants.
They accidentally starve them to death because the compost in which they are growing is exhausted of nutrients by the end of summer.
If you cut your pelargonium stocks back by half in early September and give them a week or two to recover from the shock they can be cleaned of the old compost and re-potted in new, using either the same sized pot or one slightly bigger.
Do not use garden soil at this important time. Use any of the commercially made composts for preference.
Kept frost-free over winter, they’ll do handsomely next year.
Angel's Fishing Rod
Otherwise known as Dierama this is a greatly under-rated summer-flowering bulbous plant elegant in the extreme, nodding and bending gracefully according to the movement of air.
They need a sunny spot of course, and also one that’s free-draining and open.
If you search about for the different colours they’ll attract favourable comment from all who happen upon them.
They can seed freely and when happily sited many can be dug and potted for family and friends.
Some become available at garden club sales tables so think about joining one of these for the winter season ahead.
You’ll thank me for the suggestion when the long dark evenings have been silently ushered in.
Camellias
During the next eight weeks camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas begin to make their flower buds for next spring and any shortage of moisture or nutrients during this time will result in poor flowering in spring.
Many blame frosts and poor weather for a mediocre spring blooming but the cause is to be found during drought occasions in August and September.
Cherries
Morello cherries would be an admirable solution for a north wall, sunless situation.
Not only are these foamingly pretty with their pure white blooms in April, but the bright red fruits hanging in pairs like earrings are most decorative later on.
By the time they’re ripe enough for use in jam or tarts they’ll have turned almost black. These are worth sourcing.
Plant containers
I love everything about container gardening.
The immediacy with which you can create new effects, the intensity with which you can care for your treasures, and yes, their dependency on you, for water, for being put in the right place, for feeding and tidying.
Friends are often amazed at the fertility encountered, which I put down entirely to manure (added to the compost used) and the likes of Miracle Grow.
From now through to late August I will feed plants on a 10-day basis and if you do similar, you’ll almost see them smile as they shower in the blue-tinted nectar.
