Shirley Brohan of Blossoms on the Go provides the second tip for May in this week’s article.
With so much choice this time of year it’s very hard to focus on what you want to do in the garden and around home. So, some tips break down the task like filling pots and hanging basket adding more to the beds and borders break it all down, and just put them in a pocket and do them one at a time we have lots of choice to offer and it can be overwhelming too. If it the hanging baskets you want to start with 3 trailing plants is loads in a 12” basket s and add an extra if its 14” now they will fill out I assure you. Then the next question is do you want a centrepiece in the middle of your basket I find if they are too high it cannot be seen but this is everyone personal taste. Now I sometimes have added some bedding plant to add a bit of extra colour like a lobelia or bizzy Lizzy again this is personal taste and can give added colour.
When you are filling pots lots of you like a centre piece like Geranium or an African Daisy and then some trailing to the front like a petunia or a bacopa and then add some of your favourite bedding plant I find begonia are long lasting and a great summer bedding.
Window boxes are filled very similar to the pots again I find it easier to start with a centre piece some like trailer s to overhang, some people prefer bedding plants mixed and use alyssum it’s a lovely white a purple flower very pretty at the front its long lasting.
So I skipped a bit what to fill them with so I myself use a good quality potting compost and I also add osmicate fertiliser and also stay wet gel and this give a long lasting feed and helps to keep plants moist.
The important thing to remember is to add the stay wet to the bottom of your pots and the top up with potting mix and add the osmicate to it. This will help your flower to be feed and flower longer.
Its just a joy to watch plant grows and flowers to swell out to enjoy the beauty of the give over the next few months and any questions feel free to ask as always enjoy your garden.
