WHAT TO DO THIS Month
It’s time to plant up hanging baskets, put in plant supports and sow annual grasses for a beautiful summer display
TIDY UP FERNS
Ferns should be starting to regrow this month, so now’s the time to give them a tidy up. Remove tired foliage to make way for new fronds: deciduous ferns will have collapsed into a brown crispy mess by now, so cut the old stems right back to the crown. With evergreen ferns, just remove the odd brown or tatty frond. Always use sharp secateurs and take care not to damage any new growth that’s emerging.
REPOT AQUATIC PLANTS
Now’s a great time to repot aquatic plants. As the water in your pond starts warming up, these plants should be starting back into growth.
Carefully remove the baskets and clear away any debris, leaving it at the side of the pond for a day or so to allow any creatures to scramble back into the water. You can compost it afterwards.
If roots look congested, carefully tip the plants from their baskets and pull them into several pieces; or, use a sharp knife to cut them into sections.
Repot into mesh baskets of aquatic compost with a washed gravel mulch and gently lower back into the pond.
Sow annual grasses
These easy-grow plants are great for containers, borders and the vase. Try Lagurus ovatus, Hordeum jubatum or Briza media.
● Sow pinches of seeds into modules or small pots and cover with a light dusting of compost or vermiculite. Water from below, sinking the tray or pots into a tray of water for a couple of minutes or use a watering can with a fine rose. Prick out and pot on in small clusters.
Move hardy annuals
Hardy annuals sown in autumn can be planted outside this month, but even though they can cope with frost, plants grown under
