Garden centre unveils summer 2024 gardening checklist

Summer is right around the corner and with it brings a season full of colour, fragrance, and longer days in the garden. Dobbies Garden Centres say there are plenty of ways to get your outdoor space ready for the warmer seasons now, however, there’s also a lot that can be done during summer to embrace the season, so there’s no such thing as starting too late.

Dobbies’ Buyer, Nigel Lawton, talks through his top tips on how to look after your garden and keep it happy and healthy this summer, as well as how those with smaller gardens can enjoy the sunny season.

Maintenance

Summer is the time to sit back and enjoy all your hard work coming to fruition but that doesn’t mean there aren’t jobs to be done to maintain your garden. Nigel notes that summer is when Roses look their best, but it’s important to continue deadheading these throughout the season to encourage new growth and blooms. David Austin Roses and Dobbies’ own Rose Collection are set to fill gardens with classic colour and fragrance from June and will bloom throughout the summer months if pruned regularly.

Summer is when plants grow their fastest so Nigel recommends feeding with fertiliser to ensure strong healthy growth and maximum flowers, and mulching with a good quality peat-free compost to hold in moisture and give beds and borders a nutrient boost.

Nigel says earlier spring annuals can be moved when finished blooming to make room for summer bedding plants like Dahlias and Fuchsias, which will fill gardens with their amazing flowers.

Late summer flowering bulbs such as Crocosmia and Nerine can also be planted now, either in the ground or in containers. Just make sure you feed regularly to encourage growth and water regularly to keep hydrated during the summer months.

Watering

Nigel says that one of the essential jobs you should do in summer is ensuring your garden gets proper hydration. This is especially important during periods of drought and if you’re planning a long summer holiday.

Mulching well with a good quality peat-free compost will help soil retain moisture and also helps rain penetrate the soil, which will keep your plants hydrated between waterings.  

Any water that has been collected in water butts earlier in the year can be used during dry spells to water your plants, and Nigel says this is actually better for your garden as rainwater has none of the chemicals that water from the mains has. Just make sure you water your plants in the morning before the sun comes up or in the evening. Nigel notes that if you water during the heat of the day in full sun, the water can damage the leaves and flowers.

To keep your lawn hydrated during the summer months, Nigel suggests using sprinklers to ensure even watering of the grass and recommends browsing Dobbies’ range to find the right model for your garden.

Lawncare

Whether you’ve got a small patch of grass or a sprawling lawn, Nigel says it’s not too late to get it looking its best for the summer months, so you shouldn’t be discouraged if it’s looking bare or patchy.

Using sprinklers to water your lawn as needed will help, but you can also do this with collected rainwater via a hose or watering can. Using complete lawn treatment will tackle any moss or weeds on your lawn while just feeding the grass with a pet and child friendly lawn feed is also recommended and will get your lawn looking richer and greener in as little as a week.

After feeding, once you’ve seen signs of growth, you can give the grass a light cut, ensuring the blades are on the highest setting so as not to scalp your lawn. Nigel suggests keeping an eye on your grass and mowing when needed over the summer months as this will differ depending on your own garden’s needs and the overall look you want to achieve.

If possible, Nigel recommends keeping a small patch of your garden wild to provide a safe space for wildlife to shelter during the heat. A wildflower area will encourage pollinators in your garden and create a wonderful buzz in the summer months. Wildflower seeds can be planted in early summer and will grow in just a few short weeks, so there’s plenty of time to enjoy a wildlife friendly summer garden.

Grow your own

There’s no better time to enjoy growing your own fresh produce than summer, with an abundance of seasonal salads that can be grown in your garden, or even on your windowsill.

Leaf lettuce is a ‘cut and come again’ crop that can be planted and harvested throughout the season, giving you fresh lettuce throughout the summer months. Rocket can also be grown easily in summer as a ‘cut and come again’ crop and pairs well with summer recipes. Nigel suggests sowing Rocket every two weeks to produce a continuous crop throughout summer, and if your garden gets a lot of sun, plant in a partially shaded spot.

Herbs that hail from tropical climates, such as Basil, Coriander and Dill will thrive in summer and can be planted out either in a vegetable patch, or in a container on your windowsill for easy access when cooking.

Small space impact

If you’re looking to make an impact in a small space, Nigel believes that summer is the ideal time to enjoy colourful containers and says it’s easy to create an effective look with colour themes. Warm colours like orange, red and pink work well to create a tropical, high-summer display, especially when planted in terracotta pots. If you favour a neutral colour palette, create a cluster of white flowers and plant in a contrasting pot for an eye-catching effect.

To create a simple but effective display, Nigel recommends using large flowers like Dahlias as your pot’s focal point and pair with summer bedding plants like Begonias, Petunias and Impatiens (Busy Lizzies), to fill any gaps. If you’re planting a hanging basket, trailing plants work well to elongate your display and create drama, but if you’re not sure where to start, Dobbies has a selection of pre-planted containers that come ready to brighten up your garden.

For more summer gardening advice, or to find your nearest Dobbies store, visit www.dobbies.com.