News&Views 239 | May-June 2021 T he last of the Daffodils will have all but finished now and can be dead- headed and allowed to die back naturally. This is an ideal time to divide and spread large clumps as you can easily see what you have. Tulips are flowering and Bearded Iris, Alliums and other early summer flowering bulbs will be following in close succession filling our borders with colour whilst we wait for many of the perennial border plants to join in. Take photos now to remind yourself in the Autumn where you have dormant bulbs and S ummer is upon us and once again our gardens are bursting with life. In the vegetable patch, the first of this seasons vegetables are in the ground and growing, and the very first early harvests are able to be made as well as enjoying the last of our over- wintering crops. The warm days of April, teamed with the cold and often freezing temperatures at night mean that our frost-sensitive crops have needed protection and the wise amongst us will have have avoided sowing these until now unless able to grow them on in warmth. For those growing Courgettes, Squash (both winter and summer), French and Runner Beans, and outdoor Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Peppers etc. the time has come to sow to allow for enough time to grow and give where you might like a few more! As we get into Mid-May the risk of frosts starts to drop but be careful of the odd late one that can catch you out. Once the danger has passed it is time to plant out Dahlias and Cannas and sensitive bedding plants if you are growing them this year. Larger clumps of herbaceous perennials can be divided now and spread through the garden before they come into flower. Watch out for new shoots growing at the base as these can be used to take basal cuttings for yet more plants free. crops this summer. They will need to be sown indoors and can’t be planted out until all risk of frost is gone, and having been hardened off first. Early sowings and plantings made last month will need to be looked after carefully. Keep beds weed-free by hand pulling or hoeing when needed; watering frequently in dry weather conditions; and watching out for pests that just love these tender stems and vulnerable buds and leaves. If needed, use safe methods to control slugs and snails such as beer traps, coffee grounds, eggs shells, sheep wool etc and if really struggling with their numbers try nematodes or organic slug pellets (use aluminium sulphate based and AVOID Metaldehyde ones which can poison wildlife, pets and children). 51 50 May/June in the flower garden Hunger gap? Hardening Off! Short cuts to more flowers... Take part and leave your lawn long in May, so that naturally occurring wildflowers can blossom to benefit our declining insect population. If the idea of leaving your entire lawn long feels too much, then leave some areas long and mow round them. A crescent shape or tear-drop of longer grass can still look loved and well-attended and can even be alternated with other areas through the year to increase the benefits to wildlife. According to ‘Plantlife’ the highest level of benefit was seen on lawns mown every 4 weeks as low growing daisies and clovers could thrive, and the monthly trim dead-headed the flowers encouraging more to grow back. Such a simple and wonderful way to do your bit for bees! GARDENER’S DIARY No Mow May! Rachel and Simon Farr from Cae Rhug Holistic Farm guide us gently through the seasons in our gardens with tips for attracting wildlife, growing food and making the most of the flowers in your gardens... For those growing all year round, May is often known as the hunger gap as most of the over-wintering crops have come to an end and very little is ready to harvest unless growing undercover. Getting early sowings off to a good start helps to shorten this period of low crops, and having fleece covers to help protect from cold can really help accelerate growth. Seedlings started off on warm sunny windowsills, conservatories and heated greenhouses need to adjust to the colder temperatures outside. This needs to be done gently and is often referred to as ‘hardening off’. This is best done by lifting the plants outside during the day and in again at night, and by using cold-frames and covers whilst they slowly adjust. The earlier in the season it is, the greater the variation in temperature and the harder it is to acclimatise plants, so avoid sowing too early! New sappy growth at the base of herbaceous plants is a way of them spreading and growing outwards. Using a sharp knife we can carefully remove these ‘Basal’ shoots (which have sometimes already formed a few small roots) and these cuttings can be potted up for us to grow on and use elsewhere in the garden. Placing them towards the edge of the plant pot can give better results, as can covering the pot with a plastic back after watering and securing with an elastic band. Wait until roots start to appear out of the bottom of the pot before potting on again or planting out in the border. Similarly, softwood cuttings can be taken from tips of woody stemmed plants such as Lavender, Fuchsia, Philadelphus and Forsythia. Take around 10cm’s of new growth below a set of leaves. These can then be removed to leave a short stem that can be pushed into the compost. Again, water and cover with a bag or place in a propagator until rooted and ready to plant out or give to friends. May/June in the vegetable garden