🌷🌸🌷Gardening Corner🌷🌸🌷

michael57

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1141777#Comment_1141777

water them in well once they are rooted well very good drought plant cut off spent flower stems down to the lowest set of leaves you can stagger this to keep some stems on show i personally cut ours right back to the ground as they can get woody we are on the 3rd flush of flowers this year enjoy them

Johnboy412000

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1141777#Comment_1141777

The key to happy salvias is giving them the conditions they naturally thrive in: sun, drainage, and regular shaping. Here’s a clear, practical guide tailored to the kinds of salvias you’re likely growing

🌞 Core principles for thriving salvias

Takeaway: Salvias want full sun, free‑draining soil, and regular deadheading to keep them flowering for months.

🌿 Everyday care tips

• Full sun placement — Salvias perform best with 6+ hours of direct light. In your HD9 area, choose the brightest spot you have; they tolerate afternoon sun well.
• Good drainage — They hate sitting in wet soil. If your garden has heavier clay patches, raise them slightly or mix in grit.
• Deep watering — Water thoroughly but infrequently. Let the top 2–3 inches of soil dry before watering again.
• Deadheading spent blooms — Snip off faded flower spikes to encourage fresh ones. Salvias respond quickly with new growth.
• Light summer feeding — A balanced liquid feed every 3–4 weeks keeps them vigorous, but don’t overdo nitrogen or they get floppy.

✂️ Pruning for shape and long flowering

• Mid‑season trim — When they look leggy, cut back by one‑third. This encourages a fresh flush of flowers.
• Autumn tidy — For hardy types (e.g., Salvia nemorosa), cut back to a low mound after flowering.
• Spring prune — For tender shrubby salvias (e.g., S. greggii, S. microphylla), wait until new growth appears before pruning hard.

justj74

Thanks both! That's really helpful

It sounds like I've picked some fairly forgiving plants then, which is probably just as well!

michael57

This big boy likes the sun unlike a few dahlias this year

michael57

michael57

michael57

Cut down three times and flowers again

Rag_793

I have two large Whiskey Barrel planters, the roses, bulbs and plants I put in late December didn’t take well.

Cut them down and going to remove the stumps and bulbs.

I am thinking of putting in a Japanese Maple in one barrel and a Monkey Puzzle Tree in the other, with perennial geraniums in each barrel.

I may have to dust off the old gardening books, that haven’t seen daylight in years.

Bluebell21

Beautiful flowers @michael57 love the colours.

Rachel_Scope

Gorgeous colours @michael57!

Ooh I love the idea of a Japanese maple and a Monkey puzzle @Rag_793. Send us pictures please!

ChrisR777

Deleted - wrong category

Johnboy412000

Well my Gladioli Corms that I planted 2 weeks ago have started to sprout now. I'm looking forward to seeing them bloom probably be next Spring now before that happens unless we get a late burst of hot weather. Sunflowers were willting yesterday so I got the hosepipe(No ban Here yet) on them and by the evening they were looking a lot healthier. The recent heatwaves haven't really helped.

Rosie_Scope

This heat has been so tough on the garden @Johnboy412000! Hopefully we're towards the end of it now. Have you grown sunflowers before?

Johnboy412000

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1145030#Comment_1145030

No never Rosie.

Rosie_Scope

Are they tall ones @Johnboy412000? I've grown some in the past but never had much success growing them past about 5 feet tall! They make a great snack for the birds once they've finished flowering.

Johnboy412000

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1145096#Comment_1145096

Not sure as yet Rosie.