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Scottish Sun
05-06-2025
- Climate
- Scottish Sun
The seeds to sow in your garden now to have it blooming all through summer
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHEN the Scottish weather allows it, June is a great month to spend as much time as possible outdoors. Gardens will be coming to life with bursts of growth and flowering throughout the month. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Mature woman planting lavender in the garden 2 Watering plants in the garden And with everything growing so quickly, it's important to keep on top of the essential gardening jobs. Gardening expert Nigel Lawton has shared his handy gardening guide for June - including what seeds to sow right now to make your garden a riot of colour as the summer progresses. While your plants are growing with the light and warmth of summer, weeds may also sprout in the heat. Dobbies' Plant Buyer Nigel explains that hoeing weeds regularly during the dry weather is the best way to keep on top of them. He adds: 'Using weed killer such as Resolva ready-to-use 24 hour weedkiller in some areas is an effective way to combat this, and applying a thick layer of mulch over the soil surface helps prevent more weeds growing. 'Protecting your plants from hot and dry weather is important at this time of year. Watering plants regularly when the weather is dry and warm, and mulching plants with organic matter to lock in moisture and improve soil quality over time, is a great way to protect plants. 'Don't forget to water pots and containers too, and every few weeks add a liquid feed, such as Wesland Boost all purpose liquid plant feed, to containers and hanging baskets, to help produce up to four times more flowers. 'Protect herbaceous plants, such as Delphinium and Hosta, from slug damage using pest control repellents, and protect strawberry plants from hungry birds." Although June is a great time to sow seeds and plant young plants due to the warmer soil and high temperatures, Nigel explains that the heat may also dry the soil out. He emphasises the importance of watering your plants as often as needed during long, hot spells. Grow your groceries - how to grow tomatoes from tomatoes! Nigel's top picks for the best flower seeds to sow in June include; pansies, violas, primroses, calendula, godetia, lupins, delphiniums, and the last chance to sow coreopsisa. For fruit and veg, June is a good time to grow salad crops. Nigel's selects include beetroot, lettuce, pak choi and radish. Peas, sweetcorn, cucumbers, squash, marrows, courgettes, turnips, and broccoli are all good to plant while it's the last chance to grow pumpkins. Many flowers in your garden will be full of growth and colour in June but it is still the perfect time to fill other areas that you can admire for the rest of the summer. Dobbies' plant of the month is a rose, as the rose season is just beginning. June is a great time to pick new varieties to add to planters and borders for summer displays. Nigel's top picks for bedding and border flowers also include dahlia, cosmos and nicotiana for their fast growing during the high summer. He adds: "Fuchsias are ideal to plant this month as they bloom throughout summer to the early frosts, and for a pop of colour begonias, marigolds, and nasturtiums are also a good choice. "To add volume to borders, plant shrubs like lavender, rhododendron or even herbs. "In the pots and containers bringing colour to your walls and doorways, some good choices would be begonias, petunias, and dianthus. For more permanent containers, consider planting Japanese acers, hydrangeas, or cordyline for an eye-catching look. "Prune spring flowering shrubs when flowers have faded and early season herbaceous plants, such as geranium and Oriental poppies, can be cut back after flowering to encourage re-growth of new foliage. When it comes to lawn care, Nigel recommends regular mowing, at least once a week and says this is best if the weather is dry and not too hot to get the perfectly manicured lawn. He says: "Reduce the cutting height of your mower now that the grass is growing quicker. During heatwaves, it's best not to mow your lawn as it will already be struggling in the hot, dry weather. "If you have to mow your lawn in hot weather, raise the height of your mower blades and water your grass after mowing." It is also important to consider the wildlife in these warmer months. Nigel explains that bird baths make a nice feature in any garden and also create a safe habitat for birds as a source of water and place to cool off in summer heat.
The Irish Sun
05-06-2025
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
The seeds to sow in your garden now to have it blooming all through summer
WHEN the Scottish weather allows it, June is a great month to spend as much time as possible outdoors. Gardens will be coming to life with bursts of growth and flowering throughout the month. Advertisement 2 Mature woman planting lavender in the garden 2 Watering plants in the garden And with everything growing so quickly, it's important to keep on top of the essential gardening jobs . Gardening expert Nigel Lawton has shared his handy gardening guide for June - including what seeds to sow right now to make your garden a riot of colour as the summer progresses. While your plants are growing with the light and warmth of summer, weeds may also sprout in the heat. Dobbies' Plant Buyer Nigel explains that hoeing weeds regularly during the dry weather is the best way to keep on top of them. Advertisement He adds: 'Using weed killer such as Resolva ready-to-use 24 hour weedkiller in some areas is an effective way to combat this, and applying a thick layer of mulch over the soil surface helps prevent more weeds growing. 'Protecting your plants from hot and dry weather is important at this time of year. Watering plants regularly when the weather is dry and warm, and mulching plants with organic matter to lock in moisture and improve soil quality over time, is a great way to protect plants. 'Don't forget to water pots and containers too, and every few weeks add a liquid feed, such as Wesland Boost all purpose liquid plant feed, to containers and hanging baskets, to help produce up to four times more flowers. 'Protect herbaceous plants, such as Delphinium and Hosta, from slug damage using pest control repellents, and protect strawberry plants from hungry birds ." Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Although June is a great time to sow seeds and plant young plants due to the warmer soil and high temperatures, Nigel explains that the heat may also dry the soil out. He emphasises the importance of watering your plants as often as needed during long, hot spells. Grow your groceries - how to grow tomatoes from tomatoes! Nigel's top picks for the best flower seeds to sow in June include; pansies, violas, primroses, calendula, godetia, lupins, delphiniums, and the last chance to sow coreopsisa. For fruit and veg, June is a good time to grow salad crops. Nigel's selects include beetroot, lettuce, pak choi and radish. Advertisement Peas, sweetcorn, cucumbers, squash, marrows, courgettes, turnips, and broccoli are all good to plant while it's the last chance to grow pumpkins. Many flowers in your garden will be full of growth and colour in June but it is still the perfect time to fill other areas that you can admire for the rest of the summer. Dobbies' plant of the month is a rose, as the rose season is just beginning. June is a great time to pick new varieties to add to planters and borders for summer displays. Advertisement Nigel's top picks for bedding and border flowers also include dahlia, cosmos and nicotiana for their fast growing during the high summer. He adds: "Fuchsias are ideal to plant this month as they bloom throughout summer to the early frosts, and for a pop of colour begonias, marigolds, and nasturtiums are also a good choice. "To add volume to borders, plant shrubs like lavender, rhododendron or even herbs. "In the pots and containers bringing colour to your walls and doorways, some good choices would be begonias, petunias, and dianthus. For more permanent containers, consider planting Japanese acers, hydrangeas, or cordyline for an eye-catching look. Advertisement "Prune spring flowering shrubs when flowers have faded and early season herbaceous plants, such as geranium and Oriental poppies, can be cut back after flowering to encourage re-growth of new foliage. When it comes to lawn care, Nigel recommends regular mowing, at least once a week and says this is best if the weather is dry and not too hot to get the perfectly manicured lawn. He says: "Reduce the cutting height of your mower now that the grass is growing quicker. During heatwaves, it's best not to mow your lawn as it will already be struggling in the hot, dry weather. Read more on the Irish Sun "If you have to mow your lawn in hot weather, raise the height of your mower blades and water your grass after mowing." Advertisement It is also important to consider the wildlife in these warmer months. Nigel explains that bird baths make a nice feature in any garden and also create a safe habitat for birds as a source of water and place to cool off in summer heat.
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
'I'm a gardening expert – do this vital task before planting your garden centre flowers'
This simple tip could will help you get more for your money when shopping at a garden centre – and it involves something you might not expect. Here's all you need to know Before you pop those garden centre blooms into the soil, consider this handy hint. Garden enthusiasts often head to their local garden centres to snap up young plants, hoping they'll flourish in their gardens. It's a convenient and swift way to populate your flowerbeds and containers, sparing you the trouble of nurturing fragile seedlings that demand protection from the weather and consistent watering. But what most people are not aware of is there is a trick to stretch your pound further at the garden centre. The cost of plants can rack up swiftly, yet a gardening guru has revealed a clever technique that could let you bag more plants without forking out more cash. Adam Kirtland, who runs the View From The Potting Bench TikTok page, shared a video in which he divulged that purchasing a single plant from a garden centre might actually yield three or four plants for your patch if you know how to maximise their potential. He advised: "If you want to save some money in the garden, get one of these larger pots [from the garden centre] and do this." Adam pointed out that garden centre plants come with "fantastic root systems" as they're typically well-established. Although they're set to prosper in your garden as is, their intricate root networks also make them prime candidates for splitting. Plant splitting is a cost-effective technique that involves separating a plant into smaller, independent sections. Adam advised: "Using a sharp fork or a trowel, pop it in the middle and give it a good bash. What you'll get is two even halves of a plant. I know it seems harsh, but the plant loves it. "You can either leave it there with two halves, or get really extreme and split those halves again and get four plants. Each one of these new plants can be planted out in your garden exactly the same way that you were going to plant that large one out." When asked which plants are suitable for splitting, Adam recommends trying it with varieties such as Hosta, Hardy Geranium, Sedum, Astilbe, Bergenia, Rudbeckia, Echinacea, Phlox, Alchemilla mollis, Crocosmia, Japanese anemone, Aster and Campanula. How to split plants Choose the right time: The best time to split plants is during their dormant or growing season, usually in the early spring or early autumn. Avoid splitting during hot weather to reduce plant stress. Prepare for division: Water the plant the day before splitting to reduce stress and make the process easier. Remove the plant: Tip it out of its container or gently dig it up if it's in soil outdoors. Separate the rootball: Use your hands, a garden fork, or a trowel to divide the plant into several sections. Ensure each section has roots, stems, and healthy growth. Replant the divisions: Plant the newly divided sections in their new locations. Make sure the crown of the plant (where the stems meet the roots) is at the same level as it was before. Water and care: Water the plants thoroughly after planting to help the roots settle and hydrate. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged for the first few weeks while the plant establishes.
Scottish Sun
02-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
Cheap £1.74 Asda buy protects your plants from slugs – add a little every day for the best results
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE warm weather is here, and with it comes an increase in garden pests. But don't worry, a budget Asda buy can help protect your plants from becoming a meal for slugs. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 A handy hack helps to repel slugs from your plants this summer (stock image) Credit: Getty Slugs, like a lot of garden pests, are more likely to emerge in warm moist conditions. One green-fingered enthusiast shared the DIY hack she used to keep slugs from dining on her plants. She posted the trick on the Facebook group Gardening On A Budget Official. The gardening fan explained that she had been hoping to find a solution to "the never ending Hosta versus slugs question". "Having tried all other options and suggestions and failed, this stuff is working for me," she revealed, sharing a picture of her unexpected secret weapon. The woman used a bottle of Garlic Frylight spray, available for just £1.74 from Asda. Garlic contains a compound called allicin, which has a strong scent and taste that slugs find repulsive. This leads them to avoid plants that have been treated with it. The Facebook user pointed out an additional benefit to using the spray to protect your plants. "Plus, the oily content stops the blighters getting up my pots," she explained. Top Hacks to Keep Foxes Out of Your Garden The green-fingered fan revealed that she had been spraying the plants and the area around pot edges "every other day for a week or so". Facebook users shared their thoughts on the unusual advice in the comments section. "That is a genius idea! I'm going to try it," wrote one enthusiastic reader. "Until the hot sun fries the leaves," joked another Facebook commenter. "I make my own garlic spray by boiling up a garlic bulb in water until it's softened then mash it , strain it into a old spray bottle, and use as required, voila, so far it's working," said a third person. Tips for keeping pests from your garden Plant companion plants such as peppermint to repel rats. Place Garden Netting Pest Barrier, over your flowerbeds. Fill open-top containers with beer and place in soil to repel slugs. Spray plants with Neem Oil, to repel ants, flies, and spiders. Dust your flowerbeds with Diatomaceous Earth. Mix 1 tablespoon dish soap, 10 drops peppermint oil, and 4 cups water and spray on flowerbeds. Place eggshells around your plants to protect from slugs and snails. You can also use a £1.40 household item to deter ants from entering your home. A 49p hack helps to keep wasps from your garden, but you'll want to act soon. Another trick prevents squirrels from digging up your garden and all you need is a kitchen staple. And common storage mistakes may be attracting rodents to your garden shed. Another budget-friendly hack can help to banish slugs and snails from your garden. 3 A Facebook user revealed the DIY hack she uses to protect her plants from slugs Credit: FACEBOOK
The Irish Sun
02-05-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Cheap £1.74 Asda buy protects your plants from slugs – add a little every day for the best results
THE warm weather is here, and with it comes an increase in garden pests. But don't worry, a budget Asda buy can help protect your plants from becoming a meal for slugs. 3 A handy hack helps to repel slugs from your plants this summer (stock image) Credit: Getty Slugs, like a lot of garden pests, are more likely to emerge in warm moist conditions. One green-fingered enthusiast shared the DIY hack she used to keep slugs from dining on her plants. She posted the trick on the Facebook group The gardening fan explained that she had been hoping to find a solution to "the never ending Hosta versus slugs question". Read More On Pest Control "Having tried all other options and suggestions and failed, this stuff is working for me," she revealed, sharing a picture of her unexpected secret weapon. The woman used a bottle of Garlic contains a compound called allicin, which has a strong scent and taste that slugs find repulsive. This leads them to avoid plants that have been treated with it. Most read in Fabulous The Facebook user pointed out an additional benefit to using the spray to protect your plants. "Plus, the oily content stops the blighters getting up my pots," she explained. Top Hacks to Keep Foxes Out of Your Garden The green-fingered fan revealed that she had been spraying the plants and the area around pot edges "every other day for a week or so". Facebook users shared their thoughts on the unusual advice in the comments section. "That is a genius idea! I'm going to try it," wrote one enthusiastic reader. "Until the hot sun fries the leaves," joked another Facebook commenter. "I make my own garlic spray by boiling up a garlic bulb in water until it's softened then mash it , strain it into a old spray bottle, and use as required, voila, so far it's working," said a third person. Tips for keeping pests from your garden Plant companion plants such as peppermint to repel rats. Place Fill open-top containers with beer and place in soil to repel slugs. Spray plants with Dust your flowerbeds with Mix 1 tablespoon dish soap, 10 drops peppermint oil, and 4 cups water and spray on flowerbeds. Place eggshells around your plants to protect from slugs and snails. You can also use a A 49p hack helps to Another And common storage mistakes may be Another budget-friendly from your garden. 3 A Facebook user revealed the DIY hack she uses to protect her plants from slugs Credit: FACEBOOK 3 Garlic repels slugs while the oily texture makes it difficult for them to cling to the plant's leaves Credit: FACEBOOK
