9 hours ago
I'm a royal gardener, important task will help your plants adapt to the heat and when it's time for the ‘Chelsea chop'
IT'S not just us humans that need to adapt to the warmer weather, the plants in your garden will need to adjust too.
With temperatures soaring across the UK this weekend, former royal gardener Jack Stooks has opened up to Genting Casino about the hot weather jobs that could save your plot.
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Jack - who previously worked for King Charles at Highgrove for over two decades - also shares insight into the 'Chelsea Chop' method, and why it's important for maintaining plants.
Read on to discover how to get your garden summer-ready…
Plant feeding
In June, much of the focus will be on staking plants and keeping them well watered.
You might also start feeding your pot plants around this time, as you'll likely notice things beginning to grow in the pots.
When to water
As we've had fairly dry weather in recent weeks, it's important to water your garden either in the mornings or evenings.
The plants aren't yet at the stage where you're supporting them with stakes - for example, all the roses in my garden are still quite low - so they may struggle in the heat.
I'd avoid overwatering, as the goal is to help the plants adapt to having less water.
That said, you still need to water them, otherwise they'll just die. The main priority is making sure everything is well watered.
The 'Chelsea Chop'
Around this time of year is normally what gardeners refer to as the Chelsea Chop, which is when certain herbaceous plants get a little bit big and you have to chop them down.
This helps them come back a lot bushier and helps to control the size of the plant, shape, and flowering time.
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In weather like this, it's often not necessary, as the plants haven't grown as much - but it an important task to be aware of.
Gardening mistakes that could get you fined
Gardening experts over at Toolstation have revealed the garden laws you need to be aware of not breaking.
While some of these laws could land you with a fine of up to £20,000 in extreme cases, a friendly chat with your neighbours can usually resolve any issues.
Tree removal and pruning: If you have a tree in your garden you want to get rid of you better think twice and do your research.
The gardening experts reveal: 'If one neighbour wishes to remove or heavily prune a tree that the other neighbour values, disputes can arise over the impact on the view, shade, or privacy. "
While it might cause a row, if it is in your property boundary it is ultimately your choice, unless it has a Tree Protection Order on it.
'But, some trees may be protected by a Tree Protection Order which makes it an offence to uproot, top or destroy them, the experts warn.
The maximum fine for breaking this law is £20,000, so make sure you double check if it does have a TPO.
You can find out by contacting your local council for a map that shows this information. Alternatively, you can ask to speak with your local tree officer.
Property boundaries and fences: One of the main causes of neighbours falling out is through arguing over property boundaries and fencing.
To avoid this situation, the gardening pros recommend checking the deeds of your property to determine the correct boundaries
'Most of the time, it's easy to determine who owns the fence as the fence posts will usually be on the owners side," they add.
'Additionally, the height of fences or hedges can cause disputes between neighbours if one party feels the height has exceeded the two metre guidance.
"Hedges and fences should be no more than two metres high, and you could be asked by the council to take them down if a neighbour complains about the height.
"Luckily, standard fence sizes are less than two metres tall so you shouldn't have a problem.'
Garden structures and additions: A pergola is the perfect addition to a garden if you want somewhere to relax in the shade.
But if it obstructs your neighbour's view or violates local building regulations it could cause a dispute, as can sheds and other garden structures.
'If you're not sure, have a chat with your neighbours to let them know what you're planning and, if there's an issue, get in touch with your local council who can give you more guidance," advise the gardening experts.
Overhanging branches and plants: 'When branches, vines, or roots from one neighbour's tree or plant extend into the neighbouring property, it can lead to disagreements over potential damage to structures, blocked views, or the burden of maintenance," reveal the pros.
However, it's important to note you can only trim overhanging branches up to the boundary of your property otherwise, it could be seen as trespassing.
You can climb into the tree to carry out the work if needed, but only on your property and make sure to stay on your side of the fence if you don't have permission to enter your neighbours garden.
