JUNE CLIPPINGS

SOW BEETROOT IN MODULES FOR PLANTING OUT OR IN MOIST DRILLS.

Try golden-rooted types like ‘Bolder.’ They’ll be ready by autumn.

SOW BIENNIALS FOR PLANTING IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER

to bridge the May/June flower gap next year. My favourites are white-flowered foxgloves (the seeds are tiny, so don’t cover them with compost), sweet rocket for cutting and Salvia sclarea var turkensanica for dry soil.

PLACE STRAW OR MATS AROUND STRAWBERRY PLANTS

to protect the fruit from soil splash and lift towards the sun. Trap slugs, and when the fruit has set, protect from birds.

CUT THE LAWN EDGE WITH SHEARS

after every other mowing and knock soil back from the edges. This saves weeding by stopping grasses and lawn flowers from growing into borders.

FAQ

What can I plant in a container for the shade?

For flowers, choose begonias (‘Glowing Embers’ bears orange flowers against dark foliage), fuchsias and New Guinea busy Lizzies. For foliage, Fatsia japonica, coleus and creeping Jenny look great.

I love echinaceas, but they die off. What do I do?

These spectacular daisies need sun and deep, well-drained soil. They prefer a cold winter and often fail when exposed to the mild, wet winters experienced in much of the UK. Try raising them from seed.