Maybe a bit too dry?

May was a very dry month here in the gardens and we spent a great deal of time watering. As a result of that, we have seen a bloom in the weeds as well as the flowers. We finally got a little rain, and it’s given everything a lift. I just hope that the sunny weather these last few weeks wasn’t our summer!
The Laburnum arch in the Poison Garden, and the rose pergola on our Herbaceous border, are both in full flower right now, and are attracting a lot of attention for photo opportunities. The gardens are looking amazing, and I’m delighted to see so many of our visitors venturing further from the castle as they explore.
We have just completed planting of our seasonal display beds. In the beds we generally use a mix of begonias, petunias, lobelia, and geraniums. We also put up all our hanging baskets this week. The secret to a good display is regular watering and feeding. We use phostrogen plant food every second week throughout the growing season. We also use the largest baskets possible as they are so prone to drying out.
The glasshouse is currently undergoing a complete rebuild. We have commissioned Alitex for this project, and we hope to have the new structure completed by the end of September. It is hugely exciting to be seeing this project come together, and I can’t wait to start planting up the beds. We have copied the original footprint as closely as possible and it will be a legacy for future generations.
There was good bloom in our heritage apple orchard this year, and we haven’t had many late frosts, so we are hoping to match last year’s bumper crop and produce more apple juice and cider for the shop. Our bee observatory is open and is proving extremely popular with local visitors. They can observe the bees coming and going from their hives and there are several information panels in the building. We produce a small amount of honey every year, which sells out almost immediately, so keep your eyes open in the shop. You can find products from the kitchen garden in our café and shops under the ‘Over the Garden Wall’ brand name.
Jobs for June will include sowing outdoor vegetables, pruning grape vines and pinching out tomatoes and cucumbers side shoots and start to feed with seaweed feed or similar. Spray the potatoes for blight if necessary. Keep an eye out for pests as the weather warms up. We introduce biological controls for aphids and mealybug in our glasshouses. Spray roses for blackspot and aphids or use soap suds if it is a small infestation. Plant out bedding if not already done; keep up to speed with watering both in and outside. Newly planted or potted plants are especially prone to stress from drying out. It’s best to water early morning or late evening to avoid scorch from the sun and less evaporation. Heavy application of mulch such as composted bark or leaf mould is a great moisture retaining trick. One good watering is better than a regular sprinkling but every little helps.
It’s looking like being a great summer and hopefully we will continue to see large numbers of visitors enjoying the grounds and gardens. Adam

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