Herald - Issue 389

Page 30 • The HERALD • 4th June 2020 v ENCOURAGING LOCAL ENTERPRISE v All Enquiries to Les Paynter or Pamela 07717 255087 E: scorpionmetalcraft@yahoo.co.uk THE DISTINCTIVE WROUGHT IRON METALWORKS Scorpion Metal Craft Scorpion Metalcraft has downsized but we still make Single Gates, Step Hand Rails and Individual Items. | DOWN THE GARDEN PATH | Send your local news to The Editor, The Herald, 2 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH June is really the month when gardens are at their best and Gardeners are at their busiest, with warm sunny days (hopefully!!) and the le over moisture still in the ground from the winter, lush green growth is everywhere and there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything. If you don’t already have enough to be getting on with, here are a few jobs that will keep you busy and keep your garden looking great and your plants healthy and happy. Watering is always essential when establishing young plants and if they are already wilted it is o en too late, little and o en is normally much better than drought followed by ooding! Watering either in the early morning or evening is much more efficient and less of a shock for sensitive plants Remember mains water is much less suitable for plants than rain water (and more expensive) so always try to harvest rain fall and re use it. Regular ventilation of your glass house is another really important job and easily over looked this time of year, air ow not only cools down tender plants but prevents fungal diseases from taking hold and creates much healthier growing conditions particularly if you will be cultivating tomatoes or cucumbers under glass throughout the summer months. Shading is also essential on any glasshouse in full sun, which will also avoid scorch as daytime temperatures continue to climb. June is also the time when tender bedding plants are planted outside, now the chance of late frosts are well and truly passed. Hanging baskets can also be hung outside with con dence as well. For the more adventurous gardeners or those with limited space there are some fantastic examples of edible hanging baskets around, including strawberries, dwarf tomatoes and a whole variety of herbs, adding a modern culinary twist on a old favourite! June is also a great time to prune any spring flowering shrubs, done immediately a er owering there is still enough time le in the remainder of the growing season to produce owering stems in time for next spring’s show. is is of course just a few of the many jobs you can carry out at this time of the year, the most important thing of course is to enjoy gardening for what it is (a healthy and enriching activity at any level!!) and not to get too bogged down in the detail!! Happy Gardening GARDEN DIARY FOR JUNE by Thomas Clarke, Head Gardener, Exbury Garden, Southampton