Get set for summer

Feb 27 2010

Winter may be refusing to release its icy grip, but it’s time to think of summer in the garden, says Hannah Stephenson.

by Hannah Stephenson, The Journal

THE first daffodils are battling to come through the snow and ice, but you should already be thinking towards buying your summer-flowering bulbs for a riot of colour which will last you through the warmer months and into autumn. Planting summer-flowering bulbs, such as lilies and gladioli, can provide dramatic effects in summer, as they provide height, structure, colour and often fragrance all in one go, with little maintenance. Summer-flowering bulbs need a bit more care than spring ones. Lilies should be planted in early spring before the bulbs dry out, while dahlias, cannas and begonias are not frost-hardy, and are better started off in pots indoors, and then put out when all danger of frost has passed. If you haven’t stored your dahlias over the winter, you might want to invest in some new ones. The size of tubers varies and it doesn’t always follow that the bigger the tuber, the bigger the flower. They will need protection from the frost and should be stored in a cool, airy place until you plant them.

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