This is the peak time to enjoy your garden, with heat-loving plants including pelargoniums, cannas and lantanas (right) flowering freely with little water. However, there are some things to consider now to get good results in 2027.
People are currently buying fewer plants, according to garden centres. Once the drought lifts, there may be a surge in plant sales. Nurseries have difficulty in keeping plants adequately watered and some plants just won’t grow in the heat, so there may be fewer plants in fewer sizes for sale. If there are plants you want, consider ordering them now for winter delivery.
Winter delivery is ideal, but of course you cannot see the plants in flower to assess their colour and form. Where you must have them in flower now, plant in a hole filled with water and allowed to drain three times, before planting, firming and watering – this should get them established safely.
Shorts
If plants have died and gaps have formed, be ready to sow annual seeds next month to cover the ground and flower next summer, until more permanent replacements have grown. Calendulas, cornflowers, larkspur and nigella are economical and easy choices. Now is also time to collect annual seeds from your garden.
