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<p>Water is one of our most precious resources, and as summers get hotter and drier, we need to <strong>use water wisely in our gardens</strong>. These simple tips will help you give your plants the water they need with as little waste as possible.</p>

<p>Water is one of our most precious resources, and as summers get hotter and drier, we need to <strong>use water wisely in our gardens</strong>. These simple tips will help you give your plants the water they need with as little waste as possible.</p>
<h2>Save water by improving your soil</h2>
<p>One of the best ways to use water effectively in the garden is to improve your soil by adding organic material, like well-rotted farmyard manure, leaf mould or compost. This improves the soil structure, helping light soils hold on to moisture to need less watering. It also helps heavy clay soils to drain better.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Mulching soil helps to stop moisture from evaporating. It’s best to do this in spring when the soil is still damp from the winter rains. Compost and bark chippings make good mulches. Apply a thick layer of mulch, at least 5cm (2in).&nbsp;</p>
<h2>How to water effectively</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Water in the early morning or the evening, so the water doesn’t evaporate in the heat of the sun before it has a chance to reach the plants’ roots.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Give newly planted shrubs and trees a good soak every few days. This encourages the roots to grow deep into the soil, making the plants more resilient in times of drought. Avoid watering little and often, as this tends just to wet the soil's surface, encouraging plant roots to stay shallow.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Drip irrigation systems are more efficient at watering than sprinklers, getting water directly to the plants’ roots.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>A tip when growing thirsty vegetables like courgettes is to create a reservoir next to each plant. Cut a plastic bottle in half, remove the cap and bury the top half of the bottle upside down next to the plant. When watering, fill the bottle, and the water will soak out into the soil right next to the plants’ roots.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Add water-retaining gel to potting compost in hanging baskets and containers.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Install a rainwater butt connected to a downpipe to collect the rainwater that runs off your roof, and use this to water your plants.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Drought-tolerant plants</h2>
<p>Drought-tolerant plants have evolved structures that help them survive periods without water, so planting a few of these in your garden means less time spent watering.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Plants like thyme and rosemary have small leaves to reduce the amount of water lost through the leaf surface. Stachys byzantina (lambs ears) has leaves covered in tiny hairs, which also reduces water loss. Succulents like sempervivums and sedums have fleshy leaves that can store water for use in dry seasons.&nbsp;</p>
<p>These drought-resistant plants will look good in any garden:</p>
<ul>
<li>Perovskia (Russian sage)</li>
<li>Lavender</li>
<li>Hardy geraniums (cranesbills)</li>
<li>Nepeta (catmint)</li>
<li>Cistus (rockrose)</li>
<li>Eryngium (sea holly)</li>
<li>Verbascum (mullein)</li>
<li>Sedum/Hylotelephium (stonecrop)</li>
</ul>
<p>If you’d like to add some drought-tolerant plants to your garden, visit our centre to see our extensive range. We have plants to suit every garden!</p>

How to use water wisely in the garden

<p><strong>June</strong> is such a busy month in the <strong>kitchen garden</strong> from keeping on top of weeds to watering, planting out and harvesting plus even more sowing - it’s not too late!</p>

<p><strong>June</strong> is such a busy month in the <strong>kitchen garden</strong> from keeping on top of weeds to watering, planting out and harvesting plus even more sowing - it’s not too late! Then there is always the weather to contend with! Will it be too dry, or will there be rain? These are the questions gardeners all over the country ask themselves daily. Most likely, June will be sunny and the longest day of the year will be here before you know it. So that means one thing! It’s time to make sure your plants are ready to grow.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>1. Aubergines, tomatoes and cucumbers</h2>
<p>If you are growing aubergines, tomatoes and cucumbers outside, make sure they&nbsp;are in a sunny but sheltered spot with supports ready for them to climb. Keep them well-watered and remember to feed them as well for more harvests in just a few weeks.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>2. Lettuce, kohlrabi and beetroot&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Have you sown lettuce, kohlrabi and cucumbers undercover? If you've started them off in a greenhouse, make sure you are hardening them off and planting them out soon to give them plenty of time to grow ready for you. It's almost time to harvest them and create a fresh salad with homegrown food like these. Nothing beats a homegrown salad.</p>
<h2>4. Corn, squash and beans&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Try the 'three sisters planting method' and grow all three of these in one space. It’s a great space saver and each supports the other. Beans fix nitrates in the soil as it uses the corn to grow up. Squash is planted around the outside and together not only do they look great but they can all be grown together in a small space for abundant harvests.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>5. Marigolds and nasturtiums&nbsp;</h2>
<p>If you haven’t already planted out some edible flowers, there is no time like the present. Both Marigolds and Nasturtiums are great companion plants deterring pests, but they are also edible! Add some brightly coloured flowers to your salads straight from your kitchen garden. These varieties are ready to harvest when their colour is bright enough.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>6. Turnips and swede</h2>
<p>Both turnips and swede can be planted out if you have already grown undercover or they can be sown directly into the soil where they are to grow. Both, when harvested at just the right time can be delicious and great to cook with. Don’t miss out on these species and sow those seeds as soon as you can. You can still buy lots of seeds at our garden centre in %locations%</p>
<h2>7. Radish, spinach and pak choi&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Supercharge your salads with these three that can all still be sown right now so there is no need to miss out! Keep successionally sowing for more crops. Most people don't think of pak choi in their dishes because of its bitter taste. Try the Asian way by marinating your pak choi, spinach and radish in soy sauce and top it off with sesame seeds. You will be amazed by the delicious taste. Variating with food makes any hearts beat faster.</p>
<h2>8. Annual bedding&nbsp;</h2>
<p>You might not think of annual bedding as something to grow in a kitchen garden but, it really is! Add some colour, textures and a little something different with some bedding plants in and around your vegetables.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Check us out in store for vegetables, fruit and bedding to grow in your kitchen garden.</p>

What to plant in the kitchen garden in June

<p>Left to their own devices, <strong>shrubs and climbers</strong> can get out of hand, growing too big and looking untidy. <strong>Pruning</strong> keeps them looking neat and flowering well, so it’s well worth doing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Left to their own devices, <strong>shrubs and climbers</strong> can get out of hand, growing too big and looking untidy. <strong>Pruning</strong> keeps them looking neat and flowering well, so it’s well worth doing.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Golden rules of pruning</h2>
<p>When you’re pruning, there are a few golden rules to remember:&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>Always cut just above a bud.&nbsp;</li>
<li>When pruning to shape a plant, work slowly and take regular breaks to check that you are not taking off too much.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Take care when working at height, and don’t be afraid to call in a professional if the job is too big for you to tackle safely.</li>
</ul>
<p>Pruning shrubs and climbers isn’t complicated, and there’s plenty of information available on how and when to prune. To get you started, here are a few tips on pruning common shrubs and climbers.</p>
<h2>1. Pruning hydrangeas</h2>
<p>To prune mophead hydrangeas, leave the flowers on the plant over winter to protect the developing buds and remove them in spring, cutting back to just above a strong pair of buds lower down on the stem. Cut out any thin, weak stems and remove one or two old stems to promote new growth.</p>
<p>Prune Hydrangea paniculata and Hydrangea arborescens in early spring, cutting back last year’s shoots to between 30-60cm (1-2ft) above the ground, just above a pair of strong buds.</p>
<h2>2. Pruning fuchsia and buddleja</h2>
<p>Prune in mid to late spring, cutting back last year’s growth to within 1-2 buds of the main woody branches. Remove any weak or spindly stems.</p>
<h2>3. Pruning forsythia</h2>
<p>For a good display of flowers, prune forsythia next spring as soon as the flowers have faded. Cut all stems back by a quarter of their length to shape the plant, and remove any damaged or crossing branches. On established plants, every two years, cut back one in every four old stems to the base to reduce congestion.</p>
<h2>4. Pruning honeysuckle</h2>
<p>Most honeysuckles flower in late summer, but some, e.g. Dutch honeysuckle, flower in late spring and early summer.</p>
<ul>
<li>Prune early flowering honeysuckles straight after flowering, cutting back the flowered shoots by one-third.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Prune late-flowering honeysuckles in spring, cutting back any long trailing stems and lightly trimming the rest of the plant.</li>
</ul>
<h2>5. Pruning clematis</h2>
<p>Clematis are divided into 3 groups, defined by their flowering time:</p>
<ul>
<li>Group 1 flowers in winter or early spring. Prune as soon as they finish flowering, removing deadwood and cutting back flowered stems to fit the space available.</li>
<li>Group 2 flowers in late spring, with sometimes a second flush in late summer. Prune in spring before they start to grow, cutting back to a pair of healthy buds.</li>
<li>Group 3 flowers in late summer. Prune in early spring, cutting back to a pair of strong buds about 20cm above ground level.</li>
</ul>
<p>Need to tackle an overgrown plant in your garden? We’ve got all the tools and equipment you need, so visit our centre today!</p>

Pruning climbers and shrubs

<p>There is <strong>eco-friendly pest control</strong> available for just about every pest the amateur gardener will find in the garden, so there is usually something that will help you to protect your plants. Generally speaking, the aim of pest control is to prevent pests rather than completely eradicate them, since each and everyone does have a purpose in the garden - even if you would prefer that purpose not to be eating your brassicas!&nbsp;</p>

<p>There is <strong>eco-friendly pest control</strong> available for just about every pest the amateur gardener will find in the garden, so there is usually something that will help you to protect your plants. Generally speaking, the aim of pest control is to prevent pests rather than completely eradicate them, since each and everyone does have a purpose in the garden - even if you would prefer that purpose not to be eating your brassicas!&nbsp;</p>
<h2>The best eco-friendly pest control&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Without a doubt, the best way is to allow nature to take control of pests for you. By creating a biodiverse garden full of plants for pollinators, trees and shrubs making homes and food for wildlife, a pond for amphibians, a wild area and in general a lovely space for all to enjoy - you will find that pests will be eaten by predators and you won’t need to do much about it! Win-win for you and the environment. The best natural eco-friendly pest control is done by your wildlife, such as birds and ladybugs. Welcome them to your garden by hanging birdhouses and bird tables.</p>
<h2>Companion planting is&nbsp;an eco-friendly pest control</h2>
<p>When you plant a different combination of species closely together you will find that one helps the other! Some will attract predatory insects, others will steer away from the pests you don’t want eating your cabbages. Some plants have fragrances that pests don’t like. Nasturtiums for example can be a breeding ground for the cabbage white butterfly, meaning they will stay off your sprouts! Did you know that herbs also make a natural eco-friendly pest control?&nbsp;Herbs are what many consider to be “companion plants” for use in vegetable gardens and throughout the garden. Their purpose is two-fold: attract beneficial insects and deter pests. Try planting these herbs in your garden:</p>
<ul>
<li>Mint,</li>
<li>Basil,</li>
<li>Lavender,</li>
<li>Rosemary and other herbs.</li>
</ul>
<p>These herbs work really well as natural pest control. Planting these in your garden will not only help keep pests away but these herbs can be used to control pests indoors as well.</p>
<h2>Eco-friendly pest control with deterrents</h2>
<p>Remember: the key is that you are not trying to kill all pests, but just deter them. So, use things like:</p>
<ul>
<li>copper tape around pots that snails don’t like,</li>
<li>cabbage collars for root fly,</li>
<li>carrot root fly meshes to keep them off your carrots.</li>
<li>scarecrows, bottles on canes, shining CD’s blowing in the wind can all deter birds away from your crops.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h2>Get up close for eco-friendly pest control&nbsp;</h2>
<p>One way to control pests is to pick them off yourself! Pick caterpillars, slugs and snails along with others&nbsp;and re-locate them somewhere far away from your plants! If all else fails, a splash of water can get rid of aphids, netting can keep birds off and think about the plants you will grow - such as no Lilies if you suffer badly from red lily beetle - can work well. There are so many beautiful plants to grow, being without the ones that tend to get destroyed won’t be too much of a loss.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are other eco-friendly ways of pest control such as using essential oils and some of the newer products on the market which are made solely for deterring certain pests. There are many options so there is no need to despair.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In store, we have a range of products to help along with plants for companion planting. Do you want to know more about eco-friendly pest control?&nbsp;Visit to find out more.&nbsp;</p>

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