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Gardening tips for late summer from Rory Dusoir

Dead-heading

GARDENS can easily slide into premature decay after June and regular dead-heading is essential to prevent this. For certain plants, such as the non-repeat-flowering roses, the aim is purely cosmetic. But many plants, including dahlias, cosmos, penstemon and many species of later-flowering salvias can be induced to flower indefinitely if none of their spent blooms is allowed to ripen seed. There are rare instances where it is acceptable simply to snap off spent flowers with finger and thumb and this is the case with day-lilies. But, in general, secateurs or a stout pair of scissors are needed.

It is essential to trace the stem of a spent flower back to some definite point, as any bare stalks you leave behind will disfigure the whole plant. This point will be where a new shoot or a fresh flower arises or is likely to arise. With a plant such as Salvia superba, you can sometimes remove a large number of spent blooms with a single cut. Others must be removed one by one.

Colour contrasts

Thalictrums are species of meadow-rue. The finest is Thalictrum delavayi, up to 4ft 6in tall in flower. Its height won't be a problem even at the front of a border; it's a see-through plant. The inflorescence is a cloud of tiny lilac and white flowers which rises from a clump of equally delicate, much-divided leaves. Increase is by seed and it will sow itself, mildly.

It would look good in the foreground of the splendid yellow daisy, Inula magnifica. There is nothing delicate about this plant. Its coarse leaves expand to fill a large area and would soon engulf the thalictrum if planted too close. Its flowers are held aloft at 4ft 6in and are remarkable for their long, spidery petals which are a clean shade of bright yellow.

Red orach (Atriplex hortensis rubra) would associate well with this pair. It is a self-sowing annual, grown for its dull beetroot-coloured leaves and bright red stems. A single specimen, can be an imposing feature but it is most to be appreciated for the way it mingles. When allowed to sow itself throughout a large border it will bind the whole space together, as well as setting up colour contrasts with neighbouring plants.

-- Anonymous, August 10, 2001