unite Leisure Gardenwise GET OUT IN THE SUN!
Summertime brings bountiful flowers and a continual harvest of fresh produce. It's a great time to be outside in the sun.
Try conserving fruits and vegetables as they become available from the garden. Bottling, pickling, dehydrating and, of course, freezing are all good methods. Fermenting is another very healthy way to conserve vegetables. It is a whole subject in itself. Online information is available or better still buy a book on the subject.
Grass cutting can take up a good deal of your gardening time. Remember it's regular cutting that produces a good lawn more than any other practice or treatment. Finding a suitable lawnmower can be difficult. Whether buying a second-hand or new machine, choose one made by an established manufacturer. They are well-designed, easier to use and give longer term reliability. This will save you a lot of time over the years.
Here are a few ideas for some satisfying projects to get on with now that the warmer weather and longer days are here.
Build a pond or water feature. Late spring and early summer are perfect times to do this. Pond plants establish quickly, and wildlife will appear like magic. A water feature need not be large to have a real impact in the garden.
It can work well even in the smallest of spaces. Preparing new containers or renewing old ones now is perfect for the months ahead. Choice of suitable plants is wide, and availability is good. One important point is to use a good quality compost. Do not make economies with this or results will be disappointing.
Encouraging children to make a miniature garden in a container can set off their imaginations. Provide them with the basic materials and allow them to invent the rest.
Create an impact piece by growing annual tender climbers either in the open border or in pots. Both ways will need a sturdy support of 1m to 2m high. Use bamboo, metal or wood structures. Plants to use include Black-eyed Susan, morning glory, climbing sweet peas, climbing Tropaeolum but there are many more.
Gardening is a broad church of activity. It can be a solitary pursuit or involve many people. Getting together with others is useful as well as social. Larger and harder tasks can be shared. Work like hedge cutting, intensive weeding, planting and the peak grass cutting period can be daunting. Professional help is useful but not affordable for everyone.
Getting together as a group to tackle the bigger jobs offers a good solution.
45 uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2025
n By Phil Saunders
Clifford Harper
Alamy
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