Whether summer feels like it’s truly arrived or not, the gardens at Houghton Lodge are always bustling with activity. Our dedicated gardening team is hard at work deadheading, clearing spent spring and early summer blooms and of course, keeping everything well-hydrated when nature isn’t doing that for us.
Summer Gardening Tip: Watering Wisdom
It’s hard not to talk about the weather in the UK especially when it is erratic as it is at the moment. One moment the sun is warm and shining bright, the next the wind and the rain are disrupting beautiful border displays.
Here are some helpful tips – whatever the summer weather:
- Harness the Rain: Install as many water butts as you can. Not only does this conserve precious water during dry spells, but it’s also a wonderful way to be eco-conscious and save on your water bill.
- Timing is Everything: Make sure you water your plants early in the morning or as the evening approaches. Watering during the heat of the day can lead to water loss through evaporation and may even scorch delicate foliage.
- Cool Your Greenhouse: If your greenhouse is becoming a sauna a useful tip is to dampen the floor. As the water evaporates, it will help to lower the overall temperature, creating a more hospitable environment for your plants.
Beyond watering, mulching your beds in the winter and spring with well-rotted manure, compost, or leaf mold helps retain moisture and keeps roots cool during the summer months.
More Summer Gardening Tips: When prepping your garden for summer, ensure adequate spacing between plants. This allows for proper airflow, prevents overcrowding and gives them all the room they need when at their height in Summer.
If you’re ever in doubt when clearing your beds, always start with the weeds and then look at each plant and think ‘how much space does this plant need?’, ‘How big will it get?’, ‘Will this plant interfere with the next one?’ and ‘Which plant is the star of the show here?’
These will help you to clear the space and give your plants room to grow and be seen
Favourite Summer Plants
Summer is a time of vibrant color and abundant blooms across the gardens.
After the beautiful display of peonies, the bright Dahlias and sweet peas begin to take centre stage. There’s also an abundance of purple Nepeta in the Walled Garden which is a popular plant for bees and butterflies.
There’s another standout in the summer months and that is the photogenic ‘American Pillar’ rose arches. These bright pink rambling roses provide a captivating floral display that can be admired from The Glass House terrace, whilst enjoying a morning coffee or light lunch.
With vigorous growth, this rose can be trained on an archway, trellis, or pergola, adding a touch of romance and charm to any garden. Unsurprisingly, it is one of the most popular wedding photo shots!
Don’t worry if you miss the rose arbour display, they are quickly followed by an amazing deep wine-coloured Clematis.
Come & Be Inspired
We invite you to visit Houghton Lodge Gardens and witness the beauty of summer firsthand. Stroll through our enchanting walled garden, admire the stunning rose arches, and gather inspiration for your own garden creations.
Warm wishes from the Undergardener,
Cat @cat_kin
