Never-Ending Summer

After a tough year we all want a riot of colour to cheer ourselves up. Camilla Phelps suggests a range of summer blooms that will lift your spirits until autumn

- Camilla Phelps

I THINK we can all agree that we need a veritable carnival of plants to celebrate the summer and cheer ourselves up after the difficult year we’ve had. Yet how often do we look at our gardens and think they look good for maybe a few weeks at a time, but then they tail off a bit? Wouldn’t it be great if we could keep up the momentum?

Successional colour is one of the holy grails of gardening and sometimes it can be a challenge. But, by reassessing your garden every month, you can spot any gaps and make seasonal tweaks to keep the colour coming right through into the autumn.

There is still time to plant out in June with a guarantee of colourful blooms in the coming months. Garden centres are full of what’s currently in season, so it’s always worth looking for a bargain. Alternatively, for a treat, try specialist nurseries where you’ll find more unusual varieties. Look for plants with long-flowering potential, such as salvias, penstemons and rudbeckias, that will flower in mid and late summer and beyond, or pick up some pots of ready-grown annuals such as zinnias.

Strong colour combinations

Adding summer colour is the perfect opportunity to embrace your flamboyant side and have fun with vibrant shades. Choose strong colour combinations, using the colour wheel as a guide, to create your favourite mix. For example, opposites work well – if blue is a dominant theme, add some yellow or orange flowers. This contrast will enhance both colours, making them sing out. Sunshine shades also complement deep reds and purples.