Use this
Stake plants that will soon be a floppy mess: delphiniums, foxgloves, dahlias and the like. Pea sticks (twiggy bits of hazel or other branches) are useful for shorter supports, especially if clustered around each plant; use hazel rods for bigger specimens. Attach soft twine in a figure of eight so plant stems have room to expand.
Book this
Can’t resist peering over garden fences and love spending time discovering green spaces hidden from public view? London Open Squares weekend has more than 200 gardens to discover next weekend on 13-14 June, from edible forest gardens to flamingo-dotted roof gardens. Advance tickets cost £10: details from opensquares.org.
Plant this
Fill the gaps in your flower borders or liven up summer bedding displays with Rudbeckia ‘Cherry Brandy’. Give it full sun, and it should flower through to October; the dark red blooms make great cut flowers, too. Height and spread: 60cm x 35cm. Buy 24 plug tray plants for £7.99, 48 for £14.98, or 72 for £17.97 (prices include free UK mainland p&p). Call 0330 333 6856, quoting ref GU335, or go to our Readers’ offers page. Dispatched this month.
