Ariège Aude Forum

With thanks to LFN Digestive

In the garden – July

First of all – a big big thank you to everyone who came to our open weekend (Portes Ouvertes)  in early June.  It was great to see and talk to so many people.

Summer isn’t really a time for planting but do come and visit the garden here during the summer months and observe what is in flower. July can be one of the driest months of the year and a time in which the garden is  often resting and can look a bit jaded with not so much colour, especially as one tends to buy plants in the spring and to buy plants that are in flower at the time. Plants which do flower in the summer and which are drought tolerant are thus all the more important.

One excellent group of sub-shrubs are the ‘Mexican’ sages; salvias which come from Mexico, New Mexico and other nearby dry regions of the United States.  There are four or five species and many colour selections and hybrids so that that these sages are now available in a huge range of colours including white, cream, yellow, peach, pink, blue and red. 

Gaillardias are another perennial that give good colour throughout the summer.

The summer months are much less busy in the garden – time to relax and enjoy it!

During July think about the following:

• Continue to  keep an eye out for damage by slugs, snails, insects etc and take appropriate action
• Continue deadheading perennials after flowering to encourage a second flowering spell
• Vigorous climbers such as wisteria and trumpet vines may need some pruning from time to time over the summer
• Clip back aromatics such as santolina and lavender after flowering, remember that lavenders should never be cut back into old wood
• Keep an eye on the watering requirements of your garden, recently planted items (especially if they were planted this spring) particularly need looking after even if they are drought resistant once established.

For further information contact Gill Pound at La Petite Pépinière de Caunes (shrubs and perennials, ornamental grasses, unusual plants and plants for dry climates), 21, Avenue de la Montagne Noire, 11160, Caunes-Minervois.

Tel: 04 68 78 43 81

email Gill@lapetitepepiniere.com

www.lapetitepepiniere.com

Open March to November 10h – 18h Fridays and Saturdays, 10h – 12h Sundays, or by appointment – just phone or email to fix another time.