• To maintain the supply of fresh veges start thinking about planting a second crop to carry you through the end of summer. A late planted crop of tomatoes for example will provide fresh fruit right through to mid autumn. Try Tigerella, Principe Borghese, Green Zebra or a cherry variety, they are all quick growing and produce fruit readily.
• To maintain the vitality and structure of the soil allow one vege bed to lay fallow this autumn, preparing for winter planting.  To help this plant a green manure crop in vacant beds. Packs will be available for sale online in late February. 
• Brighten up around entertaining areas with pots of flowering annuals. Potted colour will give an instant effect, with petunias, lobelia, dianthus and alyssum in full flower.
• Think about planting a shade tree to naturally cool the house and yard through summer.
• Fill those gaps in the border with flowering perennials.  Echinnancea, Salvias, Rudbeckia, Helenium, Gaillardia, Helianthus, Achillea, Nepeta are some of the plants flowering in our garden at the moment.

Provide

• As the days heat up don’t forget the birds and other animals that visit your garden. Providing a container of water in a protected location will keep them visiting and help to maintain insects and pests in the area.
• For lizards a flat container at ground level is best, deep containers should have a stick in them to allow inquisitive lizards to get out. Remember to clean the water regularly.

Prune

• As roses finish flowering with the heat, now is the time to start your summer pruning. Remove up to 40% of the new growth, opening up the centre, removing crossing branches and infected foliage.
• Feed with an organic rose food and water well. Your roses will respond with a lush new set of leaves and new flowers in early autumn.
• Continue to remove flowers from early summer flowering shrubs that have finished, tidying the bush as you go.
• Look out for our online rose catalogue coming in March for a great selection of modern, old fashioned, david austin and Alistair Clarke roses.

Monitor