20 JULY 2019AMATEUR GARDENING 27Choisya x dewitteana ‘Aztec Pearl’ AGM
A Mexican orange blossom with slender
leaves and scented white fl owers in early
summer, followed by a second fl ush in
August. Height: 8ft (2½m).Buddleja davidii ‘Butterfl y Towers’
New for 2019, this butterfl y bush has
magenta fl owers and a unique habit
of growth. It has a narrow habit,
eventually reaching 6½ft (2m) tall.Convolvulus cneorum AGM
Forming a 19in (50cm) mound of silvery
evergreen leaves, this gem has masses
of saucer-shaped white fl owers over
summer and copes well in windy spots.Philadelphus ‘Manteau d’Hermine’ AGM
This slow-growing mock orange forms
a 29inx5ft (75cmx1½m) mound that’s
smothered by sweetly scented, double,
creamy-white fl owers in June and July.Lavatera x clementii ‘Barnsley Baby’
A dwarf tree mallow with 3in (7½cm)-
wide red-eyed, white fl owers that turn
silvery-pink as they mature. Loved by
bees and butterfl ies. Height: 48in (1.2m).Nandina domestica ‘Firepower’
A heavenly bamboo with white fl owers on
20in (50cm) stems in summer, followed by
red berries. The greenish-yellow leaves
turn orange and red in autumn.6 of the best summer shrubs
Buzz Series grow to around 4ft (1.2m) and
are available in seven colours, including
‘Magenta’, ‘Candy Pink’ and ‘Indigo’.
We tend to think of planting shrubs in
spring and autumn, but container-grown
specimens can be planted all year round.
However, it is important to give them
plenty of attention if planting in summer,
especially during dry periods, otherwise
there could be a check to growth.
Get your shrubs off to a good start
by dunking the pots in a bucket of water
for an hour to ensure the rootballs are
completely soaked. Next, dig a hole
that’s slightly deeper than the rootball
and three times as wide. If the soil is
hard, spike the base and sides with a
fork to encourage roots to spread out.
Old gardening books recommend
adding well-rotted manure or garden
compost to the bottom of the hole.
This should be avoided, though, as
shrubs placed on top of this layer can
sink as the material starts to decay.
T&MAlso, resist adding fertiliser as this will
burn delicate new roots.
Place the plant in the centre of the
hole, backfill with the excavated soil and
firm with your heel. Water well. Finally,
cover the ground with a 3in (7½cm) layer
of bark, leafmould or garden compost.
Try to keep the mulch clear of the stems
as contact can lead to bark softening
and rotting.Growing shrubs in pots
Dwarf shrubs are ideal in containers,
making them perfect feature plants for
places like patios, decks and balconies.
Turn them into a centrepiece by pairing
them up with an attractive pot, such as
those made from terracotta, stone,
metal or decorative plastic. A standard
black or brown plastic pot will detract
from the display.
Start your shrubs off in pots that
suit their current size. Young plants will
need growing on for a bit, but maturespecimens can go straight into 12-18in
(30-45cm) pots filled with soil-based
compost, such as John Innes No3.
Ensure that the compost remains
damp and feed regularly during the
growing season.
Plants in pots run out of steam
when they exhaust the nutrients in the
compost, so give them a pick-me-up in
early spring by top-dressing with fresh
compost. Carefully scrape off the old
compost from the surface without
damaging any of the roots and replace
with fresh compost mixed with a handful
of controlled-release fertiliser granules.
It’s possible to keep plants growing
in the same pot for several years by
top-dressing, but the roots will eventually
fill the available space and affect the
vigour of plants. When necessary, move
plants into slightly larger containers in
early spring. Prior to potting, tease out
roots from the rootball to help them
establish quickly.