Amateur Gardening – 21 May 2019

Flowerscanbefewandfarbetweenthismonth– but theydonothavetobe.

SallyJennerrevealstheplantsyouneedtoglamupyourgardenrightnow

M

ayhasto beoneof themost
gloriousmonthsin the
gardeningcalendar– just
aslongasyoulikegreen.
Verdantgrowthis everywhereand
there’sa feelingof anticipation,a sense
thatthebestof theyearis stillto come.
Butwhataboutflowerpower?Withthe
lastof thespringbulbshavingfaded
awayandthesummershowyetto start,
whatcanyoutrustto supplythosepops
of colourthatreallybringa gardento life?
Foranimpressivedisplay,optfor
orientalpoppies.Plantedalongside
hardygeranium‘Rozanne’,theirblowsy
bloomswillfillthegapthat’sleftafter
thegeraniumfoliagediesbackwiththe
flowers(it regrowsin autumn).Peonies

andirisesalsoofferquick-fixglamour.

TrycrimsonPaeonia‘BuckeyeBelle’

• spectacularalongsidezingy-green
  euphorbias– andlookoutfordwarf
  beardedirises,whichflower ahead
  oftheirtallercousins.
  Manylate-springperennialshave
  daintyflowersthatcaneasilyseemlost
  in a border.Theansweris toplantthem
  in groups,a trickthatwillworkwellwith
  dazzlingorangeTrollius‘GoldenQueen’
  andcandelabraprimula‘Miller’sGood
  Crimson’.Botharegoodfora shadyspot
  in moistsoil;plantthemamonghostas
  tobreakupthegreen.Thenthere’sthe
  cobaltblueofAnchusa‘Dropmore’–
  lovelyonitsown,butevenbetternext
  to the warm oranges of geums.

WhenlookingforMaycolour,don’t

forgettoconsidershrubs.Thebestare

multi-taskersthatcanaddstructureto

yourplotaswellassupplyingcolourful

flowers.youcan’tgowrongwith

Weigela‘allSummerRed’;suitablefor

a potortheborder,itsscarletblooms

flower from april until October.

Colourtogo

Ofcourse,forcolournowyoushould

havebeenplantingandsowingin

autumnandearlyspring.Luckily,these

daysgardencentrescansupplypretty

muchanycontainer-grownplantthat’s

abouttocomeintoflower.Instantcolour

doescomeata price,butyoucould

always buy cheaper, smaller plants that

Forcoloursthatwillreallyzingin Mayand

beyond,trycombiningrichblueAnchusa

‘Dropmore’withtheboldorange blooms

ofGeum ‘Totally Tangerine’

32 AmAteur GArDeNING11 MAY 2019

Instant May colour

What to plant for