Mind the gap, June tips

Mind the gap, June is always a tricky time in the garden. Too much wind and everything blows over (yes, my artichokes went down in last week’s storm and I’m still sulking). Too much sun and everything wilts. But spare a thought for the bees…

In June, we are often waiting for new flowers after the first flush of spring. There simply isn’t enough pollen to go round. So what can we do to help?

Here are a few plants to help plug that gap and create some lovely colour until summer plants start to bloom:

Foxgloves – always lovely in partial shade;

Geraniums – not the ones you plant with bedding – the other hardy ones which come back every year like Geranium ‘Rozanne’;

Ceanothus (Californian lilac) – this is a magnet for bees in my garden; Borage – if you like to grow herbs;

Eryngium (sea holly) – those spikes will look phenomenal too! Achillea – great for a more natural looking garden.

While you’re planting don’t forget to clear the weeds and top dress any gaps with top soil before the summer flowers arrive!

Jo Manfredi-Hamer is the founder of Jo Manfredi-Hamer Garden Design