Give roses a summer trim, removing a third of the growth, to set them up for the autumn flush. Feed with Sudden Impact for Roses and water deeply. Use seaweed tonic fortnightly to build strong plants that can shrug off disease, and spray with eco-fungicide or eco-roseevery 7-10 days at the first signs of black spot. Infected leaves won’t be cured but the spray prevents the spread of fungal spores.
Feed indoor plants with a liquid fertiliser. Wipe leaves clean of dust with a damp cloth and check for signs of mealy bug —furry little white blobs in the leaf axils. Treat with an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. For small infestations, kill them by dabbing them with a cotton bud dipped in methylated spirits.
With summer humidity at its peak, water in the mornings to allow plants to dry off during the day and reduce the risk of foliar disease.
Hibiscus are tough plants once established but love some pampering. Give them a dose of Sudden Impact for Roses now and water in well for a great show through autumn.
If you’re growing potted standards, sprinkle some alyssum seeds around the base to create an inexpensive and pretty living mulch.
Trim agapanthus seedheads and finished lavender flowers.
Shasta daisies are drought-hardy, tough and look gorgeous poking through a picket fence with hydrangeas. Picking for posies will guarantee more flowers.