Pink Bottlebrushes Even from a distance, it's impossible to miss the 'Perth Pink' callistemon, because no other plant looks like it! Its shape remains flexible without sagging. In a favorable climate, it can flower several times a year, tolerating up to -12°C in well-drained soil.
To discover...
The advice...
of May
The month of May is never short of beautiful days, even if it can be cool or scorching hot... If you haven't been able to sow your seeds indoors, run out and get the plants: they're no good waiting on the shelves, the choice quickly narrows down! All you have to do is set the scene for the summer by planting vegetable plants and other annual flowers, to enjoy the garden... All that's left is to maintain it!
Don't forget to...
- Cut off faded flowers from peonies and double-flowered roses.
- Remove the leaves of hollyhocks that are heavily affected by rust. Do not treat them.
- Pull out the shoots forming in large numbers at the base of lilacs, trumpet berries, salix, etc.
- Prune spring flowering shrubs (forsythia, blackcurrant flowers, etc.)
- Plant summer bulbs (gladioli, dahlias, tuberoses, etc.)
Young shoots
Multiply well-established perennials in the garden now.
Group all the propagating plants together. The young plants will benefit from the warm weather to grow before planting in the fall.
- Divide perennials into compact clumps, such as hostas. Wait until the plants are well established and dig them up in large clumps. Cut them into large pieces and replant immediately. Water thoroughly and frequently.
- Clematis can only be propagated by cuttings. Take small sections of stem from a leaf (10 to 15 cm long) and bury them two-thirds deep in a shaded area.
Bright roses
In hot, south-facing regions, classic roses can suffer from excessive heat. There's still time to plant a variety suited to this situation (in a container). Here, "Classique "Cocktail" has been able to withstand scorching exposure for several years. Regardless of the variety, water the rose bush regularly.
NB: Drip irrigation promotes root disease.
Prune lightly after flowering to reduce the foliage.
