Monty Don shares £2 hack to make your plants bloom bigger and brighter – but warns not to use too much
MONTY DON has revealed a £2 hack to make sure your garden sees big and vibrant blooms this summer.
With summer fast approaching, and temperatures beginning to climb, many of us will be spending more time outside, admiring the hard work we’ve put into our gardens.
However, the Gardeners World star, 68, has warned that gardening fans may be overlooking a component that is key to making sure your garden looks its best.
Monty explained that, while soil provides essential nutrients for plants, supplementing plant diets with organic fertilisers, will help to promote robust growth.
The gardening expert explained that one ingredient that is great for vibrant blooms is liquid seaweed, which you can purchase from Poundland for just £2.
He said that for best results you should use a high-potash fertiliser once a week.
Discussing this on his blog, the professional gardener said: ” “I find liquid seaweed or a propriety liquid tomato feed to work well.
“The secret is to give just enough, and not too much.”
Monty’s advice is backed up by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), which explains that seaweed has a centuries-old reputation as a soil-enhancer, especially in coastal regions.
However, the gardener warned against putting too much fertiliser on the plants, as he said this can lead to excessive growth, at the expense of flowers and fruit.
He explained: “Too many nutrients are as damaging as too few as they cause rapid, lush growth – often at the expense of flowers or fruit,” he added.
“Never be tempted to make the feed any stronger than the instructions dictate and if in any doubt reduce the strength.”
“Your plants and displays will be the better for it.”
However, not all plants will benefit from natural fertilisers, such as liquid seaweed.
Orchids, Peace Lilies, Snake Plants, Spider Plants, Jade Plants, and African Violets may not respond well to organic feed.
If these plants are over-fertilised, unexpected effects may occur.
May gardening jobs
The Sun's Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the tasks you need to crack on with in May.
GARDEN growth can go from nought to ninety in May, depending on the weather. The last UK frosts are generally seen at the beginning of the month, so all of a sudden there’s so much more to do and grow.
Plant out dahlia tubers
It’s a joy to finally plant out your dahlia tubers. Remember how big they can get – and space accordingly – anything up to half a metre apart.
It’s a good idea to put your support stakes in now instead of trying to work around them.
And make sure you include lots of well rotted manure or decent compost to feed it and then mulch to keep it moist and suppress weeds. They generally start blooming in July.
Final feed to Spring flowers
You can give a cheeky feed to all your remaining tulips and daffodils.
Although the majority of bulbs aren’t guaranteed to come back year after year any more, as long as you’ve left them to die back naturally there’s a good chance they’ll have stored enough energy to come back again. Tomato feed is fine.
Tie up climbers
Your clematis, honeysuckle and rambling roses should be well on their way by now – try to use plastic free string to tie them back into their support, or tuck them round each other to make sure they don’t sprout off in crazy directions.
Feed the lawn
It’s not too late to give your lawn a good feed.
Whether you use granular or liquid, it can give it a good boost to see it through the harsher summer months.
While mowing, don’t go too low with your cut length yet and never take more than a third off the grass height.
Get creative
It’s also time to get creative with hanging baskets and pots.
Trailing pelargoniums, which a lot of people call geraniums, and Begonias are a good, low cost way of getting lovely returning blooms throughout the summer in your baskets.
And pots can be planted with spring bulbs.
Don’t forget the greenhouse!
Give your greenhouse a good tidy and clean the glass inside and out.
The improved light will help plants grow quicker inside and tidying is good for the soul.
You can just use a household white wine vinegar and water solution – or even neat if you’re feeling spendy – which gives a really good shine.
As well as purchasing fertiliser you can also make if yourself, using cheap and all natural ingredients.
For example, molasses contain lots of minerals, so are great to add to homemade plant feed.
Their sticky texture helps with mineral absorption, whilst their increased sugar content help to deter pests.
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