Types of lavender plants, why do onions bolt, what are the best companion plants for roses, how to build a bug hotel, sow carrots & plant pumpkins.
In episode 16 of Step-by-Step Gardening with me, David Domoney, filmed at Blue Diamond’s Bridgemere Show Gardens, I share practical early summer advice on lavender, bolting onions, companion planting for roses, wildlife-friendly bug hotels, seasonal growing updates, & planting pumpkins for autumn harvests.
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Plant of the month - Lavender
Lavender is one of the great summer plants for fragrance, flowers, foliage & pollinators. I guide you through English, hybrid, French & Spanish lavenders, with advice on habit, full sun, & the best soil conditions.
Types featured: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’, ‘Hidcote’, ‘Felice Silver®’, ‘BeeZee® White’, Lavandula x intermedia ‘Walburton’s® Silver Edge’, Lavandula stoechas ‘Bella Toscane’, ‘Lusi Purple’ & ‘Tiara’.
Step-by-Step: Onion Bolting
Onion bolting is easy to manage once you know the cause. I explain why onions bolt, how temperature swings & uneven watering trigger it, which onions are more prone, & more.
Rose Companion Masterclass
The best rose companions do more than look good. I share combinations to soften bare stems, improve airflow, attract beneficial insects, suppress weeds, & extend interest through the season.
Plants featured: David Austin® Roses, Rosa ‘Vanessa Bell®’, lavender, Rosa ‘Princess Anne®’, Salvia nemorosa ‘East Friesland’, ‘Syncro Blue’, Rosa ‘The Poet’s Wife®’, Salvia x superba ‘Snow Hills’, Alchemilla epipsila, Nepeta x faassenii ‘Kit Cat’, Geranium ‘Rosanne’, Rosa ‘Eustacia Vye®’ & Erigeron karvinskianus ‘Profusion’.
Step-by-Step: Bug Hotels
Bug hotels are a simple, creative way to support wildlife. I show how to build both a compact hanging hotel & a larger bug ‘high-rise’ using natural & recycled materials to shelter solitary bees, ladybirds, spiders, amphibians & other creatures.
Step-by-Step: Growing Update
There is also a catch-up on the step-by-step projects. I harvest quick radishes, resow carrots & leeks for successional cropping, check on lilies in flower, & get dahlias ready to plant out in the warmer weather.
Step-by-Step: Planting Pumpkins
Pumpkins are fast-growing & thirsty, so they need the right start. I show how to plant one in a sunny, spacious spot & sink a pot beside it as a watering reservoir, helping moisture reach deep into the soil for stronger roots.
Location: Bridgemere Show Gardens – a must-visit UK destination for plant lovers.
00:00 Introduction
00:27 What are the different varieties of lavender - English, French or Spanish?
00:54 What is English Lavender?
02:27 Which is the best lavender for bees? Meet the Hybrid cross between English and Portuguese Lavender
03:07 What is French Lavender and why do gardeners love French Lavender?
04:25 What is Spanish Lavender?
05:02 Why have my onions bolted?
06:12 Which onion colour is more likely to bolt?
06:26 What can you do if your onions have bolted?
07:47 How to keep healthy roses and stop disease through increased airflow and companion plants
08:06 David Austin Cream Roses & Purple Companion Planting Ideas
09:45 David Austin Pink Roses & Purple Companion Planting Ideas
11:05 David Austin Yellow Roses, White & Purple Companion Planting Ideas
13:42 How to plant a David Austin rose in a container with Erigeron
15:46 How to make a wall hanging bug hotel?
19:21 How to make a bug hotel from a pallet?
22:28 What are the benefits of build a bug hotel?
23:16 Prize Draw to win £50 worth of Blue Diamond Gift Vouchers
Learn more:
https://www.bridgemereshowgardens.co.uk/
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Find your nearest store: Blue Diamond Website:
https://www.bluediamond.gg/
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https://www.daviddomoney.com
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David Domoney Chartered Horticulturist
C Hort. FCI Hort. F Wcg. F Cmc. FLS.
Fellow of the Warwickshire College Group.
Fellow of the London Colleges of Horticulture.
Recipient of The Prince Edward Award for Excellence in Horticulture.
#DavidDomoney #StepByStepGardening #JuneGardening #Lavender #Onions #RoseCompanions #BugHotels #Pumpkins #GrowYourOwn #UKGardening #rosegardentips
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