PLANTS FOR SUMMER SCENTS

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Fill your garden with scented plants and flowers to encourage relaxation and feelings of well-being.

Fragrant flowers and aromatic foliage plants make wonderful additions to the summer garden, when (hopefully!) we will be out there relaxing, entertaining and enjoying our plots. Now that the power of aromatherapy is well recognized there is more awareness of how fragrance calms, relaxes, refreshes, or energises. Boost daytime energy levels with energising herbal scents like rosemary, mint, lemon balm and scented-leaf pelargoniums, then for afternoon and evening, use rich floral fragrances to soothe and relax, like roses, jasmine, mock orange (Philadelphus), honeysuckle and star jasmine (Trachelospermum).

Portable perfumed plants in pots are fantastic as they can be moved to just the right spots where you can enjoy their fragrances to the full: around patios and seating areas, by gateways or doors to give you a scented welcome home; even by the bins to mask less-than-lovely whiffs! My favourites for containers include fragrant tobacco plants (Nicotiana); Nemesia ‘Confetti’; Heliotrope that has a delicious ‘cherry pie’ scent; and ‘chocolate cosmos’ (Cosmos atrosanguineus) with dark red blooms that have a wonderful dark-chocolate scent. Tobacco plants are annuals; the others are perennial if overwintered under cover. Tuberous-rooted Cosmos is slightly tricky to keep from year to year: this winter I was successful by removing the tubers from their pots in autumn and storing in almost-dry compost in a frost-free shed.

Siting scented plants is all-important. Sunny, sheltered spots maximise the depth of the fragrance and avoid perfume whisking away on the breeze. In summer, flower fragrances can waft indoors too if you train climbers around doors and windows, and place pots of strongly scented plants close by. Plan for the evening hours too with plants that liberally pour out their perfumes once the sun goes down, often attracting beautiful night-flying moths as well. Top evening flowers from the list above include jasmine, star jasmine, honeysuckle and tobacco plants. Other good ones include four o’clock flower or Marvel of Peru (Mirabilis jalapa); night-scented stock, and fragrant lilies like Oriental varieties and the Regal lily.

Seasonal jobs

In borders, stake tall perennials early rather than waiting until stems start to topple. The best ready-made supports are the grow-through type that can be adjusted up as the plant gets taller. Or, make your own using twiggy prunings or canes and string.
Tender vegetables like courgettes, marrows, sweetcorn, runner and French beans can be sown outside now. It’s too late to sow tomatoes and cucumbers, but there are plenty of ready-grown plants on sale.
Feed border plants if not already done, using a general purpose fertilizer. Permanent plants in containers benefit from an application of controlled release fertilizer that will last the whole season.
All containers and newly planted veg or border plants will need regular watering during dry spells. Give a thorough soaking every 2- days, watering in the early morning or evening to avoid leaf and flower scorch.

Sue Fisher is a garden designer and writer based on the Bere Peninsula. Tel 01822 841895. Email: suefisher@talktalk.net Website: www.suefishergardens.co.uk

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