Sidalcea 'William Smith'

Autumn - late · Outdoors

Apply a deep protective mulch

Provide a deep protective mulch in autumn, spreading it around the plant and covering it to give it both nutrients and some protection against the weather.

A mulch is a covering that can: protect the soil surface from rain, heat and cold; deter weeds; provide nutrients. Organic indicates that material has vegetative origin e.g. manure, compost. Synthetics i.e. plastics, or stones are often called mulches.

Spring - late · Outdoors

Feed with sequestrol

If plants are acid loving and grown in soil with little acidity, or in a container, or are watered with limey tap water an annual feed with sequestrol (iron chelate) is highly beneficial. Follow guidelines on the packet. Will also 'blue-up' hydrangeas.

For hydrangeas that have good blue flowers in acid soil, this product can be used with alkaline soil to turn the flowers blue. This is most effective when the soil is neutral or just slightkly alkaline.

Spring-Autumn · Outdoors

Water during drought

After three or four weeks without rain, except for drought tolerant plants, those in the ground often get stressed. Adopt the habit of deep-watering one section of the garden each day. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.

Encourage plants to develop good root systems by giving occasional deep watering. Some plants, such as conifers and heathers, do not show much sign of distress so water these if in doubt.

Summer · Planting

Prune after flowering

When the plant has finished flowering, cut it to the ground to encourage the development of further flowers.

Outdoors

Water with rain water

This plant needs rain water or soft water (the minerals in alkaline or "hard" water are harmful). This is especially important for plants in pots.