Flowers to Bloom this and every summer!

Perennial flowering plants are a collection of flowering plants that flower this and every summer. Most varieties form strong full clumps within one to two seasons and reliably flower in profusion from spring to early autumn depending on the varieties and types.


Some of my all time favourite Perennials include the beautiful variegated Hostas which produce striking variegated foliage and rich blue flowers in mid summer, Lupins are in flower now and will continue to bloom until mid summer offering both strong stems of colour to fill borders and also ideal stems of colour for cutting as cut flowers for the home. The blue flowering delphiniums also look fantastic this month producing strong stems of velvet blue flowers on dainty green foliage, Delphiniums are ideal for some height at the back of the border as a stunning background. Cape fuchsia is available in rich pink and deep purple producing fuchsia like flowers on strong stems, cape fuchsia flowers from May until early winter and offers a super show of colour in any flower or shrub border.


The range and choice of flowering perennials is at its best in May and now is the ideal time to plant a selection of Perennial flowering plants into your flower borders and shrub beds.

Horkys Tip; Plant flowering perennials in groups of threes of the same variety to create a strong clump effect to add colour this and every summer

Click here to see our range of Perennials

My tips for this week

1. The planting of main crop potatoes should be finished this week, varieties like Sarpo Mira and Sarpo Axona can be planted now for a strong crop of great tasting potatoes in late summer. The Sarpo varieties are blight resistant and so easy to grow Click here to see our Seed potatoes

2. Plant scented Lavender in borders and containers, lavender has just come into flower and if planted in a bright sunny location they will produce lots of scented blooms all summer long. Lavender is available in white, pink and lavender coloured flowers. Click here to see our Lavender Plants

3. Flower carpet and bedding roses can be planted this month for colour this and every summer. Remember to plant roses in groups of the same colour to help create a mass of flower colour. Click here to see our Rose Plants Feed existing roses with Rose fertiliser once a month to help encourage a longer flowering period.

4. Standard and bush Fuchsia plants can be planted now in pots and borders for long – lasting summer colour. Fuchsia is available in a wide choice of colours and types and is ideal for a splash of colour in baskets, patio pots and borders.Click here to see our Fuchsia

5. Plant up a selection of hanging baskets and wide boxes to add colour and interest to your garden this summer – I recommend trailing Petunias, double flowering begonias, trailing bacopa, trailing lobelias, geraniums and fuchsia. Click here to see our Basket Plants Remember to feed weekly with ONE liquid fertiliser Click here to see our ONE plant food

6. Problems with Deer, Hares, Rabbits or Pigeons eating your garden plants? Use a dressing of GRAZERS to ward off unwanted attention from these garden pests. Apply a dressing of grazers to the effected area, its easy to apply and will not harm the animals or plants Click here to see our Grazers product

7. Apply a feed of Vitax Q 4 to early and main crop potatoes to add some vigour and help increase the potato yield this summer – Simply sprinkle around the base of the rows Click here to see Vitax Q4

8. Peppers, chillies, cucumber, marrow, Aubergines and courgette plants are now ready for planting Click here to see our Vegetable plants Remember to feed weekly with a good quality tomato fertiliser Click here to see our Tomato Fertiliser

9. Feed, weed and moss kill your lawn with a dressing of Renovator 3 in 1 lawn treatment. Renovator will green your lawn without forcing growth, kill broadleaved lawn weeds and control lawn moss Click here to see Renovator

10. May is a great time to plant blueberries in the garden – Blueberries are easy to grow, ideal for growing in pots or borders and will fruit this and every summer Click here to see our Blueberries

11. Protect vegetable and herb plants from pest and weather damage by placing a Hasnicks protective cover over the growing plants. The Hasnicks protective cover allows light and moisture to penetrate but stops pest and severe weather damaging the young plants. Use with carrots, cabbage, lettuce, turnips and cauliflower Click here to see our Protective covers

12. Kill carrot and cabbage root fly by dressing the plants with Karate treatment, simply apply to the foliage and stems of the plant to kill both carrot and cabbage root fly. Apply now and again in mid June Click here to see Karate Treatment

13. Shamrock seed can be planted now in seed trays or directly out into the garden soil, the Shamrock seed will germinate in a couple of weeks and provide you with strong clumps of Shamrock for next March

14. Sow wallflower, Sweet William, forget me nots, double daises, polyanthus and winter pansy seed now for colour this coming winter and spring Click here to see our range of Flower Seeds
15. Sow autumn and winter cabbage seed now out of doors for great tasting cabbage from September to early march. The two varieties I recommend are the Savoy cabbage and Tundra cabbage seed varieties Click here to see out Cabbage Seeds

Horkans Lifestyle & Garden Centre
Remember the Bay leaf restaurant offers you superb carvery lunch, fantastic desserts and cakes and a wide selection of quality teas, coffees and wines. The bayleaf restaurant at Horkans opens seven days.