<h4>You're browser does not support iFrames - here is an exerpt of the content</h4> <a href="http://www.catharinehoward.co.uk/2010/08/11/top-ten-tips-for-drought-in-the-garden/">Click here to read the article in full</a> <p><a href="http://www.catharinehoward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/pattern-of-the-DAY-cynara-cardunculus1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-785" title="pattern of the DAY cynara cardunculus" src="http://www.catharinehoward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/pattern-of-the-DAY-cynara-cardunculus1-225x300.jpg" alt="Cynara cardunculus" width="225" height="300" /></a>August is a time for frazzled lawns, thistledown parachutes and gaps in the flower-beds. In the East of England, drought usually kicks in. Here is a handy list of how to combat that drat drought weather. As ever, the way is to work with nature.</p> <ol> <li> Get your soil right. This winter incorporate humus rich material – this will improve both sands and open up clays that crack with lack of rain.</li> <li>Right plant, right place. Be rigorous and avoid any plant that wants cool, moisture retentive soils. A good choice will be silver leaved plants; they come from Meditteranean. So lavenders, sages, rosemaries all aromatic and will go thirsty</li> <li>Bare earth dries out and provides a seed bed for weeds. Weeds will compete for water and nutrients. Zero tolerance for weeds, therefore.</li> <li>Mulch your flowerbeds. This will discourage weed seeds from germinating . Moisture will be conserved too. Leafmould, spent mushroom compost, gravel, woodchip or shards of slate. All these can be used as mulches.</li> <li>5. Cut back perennials in mid summer – a good treatment for catmints, hardy geraniums, and delphiniums for starters. This will bring on a second flush of leaves and flowers right through to the first frosts.<span id="more-783"></span></li> <li>Water wisely - give plants a good soak once a week rather than little and often. The aim is to encourage deep roots rather than shallow thirsty ones.</li> <li>Time of the day to water – early morning is the best. Avoid watering in bright sunshine.</li> <li>Keep plants healthy. Look out for early arrival of aphids and cut off and burn infested stems and buds.</li> <li>To solve the problem of bare gaps in a newly planted bed, sprinkle in the seeds of annuals to give colour and cover while the perennials and shrubs get going</li> <li>Top Ten Drought Plants of the Day:</li> </ol> <ul> <li><em>Perovskia atriplicifolia, </em> called Russian sage – white bleached stems with intense blue flowers at the autumn end of summer</li> <li><em>Allium sphaerocephalon</em> egg sized flowers, blood red in July, co-planted with the perovskia for a fantastic combination</li> <li><em>Echinops ritro</em>. Metallic blue balls on tall stems. Beware prolifiic seeding though.</li> <li><em>Crocosmia Lucife</em>r – has searing red exotic blooms that look like humming birds in action. companion plant with echnops. A 1980s combo.</li> <li><em>Erigeron karvinskianus </em> – daisy to grow out of steps, gaps in paving – will seed everywhere. A low crawly filler.</li> <li><em>Iris germanica – </em>these are bearded irises – practically every colour under the sun is available. go to <a href="http://www.woottensplants">www.woottensplants</a> for a large selection.</li> <li><em>Astelia chatamica </em> architectral silver leaves, this is what a phormium would look like if only it knew how. Looks great in a pot or as an eye catcher in a flower bed.</li> <li><em>Cynara cardunculus</em> – artichoke – where space permits this will give a architectural effect and you can eat it.</li> <li><em>Digitalis purpurea</em>- common old foxgloves but so easy to grow and in shade especially – a lovely plant. Pink but white is available too.</li> <li><em>Verbascum spp</em> – foxglove effect, but more refined. There are lots of different new cultivars so plenty of colours to choose from.</li> </ul> <!-- Social Bookmarks BEGIN --> <div class="social_bookmark"> <a title="Click me to see the sites." href="http://www.catharinehoward.co.uk/2010/08/11/top-ten-tips-for-drought-in-the-garden/" onclick="$$('div.d783').each( function(e) { e.visualEffect('slide_down',{duration:2.5}) }); return false;"><strong><em>Like it? 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