ORrtensia, lavender and geraniums are among the protagonists of summer flowers. With their colorful, cheerful and generous corollas, there are three plants that they give a lot of satisfaction. But how to cultivate and maintain them when the summer heat wave does not give respite?
Flowers in the summer: growing and maintaining hydrangeas
With round flowers and sturdy and woody stems, hydrangeas are among the protagonists of the summer until September. Suitable for cultivation in pots but also in the ground, some of the grandiflora varieties they change color depending on the acidity of the soil: in fact, if the pH is between 4 and 5.5, the flowers will be in shades of blue-violet thanks to the aluminum that the roots have absorbed from the soil. If, on the other hand, the earth has a low acidity, between 6 and 6.2, the colors will turn between pink and red. This does not apply to white hydrangeas, red hydrangeas and the different variety Panniculata.
Hydrangea macrophylla (Getty Images)
Although hydrangeas bloom between summer and autumn, they fear drought. On the other hand, their scientific name is Hydrangea which evokes in itself the great need for water of these plants. For this reason they thrive in rather rainy places like the south of England or the north of France, but if kept in partial shade they can live well even here. They love the sun, but they cannot stand the direct light of the Italian coasts in summer, on the other hand, winter tolerates frost well. This flower can be kept both in the earth and in pots as long as the soil is acidophilic and without sandy or stony substrates.
In case the plant is kept indoors, it is better to arrange it near the window but away from heat sources so as to ensure flowering.
In order for the plant to continue flowering, hydrangea needs fertilizer for acidophilic plants at the beginning of the season, which must be scattered around the flower and mixed with the soil itself. Furthermore, when flowering is complete, the plant must be pruned above the second pair of buds. Be careful to check what type of hydrangea you have because Panniculate and Macrophylle need very different pruning. It is always good to check with your trusted nurseryman.
Lavender, the purple plant of the Mediterranean
Unlike hydrangeas, lavenders love to be in full sun and are not afraid of drought. With their purple flowers only loved by bees and pollinators, perfuming gardens and balconies with their beautiful splash of color. The shrub does not exceed 50cm in height, but it spreads a lot in the ground.
Highly adaptable, lavender is a rustic plant that resists heat and cold well. It is essential to find the right area in the garden that is sunny, ventilated, not humid. The ground must be fertilized between March and May and also regularly wet but never abundantly, in fact it must be moistened only if the soil has been dry for a couple of days. Furthermore, stagnations must not form otherwise the roots rot.
At the end of flowering, the lavender must be pruned by removing the dried ears and at least 2/3 of the foliage. To do this, you need to cut in the middle of the leaves with the foresight to keep at least four stem buds. The biggest risk with lavender bushes is that they become woody if pruned too little. After removing flowers, which you can use to make pot pourrits or bags to perfume the linenshorten the branches in order to always keep them short.
Geraniums, easy and thumb-proof, not very green
There are few rules for growing geraniums, which only need sun and water. Among the most typical summer flowers, they are suitable for growing in pots but also buried in full sun. There are many varieties, from the imperial one to the lemon ones that keep mosquitoes away.
Choosing a sunny and ventilated location, geranium needs a soil that is a mix of blonde, brown peat and clay. On the other hand, soils that are too sandy, clayey and that allow an excess of water, which causes fungal diseases, should be avoided. In winter, however, everything depends on the climatic zones where you live: in the warm ones, there is no problem while in the cold ones, the geraniums need shelter and darkness and the watering must be suspended.
Few but clear rules: for example, some buds should be removed from the flowering tops in order to prolong their flowering. In addition, the withered flowers must be eliminated while the leaves must be cut half a centimeter from the base. In the end, there is a need to move the soil so that the roots can breathe and the water can drain to the bottom. In summer, they must also be watered frequently and generously throughout the season, however, avoiding stagnation of water. Finally, for the choice of the pot we recommend the round or oval ones with a diameter ranging from 16-18cm to a maximum of 35cm for the zonal geranium. For those with ivy, more depth pots are needed, from 18 to 20 cm.
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