IT'S HIGH TIME FOR SUMMER

COLOURFUL HANGING BASKETS CAN BE A FLOATING GARDEN THROUGHOUT THE SEASON

- DIARMUID GAVIN

AS May draws to a close, it feels summer is arriving. Daylight stretches well into the evening, temperatures are on the rise, and the soil is warm - ideal conditions for getting out into the garden.

Now is the perfect time to plant summer bedding in most areas, as the risk of frost is largely behind us. But keep an eye on local forecasts; if night tempera-tures are expected to drop below 7°C, tender plants may still suffer. In those cases, pro-tect your plants overnight with horticultural fleece, hessian or even a light sheet.

Hanging baskets are a fantas-tic way to add instant impact and vibrant colour, especially in smaller outdoor spaces like bal-conies, porches, and patios. With the right plants and a little care, your hanging basket can become a miniature floating gar-den that blooms all summer long.