Have it all sunny side up

SUMMER: TIME TO PLANT SOME SUN-HARDY TOUGHIES

- Alice Spenser-Higgs

Zinnia Zesty mix

Now that summer is in full swing, with hot midday sun in between the rain, it’s time to replace soft spring flowers with sun-hardy toughies that will take the summer weather in their stride.

Such flowers generally have leathery or succulent-type leaves that stand up to the sun and flowers with firm stiff petals. The groundcover varieties like gazanias and Delosperma shade their roots while stalwarts like zinnias, marigolds, and coreopsis are known for their low water needs once established.

A misconception about drought-tolerant plants is that they never need watering. They may not be water guzzlers but as young plants they do need regular watering until their root systems are well established..

For good garden performance and to maximise flowering, they benefit from deep watering once a week, but with good rain can survive just on rainwater.