Six ways to get your borders ready for summer

• Find out how to prune spring-flowering plants

Late spring is the perfect time to give your borders a little love and attention, in order to keep them in good shape throughout the summer.

Here are six key jobs that you can do to pep up your borders in spring.

Feed plants

Feed plants now as they come into strong growth. There are many feeds on the market, but good all-round organic products include fish, blood and bonemeal, and pelleted chicken manure. Plants in pots need extra feeding to stay health – watch our video guide to find out more.

Deadhead

Deadhead spring-flowering plants such as bergenias to divert energy into leaf growth and establish stronger plants. If you want some plants, such as hellebores, to self-seed, leave the seedheads on. Watch as Monty shows how to deadhead plants to encourage more flowers.

• How to deadhead flowers

Stake plants

Start staking large-flowered plants such as peonies or tall delphiniums. There are many types of supports available, including grids or simple bent metal supports to stop them drooping forwards.

• How to use plant supports

Tie in climbers

Tie in climbers to their support framework as new growth develops, and ensure you cover the space evenly. Most climbers flower more profusely if you tie them in horizontally.

Hoe

As you retreat backwards out of the border, hoe the soil where you've trodden and compacted it, to loosen it again. Hoe off any weeds you may have missed, too.

Mulch

Mulch between plants while the soil is moist. This will lock in moisture, suppress weeds and improve the fertility of the soil, as well as visually set off your plants well for the season ahead. Watch our video on choosing the right mulch for the right situation, and watch as Monty shows how to mulch borders in spring, to help suppress weeds and retain moisture in the soil.

Set up an irrigation system

Be sure to keep any newly planted plants well watered. Watering during dry spells in summer can be a laborious task - now is the ideal time to set up a leaky-hose irrigation system through the border.

Border plants to try

• Hardy geraniums – pollinator-friendly flowers over a long period
• Astrantias – dainty, starry flowers, will tolerate a shady spot
• Clematis – perfect for adding flowers to a fence or trellis at the back of a border
• Bearded iris – elegant flowers for sunny borders
• Euphorbias – long-lasting bracts, add substance to borders