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Summer overview Summer is a wonderful time to really enjoy the garden you have created. It is however a particularly demanding time of the year with many tasks demanding attention. Make sure you allow enough time for your gardening activities - not only for the maintenance that is required but also to get involved in some interesting plantings and to enjoy all the sights that nature has on show right now. You may also need to spend a bit of time eliminating an alien plant or two. Plants Early summer sees the end of the road for many spring flowering annuals and vegetables because, as the day length increases so too does the temperature, rendering growing conditions unfavourable for a range of plants. These obviously need to be replaced with fresh, new plants for the summer and autumn flowering season. Remember also that the festive season is nigh upon us. Plan and plant accordingly, making sure those all important, high profile areas are planted and groomed to perfection. Swimming pool surrounds, shaded patios and other outdoor recreational areas are especially significant. Summer annuals can be sown as seeds, scattered in situ. Consider cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus), marigolds (Tagetes spp.), nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus), spider plant (Cleome hasslerana), Zinnias and Portulaca.  All of these germinate easily and bloom for months on end, adding extremely affordable colour and great value to the warm season garden. Important annuals to set out as growing seedlings include the ever popular bedding begonia (Begonia semperflorens), bedding dahlia (Dahlia x hybrida), cockscomb (Celosia plumosa), flowering tobacco (Nicotiana affinis), vincas (Catharanthus roseus), scarlet sage (Salvia splendens), Browallia speciosa major and Torenia fournieri. It is also prime planting season for Impatiens right now. Kitchen gardening In the kitchen garden, sow seeds of summer and autumn vegetables as the cool season vegetables and herbs begin to lose condition.  All members of the Cucurbit family, which includes pumpkins, squashes, marrows and cucumbers, flourish when sown now. It is also prime sowing season for maize and sweet corn. Green beans, both bush forms and climbers, thrive in the summer heat. Vegetable seedlings that are perfect for planting now include brinjals, peppers and chillies in a spectrum of different colours, shapes and sizes, with varying degrees of heat (or 'fire power'). Start a collection of these ever so popular plants from tropical North and South America. They are, in many respects, the 'flavour' of the new millennium; chilli sauces, mazavaroos, jalapenos, pepper sauces, peri-peri flavours and peppadews are titillating taste buds all around the globe. Remember to plant out copious quantities of sweet basil seedlings (Ocimum basilicum) throughout the summer months. Excess foliage can always be turned into pesto and stored for periods when the plants struggle to grow in winter. Remove any signs of flower buds to extend the productive lifespan of these deliciously aromatic plants. Maintenance Early summer is an important time to feed or fertilise the whole garden, including the lawn areas. Use a product that works well for your specific garden's needs. Your local nursery or garden centre will furnish you with expert advice on what is best to use in your area. Remember to water well immediately after applying both chemical and organic fertilisers to prevent any damage. This is extremely important when the mercury soars to temperatures above 25?C. Put down mulch in areas where it is thinning, especially around newly planted out trees, shrubs, roses and perennials. In winter rainfall areas the imminent dry season will be better endured by mulched plants. Conversely, in summer rainfall areas the moisture and precipitation will be conserved and preserved when the heat of summer really strikes. Replenish mulches on established plants, especially roses, Azaleas, Hydrangeas and Camellias. Mulch options include coarse compost, macadamia nut shells, peach pips, sunflower seed husks, straw, leaf mould and pine bark chips. Last words You can start your year with New Year's resolutions that include losing weight, stopping smoking, loving all neighbours, believing politicians, following a strenuous exercise programme, learning to tango, stopping nagging, having a positive outlook and working harder. Or you can be a real gardener and sit back and enjoy the fruits of last year's hard labour. During summer real gardeners take some time off from the usual 'grafting' and lie serenely swinging in a hammock strung between two sturdy shade trees that they planted some years before… If you HAVE TO go out in the midday sun, remember to don a hat and apply a thick layer of sunscreen before you start.
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