It’s early summer and you should now be seeing the results of all the work done earlier in the year. So it’s time to really enjoy using your garden. But there are still some essential jobs that need carrying out if the summer is going to be a brilliant and colourful success. FLOWER BEDS & BORDERS This is the time to plant out all your bedding and other half-hardy summer-flowering plants – as soon as the fear of severe frosts and cold nights has passed. For best results and colourful displays, prepare the soil well first and add some bulky organic matter, such as home-made compost or planting compost. Adding a controlled-release plant food to the soil at planting time will feed your plants all summer long. Water the plants in their containers well before planting out, and water them in well afterwards to ensure they establish quickly and grow away. It always pays to plant bedding displays fairly densely to ensure your garden is a riot of colour throughout summer. Most bedding should be planted between 15-25cm (6-10in) apart, depending on their ultimate size. Cut back the old leaves of spring-flowering perennials, such as Doronicum and Pulmonaria, to encourage [...]