Alan Titchmarsh has returned to his Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh YouTube channel to share his top plant picks for summer, highlighting verbena bonariensis as a must-grow variety that will 'flower its socks off' throughout the season. The 77-year-old gardening expert also advised on completing two key garden tasks: finishing a feature bed in his cottage garden and creating an inviting patio area with raised planters.
June's Explosion of Colour and July Planting Tips
Reflecting on June, Titchmarsh described it as delivering 'an explosion of colour' to his garden, with roses, peonies, and poppies providing a magnificent display. Turning to July, he noted it is the ideal time to plant out annual flowers cultivated from seed earlier in the year.
While demonstrating how to fill one of his raised patio planters, Titchmarsh emphasised that foxgloves (Digitalis) 'are really useful plants in either sun or dappled shade.' He explained that they create a semi-permeable wall that adds depth and texture to the garden.
Top Plant Recommendations for Summer
In addition to foxgloves, Titchmarsh recommended verbena bonariensis, describing it as 'the thin wiry one with little tiny pom-poms of purple flowers on the top that butterflies and bees love.' He added that these plants 'will flower their socks off right the way through the summer.' He also suggested lavender, noting that it 'loves full sun and adores sharp drainage.'
Titchmarsh advised against using delphiniums or lupins in similar situations, as they are 'fairly short lived in terms of their flower and also pretty brittle in the wind.' Instead, he praised foxgloves for their flexibility and resilience.
Budget-Friendly Gardening with Annuals
The gardening guru highlighted that growing annuals is a fantastic way to garden on a tight budget while adding a vibrant finishing touch to borders. His tips come after he previously disclosed the two plants he would gladly remove from the garden for good: pampas grass and large-flowered gladioli.
Speaking to Stephanie Mahon on the Talking Gardens podcast, Titchmarsh described pampas grass as looking 'like a collection of feathered dusters sticking out of a mountain of grass' and noted that it is extremely difficult to remove. He also expressed dislike for large-flowered gladioli, though he conceded they can look 'very good in church.' However, he clarified that he likes smaller varieties, such as Gladiolus byzantinus, which grows in hedgerows and in Cornwall.
