{"id":978,"date":"2025-08-04T09:28:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T08:28:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/helens-chester-garden\/?p=978"},"modified":"2025-08-04T09:29:46","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T08:29:46","slug":"summer-perennials-care-tips-slug-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/helens-chester-garden\/summer-perennials-care-tips-slug-watch\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Perennials \u2013 Care Tips & Slug Watch"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Tulbaghia violacea<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we move into late summer, many herbaceous perennials are at their peak, and it\u2019s the perfect time to give them a little extra attention. One issue to watch out for is slug damage<\/strong>, especially on plants like Hostas<\/strong>, Phlox<\/strong>, and Lupins<\/strong>. These pests can quickly undo all your hard work. If you notice signs of slug activity, such as chewed leaves or slime trails, consider applying slug nematodes<\/strong> (biological control) to the soil\u2014an effective and wildlife-friendly solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are care notes for our current batch of summer-flowering perennials, covering feeding<\/strong>, pest and disease control<\/strong>, support<\/strong>, and propagation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Achillea \u2018Paprika\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Feeding:<\/strong> Light spring feed with a balanced fertiliser.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Pests\/Disease:<\/strong> Powdery mildew in dry spells; generally pest-free.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Support:<\/strong> May need staking in rich soils.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Propagation:<\/strong> Divide in spring or autumn.
    <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Agapanthus (africanus \u2018Albus\u2019, \u2018Big Blue\u2019, \u2018Midnight Star\u2019)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • Feeding:<\/strong> Use a high-potash fertiliser (e.g. tomato feed) during flowering.
      <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Pests\/Disease:<\/strong> Slugs\/snails may attack young growth. Avoid soggy soil to prevent rot.
      <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Support:<\/strong> Not required.
      <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Propagation:<\/strong> Divide clumps in spring or sow seed (slow to flower).
      <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Alstroemeria \u2018Inca Rio\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      • Feeding:<\/strong> Fortnightly feed with high-potash fertiliser in season.
        <\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Pests\/Disease:<\/strong> Slugs, aphids, and root rot in wet soil.
        <\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Support:<\/strong> May benefit from light staking.
        <\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Propagation:<\/strong> Divide rhizomes in early spring.
        <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Campanula persicifolia alba<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        • Feeding:<\/strong> Minimal; a spring feed is sufficient.
          <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Pests\/Disease:<\/strong> Slugs and snails; rust may occur in humid weather.
          <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Support:<\/strong> Taller varieties may need light support.
          <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Propagation:<\/strong> Divide or sow seed.
          <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          Coreopsis verticillata \u2018Moonbeam\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          • Feeding:<\/strong> Light spring mulch or feed.
            <\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Pests\/Disease:<\/strong> Few issues; mildew in overcrowded conditions.
            <\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Support:<\/strong> Usually self-supporting.
            <\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Propagation:<\/strong> Divide or take basal cuttings.
            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            Gaura \u2018Flamingo Pink\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            • Feeding:<\/strong> General-purpose feed in spring.
              <\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Pests\/Disease:<\/strong> Rare issues; may suffer in waterlogged soils.
              <\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Support:<\/strong> Light support in exposed spots.
              <\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Propagation:<\/strong> Softwood cuttings in spring.
              <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              Helenium \u2018Sahin\u2019s Early Flowerer\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                \n
              • Feeding:<\/strong> Compost or liquid fertiliser during growth.
                <\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Pests\/Disease:<\/strong> Susceptible to mildew and occasional aphids.
                <\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Support:<\/strong> Often needs staking.
                <\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Propagation:<\/strong> Divide in spring.
                <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                Hosta \u2018Sum & Substance\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                  \n
                • Feeding:<\/strong> Apply slow-release fertiliser in spring.
                  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Pests\/Disease:<\/strong> Highly susceptible to slugs\u2014apply nematodes early in the season.
                  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Support:<\/strong> None needed.
                  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Propagation:<\/strong> Divide clumps in spring\/autumn.
                  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                  Liatris spicata<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                    \n
                  • Feeding:<\/strong> Balanced spring fertiliser.
                    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Pests\/Disease:<\/strong> Rot in overly wet soils.
                    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Support:<\/strong> May need light staking.
                    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Propagation:<\/strong> Divide corms in spring.
                    <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                    Lupin \u2018Noble Maiden\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                      \n
                    • Feeding:<\/strong> High-potash feed encourages flowering.
                      <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Pests\/Disease:<\/strong> Slug and aphid-prone\u2014especially lupin aphids.
                      <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Support:<\/strong> Flower spikes benefit from staking.
                      <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Propagation:<\/strong> Sow fresh seed or take basal cuttings.
                      <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                      Phlox paniculata (Blue Paradise, David, Rijnstroom)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                        \n
                      • Feeding:<\/strong> Balanced spring feed and compost mulch.
                        <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Pests\/Disease:<\/strong> Powdery mildew, slugs, and spider mites. Consider nematodes early on.
                        <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Support:<\/strong> Tall stems require staking.
                        <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Propagation:<\/strong> Divide or take stem cuttings.
                        <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                        Rudbeckia fulgida \u2018Deamii\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                          \n
                        • Feeding:<\/strong> Light spring feed or compost mulch.
                          <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Pests\/Disease:<\/strong> May suffer from leaf spot or slugs.
                          <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Support:<\/strong> Generally self-supporting.
                          <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Propagation:<\/strong> Divide or sow seed.
                          <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                          Salvia nemorosa \u2018Dark Matter\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                            \n
                          • Feeding:<\/strong> Spring fertiliser; low maintenance.
                            <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Pests\/Disease:<\/strong> Mostly disease-free; may get mildew.
                            <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Support:<\/strong> Compact habit\u2014no staking needed.
                            <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Propagation:<\/strong> Divide or use softwood cuttings.
                            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                            Tulbaghia violacea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                              \n
                            • Feeding:<\/strong> Occasional balanced feed.
                              <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Pests\/Disease:<\/strong> Rarely troubled by pests; dislikes wet feet.
                              <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Support:<\/strong> None needed.
                              <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Propagation:<\/strong> Divide clumps in spring.
                              <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                              \n\n\n\n

                              By keeping an eye on your plants now\u2014especially for early slug signs\u2014and using effective controls like slug nematodes<\/strong>, you can maintain a healthy, vibrant border right through to autumn.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                              Tulbaghia violacea As we move into late summer, many herbaceous perennials are at their peak, and it\u2019s the perfect time to give them a little extra attention. One issue to watch out for is...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":979,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gardening-notes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/helens-chester-garden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/978","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/helens-chester-garden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/helens-chester-garden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/helens-chester-garden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/helens-chester-garden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=978"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/helens-chester-garden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/978\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/helens-chester-garden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/979"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/helens-chester-garden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=978"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/helens-chester-garden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=978"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/helens-chester-garden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=978"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}