It rained! We were reaching the point when gardening was becoming difficult to sustain with regard to lawn maintenance and planting.

However, we are greening up again and with this other activities kick in, it is never dull in the garden!

The immediate response to rain is of course growth both of a desired and undesired nature; flowerbeds will of course explode with any weed that is capable of growing - given the chance.

New growth will mean careful examination of plants for pests and to a degree diseases, whilst the immediate problem of chinch bug on St. Augustine grass will have receded temporarily, until the next period of prolonged hot dry weather.

New plant growth will ultimately lead to flower production, unless the machete brigades get there first. Pruning at this time of year should be reserved solely for dead heading such plants as pentas, lantana, scutellaria etc, and this to encourage more growth and flowering wood.

After a prolonged dry period fertilising also becomes a necessity to encourage continuous healthy growth, for lawns and plants. With all the new growth surging forth, now is a good time to evaluate the health of plants in general, and also to carry out minor pruning on those plants still showing some damage from last year's hurricane.

As I drive around the island, it is obvious that many plants have tip die back, which was caused by the severe salt laden winds, these especially should be cut back to good wood.

Excessive growth can also be thinned out to encourage open growth and reduce the production of top-heavy growth, which invariably leads to poorly shaped branch structure.

Inspection for pest and disease control can run in tandem with the pruning exercise; aphids are usually found in heavy infestations when new growth appears, it is therefore important to dispose of any ‘pruned' material by burning or spraying in an area away from the ‘garden'.

If spraying is required make sure you know the pest before you purchase the chemical spray, the wrong spray could have adverse effect on beneficial insects if present. If in doubt discuss your problem with the salesperson at the garden centre. Any other pruning should be left until later in the summer, when ‘thinning out' can be carried out to reduce foliage cover and reduce damage from late summer storms.

Lawns will show immediate growth of both weed grasses and broad leaf weeds. Weed control on lawns, can to a degree be associated with the height of cut and health of the lawn grasses in growth production. St. Augustine lawns should be cut not less than three inches in height, when combined with regular fertilising schedules, this will encourage a thick sward of top growth, which will help suffocate potential weed growth.

When cut short this grass will succumb to weed infestation. Bermuda grass being of a much finer blade texture can be cut at lower heights, but the thickness of sward and health of grass will go a long way in suppressing weed growth. Zoysia of course is a very dense grass, which requires cutting low with a reel bladed mower; weeds generally are not as productive in Zoysia as the previous two summer grasses.

Planting is something we take for granted, but one must be careful when drought conditions exist, there comes a point when planting in hot dry soil is not beneficial for plant growth.

Planting is best carried out when soil is moist and the plant is in a turgid state. Always water the plant in its container prior to installation, this allows the uptake of water into the leaf and does not create a stress situation.

The planting hole should be larger by far than the container, for example a forty-five gallon container should be planted in a hole at least five foot square and deep, whilst a one-gallon container should be planted in a hole at least eighteen inches square and deep. Plant nurseries presently have a good range of flowering plants, including trees, shrubs, vines, grasses etc.

Some are old well-established subjects, whilst others are refreshingly new and worthy of trying in small numbers in several locations within the garden.

Ornamental grasses are an interesting addition to the landscape as are some new species of cacti and succulents, all of which add character and interest to the garden often at times when old favourites are not ‘doing their thing'.

Vines are also making a comeback with Mandevilla, Clerodendron, Allamanda and passion flower being just a few of the wider range now available.

Of the ‘newer' varieties of ground covers and shrubs, the Cuphea is a good little ground cover flowers are found in several colours, Gaura sp. at first glance looks like a Gazania but produces long spikes of attractive orange crimson flowers.

Dwarf holly Ilex vomitoria nana is also available after a long absence, but is a wonderful little plant for those difficult corners that need a slow growing plant; the type of planter an architect designs when he does not know what to do with the area!

With the range now available a visit to all the nurseries is worth the trip and add colour to your garden, after all both the tennis and football are now over and what else can you do!