Gardening with Paul: summer aromas are heaven scent

A garden created with your favourite plants is a source of joy and when planted with care, will charm you all year round. Your garden may please the eye but I believe that the sense of smell is more powerful. The first indicator of the arrival of summer for me, is lilac when in flower. My favourite is Syringa ‘Charles Joly’, an upright shrub to 3m. Its flowers are double, making the flower panicle look dense. It is dark red and heavily scented, truly beautiful.

Philadelphus, known as mock orange is a wonderful source of fragrance. They are mostly large deciduous shrubs suitable for bigger gardens, but there are some small-growing varieties too.

Philadelphus Beauclerk grows to 2m, so some space is required for it. The flowers are pure white, broad petalled, 6cm across with a cerise pink shading around the centre.

Philadelphus Starbright is taller growing to 3m. Its young foliage has a bronze tinge when young and this colour persists in the stems, which are a dark chocolate brown colour holding white flowers 6cm wide. Again, both of these provide a delicious fragrance.

Philadelphus Virginal is an old favourite with double white flowers which have a wonderful fragrance. The flower is full of petals so you don’t see the flower centres, which for me, loses a feature of added interest. It is a tall upright shrub growing to 3m.

Philadelphus Belle Etoile is another old variety and possibly the one we mostly see in gardens. The flowers are very distinct, white in colour with a lovely maroon blotch at the base of the petal. It is a compact grower to 1.5m, so suitable for the smaller garden.

Philadelphus Frosty Morn is a small compact shrub growing to 1.5m, again suitable for the smaller garden. It has all the qualities of its bigger relatives with a beautiful scent too.

The flowers are double and pure white in colour. Another small growing shrub is Philadelphus Manteau d’Hermine attaining 1m in height. Again, the flowers are doubled, creamy white and beautifully scented.

I cannot pass either shrub without picking and crushing a sprig, carrying it with me on my walk about the garden. It makes for ultimate relaxation

While Philadelphus flowers are all white and scented, Philadelphus Petite Perfume Pink is now breaking the mould, having rich pink flowers fading towards the edges. It grows to a height of 1.5m and has a longer flowering period than others. It was launched at this years Chelsea Flower Show and will soon make its way to garden centres near you.

I have to mention lavender and rosemary, they don’t fill the air with scent to the same degree, however I grow them for their tactile quality. I cannot pass either shrub without picking and crushing a sprig, carrying it with me on my walk about the garden. It makes for ultimate relaxation.

I always have roses on my list of plants to provide scent in the garden. The list is long, as we are spoilt for choice with the creations of rose breeders. Over the years I have refined my choice to a few must haves. These are shrub roses and easy to manage in the garden.

Rosa Harlow Carr produces perfectly formed saucer shaped pink flowers. It is a repeat flowerer with an Old Rose fragrance. It forms a well-mannered rounded shrub growing to 1m. Rosa Susan Williams-Ellis is white flowered and one of the first into flower, continuing until the first frosts which gives great value in terms of colour and scent. Again, it has that Old Rose fragrance which adds to its charm.

Rosa Emily Bronte is charming and delicate, with soft pink almost flat scented flowers with apricot shades in its centre. It grows to a height of 1.5m. Rosa Gertrude Jekyll is another true beauty, named to commemorate the garden designer of that name. It is early into bloom with bright pink beautiful flowers. Both have that Old Rose fragrance.

I always recommend clothing walls with plants where possible and like to include something with scent. Lonicera periclymenum commonly known as Honeysuckle is a wonderful plant with heavily scented flowers, it is reminiscent of evening walks in the countryside. Look for L periclymenum Graham Thomas, which is the best scented honeysuckle. It does require a support to grow successfully.

Scent in the garden is the creator of memories.

This year my plants are being eaten by slugs, I do not want to use pellets. What do you advise? – Conrad, Co Leitrim.

I suggest you adopt a hands-on approach and start by observing your garden at dusk or shortly after. You’d be amazed how active slugs can be, so pick them off.

You could also use beer traps but empty them every day and refill with the cheapest beer available.

Sharp grit around your most precious plants is also beneficial, as slugs do not like its sharp texture. It is trial and error but you will find a way to reduce the population.

Lay down old pieces of floor tiles or carpet and you will find slugs hiding there to avoid sunlight.

Prune: Now is a good time to look at flowering cherries and lightly prune your tree or shrub to shape if you feel it is needed.

Rake: Rake off pond weed from garden ponds, but leave the weed by the side of the pond for at least 24 hours to allow wildlife like snails, water beetles and dragonfly nymphs back into the water.

Repotting: House plants can be put outside now and repotted if needed. Place them in shade and out of any draughts. Observe watering carefully as they may require more.

Deadheading: Continue deadheading roses and early flowering perennials. This will encourage more flowering.