Gardeners' guide to summer plant selection, care and maintenance

Geraniums (kakosty) offer a wide range of cultivars with colors from white to deep red, thriving in ordinary garden soil for many years. The ornamental shrub Callicarpa bodinieri, known as beautyberry, provides bright purple berries that attract bees and other pollinators; it should be planted 1–1.5 m apart in sunny to partly shaded, well‑drained sites.

To reduce heat in a garden, mature deciduous trees, climbing vines, shrubs and low groundcover create shade and evaporative cooling. Species such as small‑leaf lime, hornbeam, maple, grapevine, hop, or climbing ivy are effective, with trees offering the greatest cooling effect.

Herbs can be preserved by drying, freezing or winter‑housing in pots. Woody Mediterranean herbs dry well, tender leaf herbs keep flavor when frozen, and perennial herbs can be overwintered in containers.

For hot, dry summers, drought‑tolerant perennials such as Gaillardia, Echinacea, and Euphorbia characias thrive with minimal watering, well‑drained soil and full sun. They are suitable for borders, rock gardens or containers.

Indoor plants need protection from intense midday sun and consistent moisture; placement in semi‑shade and careful watering prevent leaf scorch.

Apple trees require summer pruning: remove dead or crossing branches, thin crowded growth, and shape the canopy to improve airflow and light penetration. Pruning is best done in late winter or early spring, but summer cuts can manage vigorous growth.