Innholdsfortegnelse for 23-apr-16 i Amateur Gardening

“ O I! You little blighters….. Leave my flowers alone!” My wife, Kath, was craning towards the kitchen window with a small pair of binoculars pressed to her eyes, shouting at something in the back garden. “Look, look, he’s still got the petals in his beak.” She sounded aghast….. outraged! A gang of squabbling sparrows had descended on the flower bed by the pond, and two of them were purposefully pecking away at the big yellow primrose blooms. In the past I’ve always put their ragged flower petal edges down to slug or snail damage, and spread pellets liberally… but of course, to no avail. This reminds me of when my daughters were about four and five years old, and the youngest carefully wrote her sister’s name on the wall…

1 Salvia nemorosa: Perennial sage will give you silvery leaves and violet-blue flower spikes. Deadhead as soon as flowers fade to prolong blooming. 2 Dianthus: Also known as pinks and carnations, expect sweetly scented flowers in shades of pink and red, as well as white. They make excellent cut flowers. 3 Penstemon: These late-summer bloomers come in many colours. Deadhead regularly for long flowering. They may require some frost protection. 4 Heuchera: Versatile plants that are happy in sun or shade, as well as in most soils. Their leaves (inset) come in many attractive colours. 5 Hardy geranium: Low-lying, clump-forming plants with flowers in shades of pink, blue and purple, often attractively veined with deeper tones. 6 Oriental poppy: A stunning, robust plant with large papery flowers in shades of…

• Companion planting creates a growing environment where different plants help each other grow healthily. • Taller plants can be used to shade low-growing varieties and help stop them bolting. For example, growing sweetcorn or peas with salads. • Herbs can keep pests away from important plants – it is said that planting lavender near roses keeps greenfly away. • You can also grow plants that attract pest-eating insects such as lacewing flies and ladybirds.…

WE like to think of our greenhouses and conservatories as safe havens for our plants. But while protected environments can help to safeguard against certain diseases – tomato blight is less of a risk in a greenhouse, for example – their warm, still conditions are attractive to many insect pests. Whitefly, glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects and mealybugs thrive in greenhouses and conservatories, as well as main indoor areas. Just a few pests in greenhouses and conservatories can soon multiply to become infestations, so it is important to deal with them quickly. Where there are small numbers, squish them by hand. Larger numbers can be tackled using broad spectrum chemical sprays, such as Bug Clear Gun, Vitax Organic Pest and Disease Control, Bayer Bug Free, Provado Ultimate Bug Killer…

I LOVE primroses – traditionally they are the first shout of spring, and bring welcome colour to the garden. Last winter was mild here in the south, and we had primroses flowering in the garden from November onwards. As a result, several plants have finished flowering, so I am dividing larger ones to create smaller, stronger clumps. And as primroses seed easily, it’s nice to be able to put them where I want them, rather than where they fancy taking root! They can be divided in spring or autumn, and both seasons have their pros and cons. In spring the plants will have a longer growing season, but will need watering during dry summer spells. In autumn, the soil will be nicely warm, but new plants may need protection from…

HOUSEPLANTS should have bounced back after their winter dormancy, and be putting on new growth as well as developing flower buds. Mine are thriving with more natural light and warmth, and my peace lily is flowering again after a year of producing nothing but greenery. (I moved it next to a south-facing window where it gets plenty of light, but little direct sunlight). By now, you should be watering regularly, but letting compost almost dry out in between, and feeding flowering plants on a weekly basis. Always water from the bottom, to avoid water staining leaves or causing them to rot, and stand plants in saucers of gravel and water to boost humidity. You also need to keep an eye on, and control, pests attacking your houseplants. As well as…

FOR the past few weeks I’ve been sowing veg like crazy, and now at last I can focus more on tending to the resulting seedlings. There will still be more seed packets to open, trust me, but the frantic pace of sowing is easing a little. This is an important time for your young plants. A check in growth now, caused by drought, congestion, weeds or pests, can result in poor yields. So be vigilant and if a job needs doing, don’t put it off! Talking of jobs, I must get my maincrop potatoes planted. My early varieties are just peeping through the soil now, so it’s time my maincrops – ‘Cara’ and ‘Desiree’ for jacket spuds and roasts, and ‘Pink Fir Apple’ for salads – to join them. Lucy…

THE peas I sowed in guttering during the last week of February have grown into tall, sturdy seedlings and have been hardened off, ready to go in the ground. Peas do best in rich, well-drained soils and like a sunny position. Add well-rotted compost or manure to the soil in the weeks before planting, and keep up-to-date with weeding as the pea plants will grow weakly if they have competition. Peas need watering to help them grow strongly and encourage the peas to swell in their pods. Remember that young peas are extremely vulnerable to attack by pigeons, so it is a good idea to protect them with netting or fleece until they’re bigger. Top Tip Don’t feed peas with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser, as this can cause leafy growth instead…

IT’S thought that early naturalists originally used the term ‘butterfly’ to refer to the brimstone, the ‘butter-coloured fly’, and over time it came to be used for butterflies in general. The male brimstone certainly does have buttery yellow wings, just slightly deeper than that of a primrose blossom. The female is much lighter, and more of a pale, greenish white. The adult is the stage that hibernates, and you can see odd ones emerge on sunny days from as early as February in some years. However, you’re most likely to see them flitting about in April and throughout May. These butterflies love to dart among and between low-growing woodland flowers, such as bluebells, cowslips and even dandelions, and they’ll readily perch for a while, sunbathing in a warm, sheltered spot.…

TOWERING sunflowers are a spectacular sight, attracting pollinating insects and acting as home-grown bird feeders. For general garden use, a mixture like ‘Sunburst’ is hard to beat, reaching a manageable 6ft (1.8m) high and branching to carry flowers in warm shades of yellow, russet, orange and red. Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) originate from the USA and Central America, where they grow as annuals in prairies, fields and open spaces. In the garden Your sunflowers will make a temporary screen, hide a fence, or add height to the back of a border. I like to dot them around a whole garden and sow or plant them into gaps among fruit and vegetables, so that by late-summer their stems make an interesting upper storey. The flowers look at home in prairie borders among…

I’VE GIVEN my grass a boost with a granular fertiliser. The turf isn’t weedy or mossy, so I didn’t need to use a weed and feed, or 4-in–1 type product that feeds, weeds, kills moss and adds grass seed. Instead, I went for one that’s high in nitrogen, which will thicken up the sward and give it a healthy green glow within three days of application. After mowing the lawn, which will help the grass to take up the nutrients quicker, it was dead easy to use –walking at a steady pace, avoiding overlapping.…

A COUPLE of weeks ago I installed a raised fibreglass pond in a square bed close to my lawn. Now I’ve started to think about planting up the space around it. My aim is to mimic the type of display you might find around the outside of a more traditional ornamental pond sunk into the ground, using perennials that thrive in damp soil. Although the soil here isn’t as consistently moist as that found in a bog garden or a typical marginal planting, it doesn’t dry out that quickly as it’s largely in shade – therefore, the plants I have in mind should thrive so long as I remember to water them well during extended dry periods. There’s not much room around the outside of the pond, but I’ve managed…

Caring for cuttings The polytunnel is fit to burst with cuttings so Tamsin has some timely advise on looking after newly rooted plants. Planting a climbing rose Choosing the right climbing roses and planting techniques. Spring container displays It’s not just annuals that add instant colour – Tamsin creates a display with perennial plants. Mail order shopping How to prepare for the arrival of your new plants.…

ALAN Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock are backing a health campaign that urges gardeners to protect themselves from the sun – and check their backs for signs of skin cancer. Men over the age of 50 are at the highest risk of melanoma. The Watch Your Back! initiative is supported by the National Allotment Society and the Garden Centre Association. Alan Titchmarsh said: “We men can be guilty of believing we don’t need to worry about sun protection, especially when we hit a certain age, but this appears to be the furthest thing from the truth.” Go to watchyourback.melanoma-fund.co.uk for more details.…

Alchemilla ALCHEMILLA mollis is one of the two classic ground covers to plant under roses. Its lightly felted, boldly lobed leaves make a dense mass and, in summer, there are clouds of tiny chartreuse flowers. Many say dwarf version Alchemilla erythropoda is better behaved. Ajuga SHADE-loving evergreen creepers, spreading at the root, with ground-hugging foliage in an increasing range of colours and patterns, and blue flower spikes in spring. Suppresses weeds while allowing bulbs through. ‘Burgundy Glow’ (above) is a popular choice. Bergenia BOLD, leathery, evergreen leaves overlap to smother weeds, but snowdrops and other small bulbs will sneak through. The foliage of many varieties turns rich burgundy in winter, and there are pink or white late spring flowers. Acaena LOW, spreading, evergreen creepers with neat, rose-like leaves in a…

IT is often argued that hand shears are not only quieter but also give a sharper, more accurate and better quality cut than petrol or electric trimmers. Ideal for trimming hedges and shrubs, they can also be used on some grasses. At the moment we stay away from hedges where birds are nesting but with so many bargains on the market, it’s well worth looking to buy shears now – maybe purchasing different shears for different purposes. Being new, all those tested cut well – only time will tell how long they will hold an edge. Buying tips: For close-up work choose shears with short blades and handles. If work is low, high or wide, longer blades and handles will prevent you stooping or over reaching. Wavy blades stop plant…

Marmande tomatoes Can be grown indoors or out. Pick half ripe to enjoy their Mediterranean taste and texture. Marshalls sell young plants 0844 557 6700. Lombardo peppers Long and very sweet. They start off green, turning red, yellow or orange. Great for frying, pickling and drying. Franchi Seeds 0208 427 5020. Figs Mike’s 30-year-old fig trees fill his entire garden. Good varieties include ‘Brown Turkey’ and ‘Brunswick’. Thompson & Morgan 0844 573 1818 Basil ‘Sweet Genovese’ Has an intense flavour. Sow seeds up until June to produce plants to grow in a sunny spot outdoors. Chiltern Seeds 01491 824675. Aubergine ‘Giotto’ Good for growing outdoors. Sow seeds February-April. For young plants for the greenhouse, try Marshalls 0844 557 6700.…

Ornamental bark Two species stand out for their colourful bark. P. serrula (pictured ) has mahogany bark and Prunus maackii, especially ‘Amber Beauty’, has golden bark. Both have small white flowers. Autumn colour Many have bright and fiery autumn leaf colour but I’d especially recommend the narrowly upright ‘Spire’ and the more spreading P. sargentii. Both have pink single flowers. Top Tip Newly planted trees take two years to anchor themselves into the ground. Add a stake set at a 45 degree angle to reduce wind rock loosening roots.…

“Never be afraid of handling your plants” MY wife Lisa reminded me that I used to have a banana plant called Hagrid. I thought I was above bestowing inanimate plants with personality, but clearly if they’re striking, or in ‘his’ case a looming presence, it’s hard to resist. The pasque flower, Pulsatilla vulgaris, is another plant that’s almost impossible not to anthropomorphise. If you’re unfamiliar with this flower, it’s an alpine perennial with purple buttercup blooms and foliage covered head-to-toe in a sparkling silver filigree of fine hairs. This down is there to protect stems from harsh sun, wind and frost in its chalk upland habitats. Given free-draining soil and sun it’s as tough as Bear Grylls in a Gortex survival suit, but as my daughter Emma observed, it’s also…

PLANTING perennials is an easy way to bring colour and interest to the garden. It is also the quickest way of filling border gaps, and replacing plants that may have been lost to the winter weather. Get them in the ground now, as the soil is becoming warmer. If the soil is poor improve it by digging in plenty of garden compost or well-rotted manure. To save time and money, always plan your planting before buying plants. Decide whether you want a cottage-style garden, with traditional plant such as hollyhocks, delphiniums, sweet peas and roses, or something more formal with drifts of colour-themed perennials. Consider year-round interest, and colour association. ‘Hot’ beds full of reds, oranges and yellows pack a visual punch, while collections of flowers in gentler blues and…

SUMMER bedding plants bring glorious ‘throwaway’ colour to beds, borders and containers. Most are bought and planted out in late spring, and will be consigned to the compost heap at the end of the summer. I usually buy my summer bedding as plug plants, which I then grow on, or as larger plants that can go straight into the garden. This year I decided to sow my border-fillers from seed, and a sowed rich, red Cosmos, cheerful Mesembryanthemums, and a deep blue Ageratum. I will germinate and prick out the seedlings, harden them off and plant them outside when the frosts have passed. Top Tip Check your seed trays daily for germination. Once seedlings are showing through, remove the tray covering.…

IF you have a pond in your garden, it will now be back up and running after the winter’s lull. The worst of the frosts should be past, and plants will be putting on growth, while fish, amphibians and invertebrates should be active and breeding. Ornamental fish can be fed to replenish the fat supplies used up in winter. Start by giving a little food, and only feed again when the first batch has been eaten. This will prevent a buildup of uneaten food, which can generate disease and mould. Spring is the best time to introduce new plants to your pond, as the water is warming up which will help them grow well. Work out what you need, and don’t buy too many if you only have a small…

• Glasshouse red spider mite: A sapsucker causing mottled leaves and early leaf drop. Treat with predatory mites or a pesticide. • Glasshouse whitefly: This sapsucker excretes sticky honeydew. Control with parasitic wasps, sticky paper traps or pesticide such as Bug Clear Ultra Gun. • Mealybugs: These fluffy white pests suck sap and weaken plants. Treat with Bayer Sprayday Greenfly Killer, or use biological controls. • Scale insect: Adults hide under a hard shell. The young can be tackled with parasitic wasps, or a control such Defenders Bug Killer.…

• Teasels are striking to look at, and are popular with pollinating insects. Goldfinches eat the seeds in winter. • I sowed seeds from dried teasel heads a few weeks ago, and now the seedlings are large enough to be pricked out. • I filled 3in (7cm) pots with fresh John Innes No 2, watered them and made holes in the centre of each. • I then carefully lifted the seedlings using the pointed end of a plant label, while holding the leaves gently between my fingers. • Each seedling was then popped into a pot of compost and firmed in. I will keep them in the greenhouse until they are large enough to harden off and plant out.…

WITH their cheerful red bracts, poinsettias have become as much a part of our Christmas decorations as the tree. But they start to fade after a few months, so the temptation is to throw out the plants and start afresh with new ones next Christmas. With a bit of care and attention, they can be made to redden again in their second year. You need to start this process now, in April, by cutting them back to about 4in (10cm) high. Then repot them, using fresh compost, and keep them somewhere light but cool throughout the summer months. Poinsettias start to turn red when the days grow shorter, so from November onwards keep them somewhere totally dark, but with temperature of around 18°C (55°F) for 12 hours of the day.…

1 Maincrop potatoes like my ‘Pink Fir Apple’ (pictured) can be damaged by pests and diseases because they’re in the soil for longer than first earlies. Choose varieties resistant to your plot’s known problems. 2 Maincrop potatoes are all about bulk, so before planting, work in a high-nitrogen fertiliser such as sulphate of ammonia or chicken pellets. Sprinkle over the surface and fork in well. 3 The idea with maincrops is to grow large tubers. Once you’ve dug your trench in an open, sunny spot, place the tubers at least 16in (40cm) apart and then cover them with ridged-up soil.…

AROUND eight weeks ago I sowed two drills of radishes in a spare greenhouse bed – now look at them! I just love eating these peppery little roots straight from the earth (with a token wipe on my jeans first) and like to harvest them while they’re still young and have had no time to get overly hot or woody. A month after sowing I started off another batch, this time in a growing bag which had its top removed. You can squeeze two drills into this, and I’ve found it’s best to lay the bag on a plank of wood so that it’s easy to move if needed. I’ll sow another batch now, outdoors as the soil is warm enough, to ensure the supply of radishes doesn’t dry up.…

• Climbing plants will be putting on new growth now. This means they need tying to supports, which will allow you to get them growing in the direction you want. • When you are training plants, use garden twine and tie them gently, taking care not to bruise and damage tender young growth. • When tying back your plants, take the time to check them over for pests and diseases. If you find anything wrong, deal with the problem immediately.…

• 23 April: Garden Museum Plant Fair, Lambeth Palace Gardens, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7LB 0207 401 8865; gardenmuseum.org.uk • 23 April: Plant Hunters’ Fair (10am-4pm), Sugnall Walled Garden, Eccleshall, Staffs ST21 6NF planthuntersfairs.co.uk • 23-24 April: The Daffodil Society Late Competition, Henry Street Garden Centre, Swallowfield Road, Arborfield, Reading RG2 9JY 01438 222040 • 24 April: Plant Hunters’ Fair (10am-4pm), Norton Priory, Runcorn WA7 1SX planthuntersfairs.co.uk • 23-24 April: The Daffodil Society Late Competition, Henry Street Garden Centre, Swallowfield Road, Arborfield, Reading. RG2 9JY 01438 222040 • 24 April: Plant Hunters’ Fair (10am-4pm), Norton Priory, Runcorn WA7 1SX planthuntersfairs.co.uk • 25 April: Growing Unusual Veg, Barnsdale Gardens, The Avenue, Exton, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 8AH 01572 813 200; barnsdalegardens.co.uk • 27 April: Red Cross Spring Gardening Day, Newport House,…

1 Ensure the butt is no more than 19in (50cm) away from the downpipe. Drill a 1in (26mm) hole in the water butt using the pre-marked position. Fit pipe connector to the inside of the butt. 2 Take a level line directly across from the bottom of the connector, and mark the downpipe. Mark a second line 1 3/8in (35mm) above. Cut out this section carefully with a hacksaw. 3 Loosen clamps holding the downpipe and fit rainwater diverter. Retighten clamps. Run flexible hose between the diverter and connector, cutting it to size with a Stanley knife.…

ANEW range launched by big name British manufacturer Eden Greenhouses is the first major advance in aluminium-framed greenhouse design for many years. The Eden Zero Threshold™ Greenhouse range features a host of high-tech features that create a safer, more accessible, more productive and simpler environment for gardeners. With choices ranging from a space-saving 4ft square, through to a virtually commercial sized 10ft-wide greenhouse, the new range is perfect for novices, as well as experienced gardeners. It also offers the perfect introduction to the many pleasures of greenhouse gardening. One of the key benefits of the range is the revolutionary, patent pending, Eden Zero Threshold™ Sliding Door System, which eliminates the trip hazard inherent in all other greenhouse designs. This is great for able-bodied and wheelchair gardeners alike, ideal for trolley…

How should we move a potted acer? Q My friend has a beautiful acer growing in a large pot. He needs to move it, but the taproot has gone through the pot in to the ground. What should we do? Valerie Forrester (via email) A As long as the bulk of the roots are unaffected by the move it should be perfectly fine to cut them where they have come out of the base of the pot and into the ground. Once the tree is relocated, give it plenty of water and feed with a balanced fertiliser. It is possible that the top growth may be affected for this year, as top growth and root growth should be kept in balance. If one is reduced by pruning, the other may…

Astrantia major £3.80 + £6.50 p&p 01928 713718 bluebellcottage.co.uk White with a hint of pink and green, this hardy perennial Masterwort likes moist, well-drained soil in sun or part shade. Attractive to pollinators it flowers mid-summer and is also great for dried flower arrangements. Grows 1-2ft (30-60cm) tall. Baggön Parasol £40 02036 450000 ikea.com  for store finder This large 8ft 2in (2.5m) diameter parasol has fabric with a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating of 15+, which means it blocks 93% of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Svartö base to hold it upright is sold separately for another £40. White polycarbonate balloon wine glasses £14.99 for a set of 4 + £4.99 p&p 01763 264280 drinkstuff.com Made from virtually indestructible polycarbonate plastic, these 35cl balloon goblets are perfect for a relaxing glass…

Try something different The flowerbuds of globe artichokes are delicious dipped in melted butter. These perennial plants aren’t too fussy about soil but try to divide plants every two years. Dry your own herbs Leave oregano to flower before cutting bunches to dry upside down at home. Italians use the flowers rather than the leaves in cooking. Avoid blight on outdoor toms Tie tomato plants to a support and remove tops and shoots so all the energy goes into the fruit. Take away lower leaves to reduce the risk of blight. Store onions well Store onions and garlic in a warm and dry environment, such as a shed, to ensure a ready supply during winter. Plant onion sets now and garlic cloves in the autumn. Don’t buy tinned beans! Grow…

1 Soak your plants well in a bowl of water for half an hour or so before planting, to saturate the rootball. 2 Dig a hole as deep as the plant’s rootball, and roughly twice as wide. Tease out the roots before planting. 3 Infill around the rootball with soil, breaking up larger clumps as you go, and water well to settle the roots. 4 Protect young plants with slug pellets, and place supports for plant varieties that will grow tall.…

1 Use new seed trays if possible. If you reuse old ones, always wash them well to help avoid spreading fungal diseases. 2 Some seeds are very small and can struggle to grow through lumpy compost, so sieve it well before sowing. 3 Wet the compost, and sow seeds as thinly as possible, so the seedlings will benefit from space and good air circulation. 4 Small seeds germinate on top of the compost, but I covered the Cosmos seeds with a thin layer of Vermiculite.…

• A non-freezing period in winter is the best time to clean your pond, but you can also do it with care in spring. • Carefully scoop out tadpoles, small fry and larvae, and store them in a large bowl or clean dustbin filled with half clean water and half pond water. Keep them in the shade. • Remove plants, storing them near the pond edge so creatures caught up in them can escape to the water. • Remove as much water, silt and dead vegetable matter as possible. Let the pond dry, and refill. Let it settle before returning plants and animals.…

“There is nothing to beat young shelled peas” POSH restaurants now serve garden peas at pretty well all stages of growth from pea shoots and pea flowers to mangetout and soaked seeds as mushy peas. But for me there is nothing to beat young shelled peas fresh from their pods. I’m no great fan of mangetout, having grown peas to the pod development stage it is no great hardship to wait a few more weeks to eat what the pods contain. Even so this year I’m growing the three cultivar mixture offer by Suttons, which has green, (‘Oregon Sugar Pod’), yellow (‘Golden Sweet’) and purple (‘Shiraz’) coloured pods. We are also growing some pots of these at schools for their Chelsea Show exhibit, as much for the bi-coloured flowers on…

1 Dig right around and then lift the plant, making sure there is lots of soil around the rootball, to protect it. 2 Gently tease apart the roots until you have two or more plants. Discard old, woody or damaged pieces. 3 Trim straggly roots and cut off old, large leaves to help reduce water loss. Plant divisions in dappled shade. 4 Water well and then mulch. Make sure the new, small plants are watered well during dry spells.…

RUNNER beans are a delicious crop – and incredibly easy to grow successfully whatever size your garden. Don’t be deterred by the fact that they need tall bamboo canes to scramble up – they can be cultivated as happily in a large container as in the ground. In fact, with their attractive red and white flowers, they will even make a welcome addition to a flowerbed! Start your runner beans undercover now, in deep pots that give their roots space and depth to develop. They will be ready to plant out in a sunny, sheltered spot with fertile, well-drained soil once the frosts have passed – but make sure you harden them off first, and that their roots have developed well. There are several varieties of runner bean to try,…

BACK in late February I started to force rhubarb. That early planning is now paying dividends. Hot pink stems have popped up in abundance, and while they might not be the thickest (the crowns were quite old) they are certainly some of the earliest. Rhubarb is invaluable as a spring ‘fruit’ (technically it’s a veg). Forced stems are more tender and sweet than rhubarb grown uncovered. I forced two batches – some in darkness in the apple store, and others under some posh terracotta forcing pots. I’ll throw the exhausted indoor crowns away, and won’t force the outdoor ones again for a couple of years to give them time to recover. The stems of unforced plants will soon be ready – they can be picked until early July.…

WAY back in autumn I set some garlic cloves into a sunny, free-draining bed and the stems are now roughly 10in (20cm) tall. Then in early March I planted sets of onions and shallots alongside them, and they’re just beginning to shoot, too. Their requirements are pretty simple – plant them in autumn or spring, and dig them up in late summer or autumn – but there is one word of warning! Onion family crops absolutely hate competition from weeds. The leaves are narrow and upright so they can’t smother out neighbours, but the weeds can smother them in an instant. Time then, to wield my hoe. Choose a sunny, breezy day so the sliced off weeds dry out and quickly die. These crops are planted in blocks so it’s…

“Remarkably few gardeners hoe” THERE are many ways of ridding weeds from amongst your plants and without doubt one of the best is with a hoe. A hoe is a knife on the end of a stick. You slice weeds in half whilst comfortably standing up instead of kneeling bent double. But remarkably few people hoe, and of those even fewer do it as well as they could. You see I grew up on a farm where some field crops such as sugar beet were still hoed by hand, and at piece rate. This means you only got paid for what you did, and did well enough to be acceptable. Thus I learnt to hoe ‘properly’. Now most books will tell you all about different sorts of hoe from the…

AIMING to reduce wastage and to use water more wisely I’ve decided to install a water butt. Not only will it help me do my bit for the environment, but stored rainwater is ideal for fussy plants, like blueberries, and will be perfect for topping up the pond in summer. Ideally I’d like an underground rainwater harvesting system or a large capacity butt that holds 700ltrs of rainwater. However, the expense and upheaval of a harvesting system is prohibitive and a giant water butt would stand out like, well, a giant butt. My solution is a Space Saver Water Butt, a slimline model with room to store 100ltrs. Measuring just 37in (92cm) tall x 15in (37cm) wide it fits brilliantly against a wall at the back of my house, where…

GARDENERS face a postcode lottery when it comes to charges for disposing of garden waste. A study found that 42 per cent of local authorities now charge to collect garden rubbish – with gardeners in the West Midlands subjected to the highest fees. The average UK charge for having a green or brown bin emptied once every fortnight is £41.47. However, Malvern Hills District Council was found to be charging its residents £65 per year, with £55 extra for every additional garden waste bin. Compost The study was carried out by compost firm Mantis. Boss David Goose said: “Garden waste collection charges are commonplace. We hope this encourages more people to compost at home, rather than drive to recycling sites or send organic waste to landfill.”…

Brunnera DENSE, slowly spreading clumps feature overlapping heart-shaped leaves that are completely silvered, silver with green veins or green with silver spots. There are also clouds of forget-me-not-type spring flowers in blue or white. Appreciates shade. Dicentra LOW, steadily spreading perennial with prettily divided, silver-grey, grey-green or fresh green foliage. Red, pink or white heart-shaped lockets tremble over the ferny foliage in spring. Happiest under shrubs or trees in partial shade. Epimedium WITH an interwoven mass of wiry weed-smothering roots, dainty, spidery flowers in many colours dance over boldly divided evergreen or deciduous foliage. Ideal in shade with spring bulbs, and around evergreen or deciduous shrubs. Fragaria THE wild strawberry provides fine shade-loving ground cover, those snaking stems developing a new plant as they root at each joint. Clusters of…

Q What is this plant that appeared last summer? When I first noticed it, it was about 8in (45cm) tall. Daphne Varnham (via email) A It is often difficult to identify a plant with only the leaves to study, but I think that this plant is Ox-eye Daisy. The flowers are lovely clean white daisies with yellow centres. Q What should I do with hardy cyclamen corms outside, after they have flowered? Lavinia Brown, Weston Super Mare A They are best left in the ground, unless you need to use the space for something else. If this is the case, move and replant them underneath deciduous trees and shrubs. Q Is there an ‘one stop’ insecticide that works on a wide range of pests? Andy Granger (via email) A Bug…

“You need to look after plants just like you would a baby” THE wide range of Mediterranean vegetables and fruits that Mike Gioiosa grow wouldn’t look out of place in the Italian province of Potenza where he was raised. There are artichokes, climbing beans, peppers, aubergines and row upon row of unusual-looking tomatoes. Herbs are another of his specialities, with plenty of basil, oregano and parsley to add to his home cooking, while his grapevines produce enough fruit to turn into wine. Yet while Mike’s three allotment plots are filled with crops normally associated with a warm climate, they’re actually located in the city of Gloucester in central England. “I was used to growing food in Italy,” explains Mike, who came to the UK almost 50 years ago. Secrets of…

Pick the flowers Mike favours ‘nero di Milano’ courgettes for their flowers. Wash freshly-picked flowers to remove insects and shake to dry. Remove stamen if there is one. Make the batter Make a thin batter with two eggs, 100ml (¼ pint) milk, 100ml (¼ pint) white wine – or ice cold water – four tablespoons plain flour and salt and pepper. Fry the flowers Dip flowers into batter. Place in deep flying pan half filled with olive oil heated to a medium temperature and fry until golden.…

I was interested to read about Tim building a shed (AG 26 March) but I’m afraid the fitment of a strong hasp and padlock won’t be enough to keep the contents safe. Whilst it’s a good idea, it must be remembered that shed security is only as good as it’s weakest link, which with garden sheds is the attachments for the door. The opportunist burglar only needs a few seconds with a cordless screwdriver to remove the screws from the hinges and then the door can be lifted wide open. Fortunately there’s a cheap and highly effective answer, which is to remove one screw from both parts of each hinge and replace them with coach bolts. These bolts have a nut screwed on the inside and no slot in the…

Prunus ‘Snow Showers’ Tightly pendulous tree, with densely packed single white flowers in March and fiery autumn colour. Good in a container. H 8ft (2.5m). Prunus ‘Kiku-shidare-zakura’ Pendulous branches densely packed with dark centred, rose pink, fully double fluffy flowers opening from deep pink buds in April. 9ft (3m). Prunus x yedoensis ‘Ivensii’ More arching in growth than weeping, with long branches and side branches packed with fragrant white March flowers. H 13ft (4m).…