Innholdsfortegnelse for 24-dec-16 i Amateur Gardening

I’VE often wondered what garden wildlife makes of our Christmas celebrations. Obviously they won’t be aware of the Christian and philosophical messages behind this human festival, but they can’t miss the millions of flashing lights, huge inflatable lit-up Santas and prancing reindeer that bedeck our houses and gardens for weeks through December. They see us cutting down and hauling trees into our houses, along with holly, mistletoe and sundry evergreen foliage. Then there’s the boxes and bags of gifts, lorryloads of food and a clinking, chinking procession of bottles of alcohol going in through the front door. This manic activity builds to a crescendo on Christmas eve... then stops. Homo sapiens shut themselves into their strange square boxes and silence reigns outdoors. But only for a day. Late morning Boxing…

1 Keep Cyclamen persicum at cool room temperature, somewhere light. Water weekly, feed fortnightly, and deadhead regularly. They die back naturally in April. 2 As the flowering stems of hippeastrum (amaryllis) emerge, turn the plant slightly each day to stop it growing at an awkward angle towards the light. 3 Place African violets in the light, but out of direct sun. Water from below as moisture can damage leaves. Feed every 3-4 weeks when in flower, and deadhead. 4 Citrus like calamondin, lemon and orange, have scented flowers as well as fruit. They thrive in light and warmth. Keep compost on the dry side, feed fortnightly. 5 Keep compost of forced bulbs like hyacinths, Narcissus ‘Paper White’, irises and anemones just moist. Plant out all but N. ‘Paper White’ in…

1 The raised beds grew some hugely successful crops, and have now been mulched and prepared for next year. 2 Composting was a big success. We leave one side rotting down, and add green and brown plant waste to the other. 3 The wildflower lawn was grew scabious, clover and colourful grasses, which insects and wildlife appreciated. 4 One major job was transplanting a young ‘Bramley’ apple to give it more space, and encourage better cropping. 5 The greenhouse nurtured many cuttings and seedlings, and is now helping tender plants through winter.…

“Pretty flowering plants bring smiles a-plenty” CHRISTMAS is very much the time for wide eyed, excited children, which I am fortunate to see in considerable numbers at the Stars for Europe Campaign. This poinsettia promotion finances the free plants for schools event, co-sponsored by The Sun newspaper. It is especially uplifting to see and hear school choirs sing at residential homes before distributing gift poinsettias to the elderly residents. Youngsters and pretty flowering plants bring smiles a-plenty and long may it continue. The longer we can keep gift plants in good condition the longer they remain decorative and prompt memories of the giving occasion. Once plants are transported home, safely wrapped up against the cold, then the two key elements they need for a healthy long life indoors are daylight…

• Most seeds are sown in spring when temperatures are rising and germination should be more assured. • Fill seed trays, modules or 3in (7cm) pots almost to the top with seed compost, and water with clean tap water. • Sow seeds thinly on the surface. Leave space between seeds as this lessens the risk of damping off, a fungal disease that can lay waste to entire trays of seedlings. • Cover seeds with a thin layer of compost or vermiculite – a granular minerals that boosts water retention and air circulation around germinating seeds. Cover with a propagator lid/clear plastic. • Place seeds somewhere light and warm, and remove the tray lid or plastic bag covering after germination to increase air circulation.…

THE turkey’s in the fridge, the Brussels sprouts are still growing (just) and my Christmas tree is in full festive garb, so what last-minute tweaks can I carry out on this eve of the big day? With some quick-fix decorations on my mind, I hatch a plan to make a gorgeous table display using some of my chilli harvest. I picked the chillies in early autumn and they’ve been drying for storage for about six weeks. There are plenty of other crops you could use with a bit of imagination – apples, pears, carrots… even sprouts! I’m making an arrangement with a nice plump candle, some evergreen foliage from the garden and a bowlful of dried chillies. Now, can I balance a glass of port in one hand and my…

“Why shouldn’t birds get to indulge once a year?” I’M always enthusiastic about any opportunity to encourage more of us to look after our garden wildlife, and especially the birds as they do so much of the pest control for us. (And, to be fair, I do love their songs, even if they rob me of my cherries and plums…) At this time of year we can be so involved with our family celebrations that we forget about the wee lives in the bleak winter out there. So first of all make sure they all have some clean water, scrub the bird bath, and the feed table, and make little pools for smaller creatures. Don’t forget to lodge a bit of wood down to the bottom of a pool from…

I AM still finding pine needles in my car from transporting last year’s dead Christmas tree to the recycling point. I have hoovered, but they keep reappearing in the way that glitter seems to linger long after the festivities are over. My kids have nearly grown out of bringing glitter-clad Christmas paintings home from school and flinging them all over the back seats of the car on the journey home, but they would kill to get their hands on a pot of the stuff. No chance! Our Christmas craft this year is not too messy, just a few ingredients in exchange for a quiet and creative hour. The children have decided that a decorated shoe box is just what grandma needs to file away all her seeds while she plans…

IF you bought a real Christmas tree this year, it is important to recycle it. Most local authorities publish details of places in your area that accept old trees without charge. Last year we took our tree to a country park. The trees were due to be chipped on site and used to maintain the paths around the park, significantly reducing the cost and environmental impact of transporting them elsewhere. • If you can’t bear the pine needles in your car try finding a tree collection service in your area in exchange for a donation to charity. See: charityxmastreecollection.com…

OUR fruit frame is home to cherries, peaches, apricots, raspberries, logan berries, gooseberries, blackberries and strawberries – it’s a treasure trove of goodies. There’s a locked gate at either end of the frame, which our visitors assume is to prevent guests from nibbling on our precious fruit, but this is not the case. The gates are locked to ensure that we all close them properly, thereby preventing them from being blown open. If left open then birds would get in and feast on the fruit and passing cats could use the strawberry beds as a litter tray! The primary reason for locking the frame however is to do with safety. If a bird sneaks in it will eventually become very distressed and is likely to be injured in its struggle…

A GREAT treat for me is to be able to pop into the garden on Christmas morning and pick a small posy which takes pride of place at the centre of the Christmas table. It’s surprising how much is available to pick at this time of year, especially if we’ve been lucky enough to have a mild start to winter. Hardy summer annuals such as Scabiosa atropurpurea may still be producing the odd bloom. Primroses will often flower early and they last well when picked. Then there are winter-flowering shrubs such as Viburnum x bodnantense, berried shrubs like pyracantha and cotoneaster, and the fading flowers of hydrangeas. Sarcococca – or Christmas box – is the ultimate evergreen candidate for a festive arrangement with its glossy green leaves and highly-perfumed flowers.…

TWO years ago naturalist broadcaster David Lindo launched a campaign to choose a national bird for Britain – we were identified as one of the few nations that didn’t have one. A poll was held in the spring of 2015 and, after three months of voting, the robin was officially named Britain’s National Bird. It took 34% of the vote, the next favourite bird being the barn owl taking just 12%. So what is it about the robin that makes it so popular? Well it’s immediately identifiable, of course, and it’s seen in gardens throughout the year – but especially at Christmas! Male and female robins look pretty much identical: around 5-5½in (12.5-14cm) long, with an orange breast, grey face, brown upperparts and a whitish belly. Young birds have no…

SCOTTISH TV gardener Jim McColl, presenter of The Beechgrove Garden, has been honoured for a lifetime of inspiring the nation to garden. Eighty one year-old Jim was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Garden Media Guild at London’s Savoy Hotel last month. Jim follows in the footsteps of other gardening greats who have been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award, including broadcasters Alan Titchmarsh, Roy Lancaster and Geoffrey Smith, and plantswoman Beth Chatto. Jim told AG: “I was frankly gob-smacked and over-awed by this extraordinary gesture. It is especially meaningful for me because it has been awarded by my fellow horticulturists.” Jim added: “Speaking to Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh students recently at their prize-giving ceremony, I said that I committed to horticulture when I left school in…

THERE may be a covering of ice on the pond, but there is always something to do in the garden and keen gardeners will venture out whatever the weather. At this time of year it’s vital that you keep your muscles, bones and joints warm – and especially the spine if you want to avoid backache. Yet coats and jackets can be heavy and restrict movement. One solution is a sleeveless gilet, padded vest or bodywarmer. A shopping trip to the high street, or a search on-line from the comfort of your arm chair, will reveal many options. There are collections from outdoor clothing specialists, country stores, fashion shops and even some supermarkets. Some have fur lining or are padded for insulation with stand-up collars or hoods. Some are showerproof…

HOUSEPLANTS bring colour and scent to the home at a time of year when there’s little else around. They are a lasting reminder of love and friendship. Many are grown to be at their peak over Christmas and make popular gifts Apart from the obvious light, warmth and water they need individual care to keep them healthy. Pay attention to their needs and many of these plants will reward you with flowers for years to come. Light levels are poor in winter, so place plants where they can make the most of available natural light. Wipe dust off their leaves to improve photosynthesis. Don’t leave them trapped behind curtains on windowsills overnight when it is very cold. Bring them into the warm room, and move them back to the window…

• The three main varieties of orchids usually given as gifts are phalaenopsis (also known as ‘moth’ orchids), cymbidium and dendrobium orchids. • The most popular are the moth orchids, which like warm conditions all year round. • Cymbidium and dendrobium will flower best in cooler conditions, and enjoy being outside somewhere shaded in summer. • Orchids like high humidity, so keep them out of the cold, and mist their leaves regularly. Water the compost surface with tepid rainwater, but don’t let roots stand in water as they will rot. • Feed occasionally with orchid fertiliser, about once a month in growth. Do not feed at all when plants are resting. • Orchids can be susceptible to pests such as scale insects, aphids and red spider mite, so treat signs…

IT’S Christmas Eve and, hopefully, all your festive shopping should be done and dusted. But you can almost guarantee that someone unexpected will have bought you a present when you have nothing to give in return. Don’t panic – with a little ingenuity, you can rustle up something from the garden to give them. And if it’s not needed this year, bear these ideas in mind next Christmas! If you have a few bedding plants left over after brightening your borders in autumn, plant them in a container. Add a set of pot feet to the gift, as they help prevent compost holding on to excess water which can drown plants, freeze the roots or break the pot in cold weather. A variety of herbs sown into pretty pots look…

1 Choose plants like poinsettias (pictured), begonias, gardenias and moth orchids for warm centrally heated rooms. 2 Azaleas (pictured), cyclamen and hyacinths will last longer in frost-free, cooler rooms, while most houseplants need all available daylight through the winter 3 Keep a sprig of berried mistletoe in water outside to ripen naturally, then insert into tree bark in February to grow your own. It can take two years before you see seedling leaves develop.…

WITH their origins in China, Japan, the Himalayas, south east Asia and Australia, cymbidium orchids have a long history of cultivation stretching back to China in 500BC. They will grow at lower temperatures than the ubiquitous moth orchid and deliver a touch of grandeur. The wild ancestors of cymbidium house plants might have grown in the ground, or have attached themselves to trees or grown over rocks, and need careful watering. I plunge the root ball in tepid rain water when it’s almost dry (see step 3, right) Encouraging them back into bloom every year brings a feeling of achievement. There are thousands of hybrids with flower colours of maroon, pink, yellow, green or white. Some are fragrant and although they only bloom once a year, during winter, the display…

I GOT my parsnip seed into the ground a little late this year – early August – so am fully expecting to discover baby roots when I lift these Christmas dinner essentials. Last year I sowed at the traditional time of June but ended up with such huge parsnips it was almost impossible to get them out of the earth! If you garden on sandy soil like ours, you’ll probably also discover that the roots can penetrate to a great depth. Sliding a garden fork alongside each root, you should be able to ease each parsnip out of the soil easily, but don’t worry if the bottoms do snap off. Some people get a rash when they touch the leaves with bare skin, but it doesn’t seem to affect me.…

IT’S a tradition amongst veg growers to sow their show onions on Boxing day, so this year, why not join them? It’s a great excuse to avoid the washing up, and puts you in with a chance of growing a huge prize-winning bulb – here’s why. Onions start forming a bulb in early summer. The size of it is in direct proportion to the amount of foliage the plant has produced. So the more leaves, the larger the bulb. It’s important to start with good seeds – try Robinson’s (mammothonion.co.uk) or look for The Kelsae. Power up your heated propagator to 13-15°C and sow one seed ¼in. (5mm) deep in each small pot or module of moist seed compost. In the warmth seeds will germinate in a fortnight.…

1 Work up a huge appetite on Xmas day: first thing turn your compost heap onto a sheet, mix it and repack. 2 Keep leftover brightly coloured and metallised ribbon, and other garish decorations for bird scarers. 3 Unsold supermarket exotic fruits will come down in price, making each a ‘packet of seeds’ with free fruit. 4 Look out for cast aside mistletoe sprigs with berries; keep outdoors ready for propagating in March.…

1 Create a dish from the bottom of a plastic squash bottle, approx. 2" (5cm deep). 2 Press the upturned dish into some water-soaked florists’ foam for an exact fit. 3 To give height to the tea light add the lid of an aerosol to make a platform. 4 Strip the needles from the base of the stems, and insert into the foam. 5 Add decorations, ribbon and a battery operated tea light.…

THIS is a truly unmissable opportunity to own your very own space souvenir! British astronaut Tim Peake looked after 2kg of salad rocket seeds on the International Space Station for six months, for the Rocket Science experiment (see p21 ). Now the experiment is over, the Royal Horticultural Society offered Amateur Gardening the last remaining packets of space seeds and experiment packs for this exclusive FREE PRIZE DRAW. We’ve got five complete experiment packs to give away with full instructions, stickers, posters, a packet of rocket seeds that have been to space and another packet of rocket seeds that stayed here on earth for the comparison study. We also have packets of space seeds to give away to seven runners up. For your chance to win just fill out…

THE show that acers give in autumn is breathtaking but I find that the low growing ones, with a dense head and weeping habit, have leaves that come loose but remain in a clump on the plant. It almost seems like the plants are loath to let go of this dashing foliage. It’s worth spending a few minutes picking off these leaves. If left on they spoil the winter form of the plant and when they eventually fall in spring they will cause unwanted leaf litter. This may seem a bit fussy, but your acers will be free to offer structure to the garden rather than looking scruffy.…

• Now to December 31: Stowe, Buckinghamshire MK18 5EQ. Landscape advent calendar: head out on a winter adventure and follow the Stowe House trail to discover 24 hidden doors in the landscape as part of a giant advent calendar. From 10am-4pm. Free event but normal admission charges apply to venue 01280 817156; nationaltrust.org.uk/stowe). • 24 Dec: Magic of Christmas, RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. Get in the festive spirit on the Christmas Activity Hunt. Join fluffy polar bears and penguins in the photo booth for a festive family snap, get creative in the glitter emporium and listen to storytelling sessions with Santa; booking is advised.rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr • Proud of your garden: Open your garden in aid of the British Red Cross and help raise money for those…

Tulips Many spring bulbs, including tulips and daffodils, are poisonous to dogs. Bear this in mind if your pet is prone to digging in borders. Azalea and rhodos Plant these away from reach as they will cause sickness and breathing difficulties, and can be fatal if eaten in large quantities. Yew Foliage can be fatal to dogs and the berries are also highly poisonous. Beware that branches removed from a yew by pruning will retain their poison. Spurge Euphorbia, the latin name for spurge, has a milky sap that’s toxic if eaten and can irritate the skin, including the pads of paws when it’s stood on.…

THE One Show’s Christine Walkden is heading a national campaign aimed at securing the survival of Britain’s struggling community gardening groups. Christine teamed-up with Katie Rushworth of ITV’s Love Your Garden, and TV chef Mark Greenaway, to launch the Local Heroes initiative. The trio want amateur gardeners to get involved with community gardens as visitors, customers, volunteers or business partners. Many community groups, they say, “face a struggle to make ends meet”. It is estimated that there are more than 2,500 community growing groups in the UK, including community gardens, community orchards, therapeutic and children’s gardens, and city farms. A recent survey found that nearly half of community growing groups often ran at a loss, and the majority felt that the success of their project relied on grant funding. Christine…

‘The slot gamesare so exciting’ As I pulled into my drive, I couldn’t help but smiling. I’d just treated myself to a new red Mazda 3. My neighbours would think I’d won the jackpot… and they wouldn’t be wrong! In June this year, I hit the jackpot on Woman’s Own Bingo, scooping £17,984. And it wasn’t my first win – it was my eighth! I joined the site in 2009 after seeing an advert and, even though I wasn’t savvy with computers, I signed up. The site was so easy to use, even for me! It took just a few minutes to create my account, then I started playing on the slots. I like bingo, but I prefer slots, as the games are fast and exciting. I was having a…

Mahonia japonica From China (rather than Japan, as the name suggests) has powerfully fragrant winter flowers, held on arching stems. The evergreen leaves lie on the stems almost horizontally. Masses of purple berries are carried in early summer. H 7ft (2m). Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’ A recent variety, the first to have spine-free leaves. Good for larger pots, where it will provide year-round foliage and interest; fragrant yellow flowers are produced from August to October. Plant of the Year at the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show. H 4ft (1.2m). Mahonia nitens ‘Cabaret’ Another recent introduction, the flowers appear from late summer and autumn, starting as masses of bright orange-red buds that open from the base of the spike to reveal lightly scented yellow flowers. Blue-grey berries follow. H…

Shortbread with lavender £9.99 + £2.99 delivery Lakeland stores 015394 88100 lakeland.co.uk An infusion of the subtle scent of lavender gives this butter rich shortbread a delightfully fragrant taste. Made to traditional methods in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, using a unique blend of flours for added crunch, it comes in a pretty tin that’s ideal for giving. Weighs in at a tasty 61/2 oz (190g). Lavender and Geranium Reed Diffuser £10.95 + £4.99 p&p The Garden Fragrance Company 0843 289 9533fragrance thegardenfragrancecompany.co.uk A gentler way of adding a delicate, constant scent to your home. The reeds simply soak up the fragrance and disperse it into the air. Also includes elements of cedarwood, vetivert and basil. Contains 100ml and lasts for around eight weeks. Wheat & Lavender Warmer £17 + p&p £3.50 Somerset…

1 Temperature is essential to get right. Aim for a consistent 15-20°C (59-68°F). Bring your plants home quickly and never buy from a market or supermarket doorway where a change in temperature will cause leaf drop. 2 Only water when the compost dries out. Waterlogged plants will droop but should recover within a few days. If plants are wilting due to drought, rescue by soaking the rootball only in warm water. 3 Poinsettias hate dry air, and centrally-heated rooms can turn the edges of the leaves brown. Apply a fine mist to the leaves regularly, or place on a tray of moist pebbles to increase humidity. 4 Keep plants in a bright spot out of the way of draughty doors and fireplaces. A windowsill is ideal as long as the…

1 Tip half of the compost provided with the amaryllis bulb into the pot, dampen it and then leave it to drain. 2 Gently arrange the roots on the layer of compost under the bulb, taking care not to snap or bruise any. 3 Pour in the rest of the compost around the bulb. Firm it down, leaving the top 1/3 of the bulb visible. 4 Water, let it drain then put the pot somewhere warm and light. Keep it moist, feed when it comes into bud.…

“The greenhouse lost several panes” WHILE 2016 has been a turbulent year globally, in ways too numerous to mention here, at least I’ve had some positive developments in the garden! After two years spent removing trees, shrubs and hedges that dominated my growing space, 2016 has been the first year of building the garden as I imagined. My aim is to create a balance of ornamental and edible plants, while encouraging beneficial wildlife and insects, using organic methods wherever possible. This year’s major projects started in January with the arrival of the greenhouse, and the building of three raised beds. They were all worth the time, effort and money. Successful crops included potatoes, tomatoes, onions and shallots, various soft fruits and berries, runner beans, broad beans, peas and chard, plums…

1 Put the plants in water to soak the rootballs, and place crocks in the container, for improved drainage. 2 Part fill the pot with a good free-draining compost. I used a mix of multi-purpose and John Innes No 3. 3 Add the plants, starting with the central one. Fill around them with compost to 1in (2.5cm) below pot rim. 4 Water the container, even if rain is due. It helps firm in the plants, and settle the compost around their roots.…

SWEET peas are traditionally the sight and scent of a British garden at the height of summer. Developments in breeding, to create new colours and varieties, mean that this old-fashioned hardy annuals has never gone out of style. They are often sown in spring, but their hardiness means that you can also do it now for earlier flowers, and make the most of the packet we are giving away with this year’s Christmas bumper issue. Keep the sown seeds somewhere warm and light until they germinate. Once up, harden them off gently then they can then go in a cold frame, cool room or unheated greenhouse until the spring. Pinch out seedling growing points so you get robust, sturdy plants. Top Tip   To help sweet peas germinate, soak seeds…

• Give cymbidiums good but not harsh light. Room temperatures are fine, down to min 46˚F (8˚C) • Above 65˚F (18˚C) increase humidity – group them with other plants, or stand on a dish of moist pebbles. • Add an orchid fertilizer to the water every fortnight in spring and summer. I keep a ready-to-use, spray-on foliar feed handy, for busy times. • Cymbids need cool summer nights to stimulate flowering. It is often recommended to put them outdoors from June to September. I find mine deteriorate in the garden and they re-flower perfectly well kept indoors year round. • If blooming falters plants may need repotting. Do this between February and June. Use a knife to slice large clumps into divisions with at least three pseudobulbs. Choose pots on…

1 Cut lengths of foliage from your garden. I’m using ivy, eucalyptus and rosemary but conifers would also work well. Wrap a thick band of blutack around the base of a candle then... 2 ...poke the sprigs of foliage into the blu-tack –at an angle, not flat – to create a base layer of greenery. Now push chilli stalks into the blutack around the top of the greenery. 3 Work around the whole circle, then top the chillies with more foliage sprigs to hide the blu-tack. Stand the arrangement on a saucer and give it pride of place on the Christmas table.…

IS it just me who can’t get enough of cranberry sauce? I love it with turkey, stuffing, pigs in blankets – even on toast. The little red berries are easy to grow at home. Originating from acidic bogs, cranberries need an acid soil (like blueberries) but they’re happy in our cooler northern climate. They’re grown on a huge scale in North America, on raised beds of sand surrounded by water channels. This provides the roots with continuous moisture but keeps the foliage, flowers and fruit dry. You can recreate these conditions at home by planting your cranberries in a raised bed of free-draining soil (add grit if you’re on clay) which is kept well watered from spring to autumn. The soil needs to be acidic, so dig in sulphur chips…

1 Organic gardener Bob Flowerdew has had an exciting career. Which of these statements accurately describes Bob’s previous ventures to earn a living? a) Bob once worked as a chicken giblet washer, a dog impersonator, and a cook in a house of ill repute. b) Bob trained as an rAF fighter pilot and later flew commercial airliners after ending military service. c) Bob ran the family farm in Somerset, which supplied organic produce to michelin-starred restaurants. 2 Poinsettias are Christmas favourites with their brightly-coloured bracts (leaves). How do growers make plants colour-up for the festive season? a) Bracts start to turn red after plants have a water-based dye injected into their stems. b) Bracts are initiated by short winter day length. this involves plants being subjected to 12 hours’ daylight…

OUR Christmas trees are up and the mistletoe is hanging in the hall. I’m almost ready for a family Christmas. With just a few more bits of shopping left to do I headed to my local market town of Leominster where I was tempted away from my mission into Posies florist shop. Here dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, cones and ribbons got me all fired up about making a decoration for the front door. On offer were willow, oasis and wire rings that could all be the base of a wreath. I opted for willow – the advantage being that you don’t need to cover the whole thing with foliage. On returning home my kitchen table became a florist bench. Ivy, holly and laurel were my pick for the base of…

1 Remove any leaves that will sit below the water line as these will rot in the water making it smelly. Keeping the water as clean as possible will help to prolong the life of your posy. 2 Fill your vase with water and arrange the foliage first. This will create the background to your arrangement and provide some bulk which will provide support to the rest of your posy. 3 Next arrange any stems with berries. Then finally add the stems of any flowering shrubs, perennials or hardy annuals that are in bloom. Seed heads can also add interest.…

What’s good for winter colour? Q My garden is bare in mid-winter. I would like to plant more trees and shrubs for winter berries and ornamental fruit. What can you recommend? Jim Hanes, Warrington A Planting for late-autumn and winter interest is a great idea and ensures that the garden can be appreciated all year-round. Consider sight lines, and position trees and shrubs where you will be able to see them in low winter light. Nearly all winter fruit-bearing plants appreciate a well-drained, moisture-retentive soil. Here are six shrubs/trees to consider: 1. Gardens benefit from trees and one of my favourites is Sorbus ‘Joseph Rock’. It’s small, growing to a height of 20ft (6m) with a canopy of around 10ft (3m) and has beautiful red, purple and amber leaves for…

WHETHER you’re welcoming a relative’s dog into your home this Christmas, or about to provide a permanent home for a new pet, or simply want to improve your plot for your own pooch, now is a good time to think about making a garden that’s fit for both man, and man’s best friend. A little bit of thought is all that’s needed to create outside spaces that look beautiful and are fun for canine friends, too. A good first step is to check for dangers, starting with insecure fencing or hedging; something that’s especially important when an animal is in unfamiliar territory. Make sure barriers are high enough to prevent a dog from jumping over them, and that there are no gaps that can be wriggled through. Also think about…

Hard-wearing grass seed Boost areas pounded by paws on a regular basis by sowing grass mixes developed to be hard wearing. • Tough Grass lawn seed from Gro-Sure £14.99 amazon.co.uk Dome plant support Protect precious plants from being trampled with a dome plant support. Crocus sell small and large versions that are designed to be ‘barely there’. • £24.99-£34.99, crocus.co.uk Poo composter Turn faeces into fertiliser by investing in a specialist composter. Composter base is inserted into the ground. • Yard Art Pet Poo Composter £135 from internetgardener.co.uk…

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MAHONIAS are accommodating, easy-to-grow shrubs with no particular demands. It is best not to feed them with high-nitrogen fertilisers as they don’t respond well. However, they will appreciate a feed in April with a handful of sulphate of potash or blood, fish and bone, gently worked into the soil. Water only if the soil becomes very dry. Cut plants back if they get too big, too dense or become sickly or damaged. Prune at any time of year, but the best time is soon after flowering has finished.…

Keep or discard? MANY years ago in the late 1960s/ early 1970s, I was a new wife and living in Germany. In those days we didn’t have much money and living on a Army Serviceman’s pay wasn’t easy. My father was in the Army, so we travelled with him and I enjoyed living in other countries, mixing with the locals and going shopping in the local town where we were stationed. One bitter winter’s day I was shocked to come across a four foot high cactus, still in its pot, just dumped with the rubbish as it was collection day. I started to look around other piles of rubbish and found orchids, exotics and bromeliads, still in flower. In those days I knew nothing about plants but the shopping trip…

 FAITH’, ‘Hope’ and ‘Charity’ are the names of three handsome varieties of mahonia which were raised in Northern Ireland back in the 1950s on the famous Slieve Donard Nursery. “As Christmas evergreens go, mahonia has it all” Sadly, ‘Faith’ has been lost, ‘Hope’ has all but disappeared but thankfully ‘Charity’ is alive and well and goes on giving! Despite being the thick end of 70, ‘Charity’ is still one the best mahonias money can buy. Whenever I see one I’m always reminded of my dear old mum who would cut sprigs of the foliage and flowers to brighten up the kitchen for the festive season. As Christmas evergreens go, mahonia has it all, with prickles ‘as sharp as any thorn’ and lustrous foliage that chimes in beautifully with the holly…