Innholdsfortegnelse for 11-jun-16 i Amateur Gardening

MOST of us expect a certain natural order in the garden – plants grow with their roots in the soil; birds and bees fly around; neighbours annoy you with noisy DIY on sunny Sundays – you know the sort of thing. There are exceptions, and I came across one recently that really surprised me. A good flush of flower buds on the plum trees at my allotment simply disappeared over a period of about a week. On close inspection I discovered a snail high up in the branches, munching happily on tender new growth. I eventually found seven snails and one slug enjoying the view – and anything fresh, green and tasty that poked its head above the bark. There were more on the other plum, and one in the…

• Weeding: Get rid of weeds as soon as they start to emerge. • Watering: The best time to water is early morning and in the evening. Water around the roots, don’t waste water on the leaves. • Deadheading: Remove faded blooms so the plant will create more. • Edging: Well cut lawn edges look good and expose pests. • Staking: As tall plants head towards their full height, support them to prevent wind damage and snapped stems.…

CELEBRATIONS for the Queen’s 90th birthday continue, and you can add to the occasion with flowers. I planted up this summer container in patriotic shades of red, white and blue. With care, and regular watering, it should keep flowering until the autumn. I filled it with a ‘Survivor Scarlet’ zonal pelargonium in the centre, trailing white bacopas, blue lobelia and a ‘Decora Red’ trailing pelargonium, and blue tufts of ageratum plus a ‘Cabaret Bright red’ calibrachoa. Containers come in many sizes, shapes and colours, but my favourite remains traditional terracotta. It is a warm colour, and the perfect foil for colourful blooms and all shades of green. Top Tip Place crocks at the base of the pot, and stand it on pot feet once planted up, to help improve drainage.…

AS Adam and Eve discovered, gardens can be dangerous places. For all their beauty, touching some plants can cause skin and eye irritation, while eating them can result in nasty illness, or in some cases death. This applies to some edible as well as ornamental plants (for example rhubarb leaves can burn the mouth and throat, and cause nausea), and the main dangers come from eating them (poisoning) or contact with bare skin (rashes and blistering, and eye irritation). Most plants sold in nurseries and garden centres will have labels stating whether they pose a risk, and staff should know their plants, so always check before buying. The key to staying safe is to be sensible about planting, especially if children or pets visit your garden. Children are attracted to…

1 Fill a seed tray with a 50/50 mix of seed compost and perlite to aid drainage and air circulation. 2 Select a healthy, non-flowering shoot around 4in (10cm) long, and remove it with a sharp, clean knife. 3 Strip off the lower leaves, dip the cut end in rooting powder or gel, and insert it into the compost mix. 4 Cover the seed tray, or seal it in a plastic bag, and place it somewhere warm and bright.…

• Always prune early-flowering shrubs, such as forsythia, as soon as the flowers have faded. • This is because they produce blossom on the previous year’s growth, so the longer they have to grow, the better the display will be. • Cut back flowered stems to strong, new growth, and remove 20 per cent of older stems to create an ‘open’ shape. • Also take the opportunity to check for pests and disease, and remove spindly and crossing branches.…

1 The honeysuckle had been in its pot a long time, so I stood it in water to saturate the rootball, which made it easier to remove from its container. 2 Before digging the planting hole (to the same depth as, but slightly wider than, the rootball), I cut through the weed-suppressing membrane. 3 Before planting, loosen the rootball with your fingers. Position it in the hole, fill around it with a mix of soil and compost, and water well. 4 I mulched around the plant with well-rotted manure, and then replaced the membrane, to deter weeds and help retain moisture.…

IF you followed my advice back in mid April you should now be gazing at a tray of very perky little sweetcorn seedlings. I’ve sown mine in small modules and want to get them into the ground as soon as possible so they don’t have time to get rootbound, but if you’ve sown yours in larger pots you can wait a little longer till you plant them out. It’s crucial that this tender crop doesn’t get exposed to frost, so if a chill is forecast cloak your plantings in fleece until it passes. Sweetcorn is essentially a huge grass-like plant that needs to be planted in blocks in a sunny spot to ensure good pollination (a sign that this has gone wrong is sparsely swollen cobs). See my spacing guide…

FRUIT trees have had it good this year. We haven’t experienced too many late frosts so chances are, if your tree flowered well, it should now be draped with lots of developing fruitlets. How alarming then, when you see half of them turn yellow, shrivel and fall off. This process is known as the ‘June drop’ because it generally occurs during this month. And don’t worry – it’s a perfectly natural response and a good sign that your tree is interested in quality rather than quantity. The plant is naturally shedding excess fruitlets, especially those that are malformed or damaged. The tree will often shed good fruitlets, too, because we’ve pruned it in a way that causes it to produce way more fruit than it can healthily carry. If a…

THE little globe artichoke seedlings I bought have been successfully potted on and hardened off, so are ready to be planted out. They are stately plants that can grow to 5ft (1.5m) tall, and 3ft (1m) wide. Their foliage is an attractive silvery-grey and their flower heads are the tasty bits that are picked and cooked before they open. I have several plants, so have planted three in raised beds (where there is still room) and the others will go into the back and centre of ornamental borders, where they will add structure and interest. Globe artichokes do best in an open, sunny site with free-draining soil. Before planting, it helps to enrich the bed with plenty of well-rotted compost or manure, and to add grit in heavier soils. In…

• 11 June: Plant Hunters’ Fair (11am-5pm), Arley Arboretum, Near Bewdley, Worcs. DY12 1XJ planthuntersfairs.co.uk • 11-12 June: The English Country Garden Festival, The Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Somerset. 01749 988 111 bishopspalace.org.uk • Sat 11 June to Sun 12 June: Field & Country Fair Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire. Join in celebrating the best of country sports and country life. For Tickets: 01252 555213 fieldandcountryfair.com • 12 June: Braddocks House, Oxbridge, Dorset, DT6 3TZ (2-5pm) in aid of British Red Cross, 01823 273713 swashington@redcross.org.uk • 12 June: Parker Towers, 6 Garden Place, Church Hill, Crook DL15 9DR in aid of the NGS (1-5pm) 01388 766277 clive.m.parker@btinternet.com • 14-19 June: Special Rose Festival, Pashsley Manor Gardens, Pashley Road, Ticehurst, Wadhurst TN5 7HE. 01580 200888 pashleymanorgardens.com • 15 June: Thornton Hall Gardens, Staindrop Rd,…

MAY was a fantastic month for blossom but it is quickly floating down to the ground as wisteria, staphylea and magnolia blossom decorate the paths. Here’s the dilemma. When fresh nothing beats a pretty spread of confetti but as it ages the petals turn brown and slushy. So do you sweep them up or leave them be? What’s your view? As Stockton Bury Gardens are open to the public I sweep them up, much to the dismay of visitors. This is done to prevent a slip hazard. Also, larger petals from magnolias start to look like litter from a distance. This year I have, however, kept some of the swept up wisteria blossom to dry. I’ll let you know how it does.…

1 These generous square pots will give the sweet peas plenty of root space. Fill with good seed compost, pressing very lightly with fingers to make sure any air pockets are filled. Then set the pots up in their tray. 2 Deal seeds out 3-4 per pot, space them evenly, and sow each 1/2in (1.5cm) deep using a fingertip or dibber. Water them in, using a fine rose (sprinkler) attached to the can, and label with name and date. 3 Place the pots in an unheated greenhouse or coldframe, and cover with an old propagator lid or similar to keep mice off while germination takes place. Remove the cover once the seedlings are fully emerged.…

QI fancy trying raspberry or maybe blueberry plants in a former garlic patch. How do I get these two fruits off to the best start, and what do I need to consider when growing, feeding and pruning them? James Couling, Portsmouth A If you decide to grow blueberries, you need to ensure the soil is acidic enough for them, ideally with soil acidity (pH) level of 4.0-5.5. You can achieve this by carrying out a pH test and applying the correct amount of Flowers of Sulphur to bring about any necessary change. In many cases this can be applied up to 12 months before planting the crop. Bushes should be planted 4-4.5ft (1.2-1.4m) apart and up to 5ft (1.5m) from other fruit. Avoid applying fertilisers containing lime or calcium. Apply…

Q What is this beautiful flower? The bees are very fond of it. Kathryn Douglas (via email) A The plant is Cerinthe major, also known as Honeywort, and is in the same plant family as borage, comfrey, forget-me-not and heliotrope. It is an annual or biennial, and quite happily seeds itself around! It does best in a sunny, sheltered spot, and is happy on most soil types as long as the drainage is good. Q My onions have been attacked by something. What can I do? Tom Higgin, Thornaby-on-Tees AThrips are probably the cause. Spray them with an insecticide based on fatty acids or pyrethrum - basically an ‘organic’ pesticide. This pest is not easy to deal with, as the sprays only work on the insects they touch, so repeated…

Agapanthus gloves £32 + £4.95 P&P if required AGA Cookshop agacookshop.co.uk Leather gauntlets, featuring the distinctive blooms of agapanthus on the water repellent acrylic coated cuff, incorporate a supple, yet tough, leather hide glove for full-on protection. Garden tiller £109 + P&P from £6.98 0330 123 0001 ukhs.tv This new BMC (British Mower Company) tiller has a 1400w electric motor, cutting width of 16in (400mm) and tilling depth of 9in (220mm). Retractable wheels and folding handles make for easy storage. Inflatable hot tub £599 (FREE delivery) 0845 576 0116 lay-z-spa.co.uk A Lay-Z-Spa Paris tub gives you the choice of seven different coloured LED lights to suit your mood. – all remote controlled. There’s space for 4-6 people to enjoy the massage system of 87 air jets. All prices correct at…

What the designer says... • ‘This energetic garden has been created for a mad keen gardener who lives in the city. They are dreaming of the country and making the most of the space they have,” explains Ann-Marie Powell. “I am thrilled with the willow woven compost bins – this is an idea I will be taking home to my own garden.” Key plants • Anchusa azurea ‘Loddon Royalist’ – has gorgeous electric blue blooms. • Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’ – a ‘see through’ plant with dark stems and white flowers. • Cirsium atropurpureum ‘Trevor’s Blue Wonder’ – a thistle that offers purple blooms (don’t be fooled by the ‘Blue’ in its name). • Dicentra ‘King of Hearts’ – delicate heart-shaped flowers. Perfect for the front of a border. • Eremurus…

MY granddad Charlie suffered a severe stroke a while ago and is now unable to do what he loved doing the most, walking down to his allotment on a daily basis. However we hope that we’ve found a way of making things easier for him. We’ve built up stacks of tyres to the height of his wheelchair to make flowerbeds so now he can do a bit of pottering when he feels like it. We’ve even created an access path suitable for him and his chair so he can reach different areas. This means he can still get a great deal of enjoyment from going to his allotment. My daughter Lilia (7years old), his great granddaughter, loves giving him a helping hand too, so there’s lots of fun for the…

LANNING on giving your garden a facelift by adding some P decking? – then new Hedgehog® Speedeck® is on hand to help you tackle the task. Hedgehog® Speedeck® is the essential new decking tool to put an end to the tedious and time-consuming method of positioning and fixing decking boards one at a time. Now you can simultaneously position and fix multiple boards quickly and safely in less than half the normal time – meaning less time spent on your hands and knees. Lightweight, durable and easy-to-use Hedgehog® Speedeck® partitions up to five boards in one go with perfect gaps. It also helps to get the job done safely – ensuring hands are clear of hazardous nail guns. Available in sizes to suit boards from 90mm to 145mm Hedgehog® Speedeck®…

“The only thing she could do was rip up and burn the plant” I LOVE a good mystery, so when a customer came in to our nursery and asked me why the blooms of her Clematis ‘Crystal Fountain’ were opening green instead of the proper lavender-blue, I was all ears. Last year, she said, the climber had been ‘beautiful’ and wondered if anything planted close by could have prompted the sudden change. The idea that one plant’s ill health could be caused by another is something I hear a lot. Understandable, I suppose, as we all like to blame the neighbours! That said, there are plants that don’t get along. Ornamental grasses, for example, will malinger when grown among lavender, and the leaves of walnuts have it in for lawns.…

THIS is the time of year when gardens should be looking blooming beautiful, packed with fresh green growth and colourful flowers. In theory, you should need to do little more than keep your borders ticking over with the five simple tasks I have listed on the following page. These will help keep plants healthy, and prolong their flowering. However plants do fail sometimes, leaving a hole in border. If this happens you’ll need to plug the gap. I have been meaning to spruce up a neglected corner of one of my borders for some time. Although it’s relatively late in the season, I decided it was still worth doing – as you can see in the panel to the right. As we are nearly in the middle of June, the…

PLANTS such as clematis, honeysuckle and sweet peas should be tied on to supports or wires to guide their growth into place. This means you can ensure they grow in the direction you want them to, and encourages strong growth. Unsupported climbers can waste their energy sending out tendrils to find something to cling to, so if you tie them up they will put that energy into growth and flowering. When tying plants, take care not to tie them too tightly, as this can bruise the stem. Tie string, twine or raffia in a figure-of-eight, with a loop around the support and a loop around the plant stem, as this will help prevent the plant rubbing directly against the support.…

1 Stand plants in water before planting, to give the rootballs a soaking, and make them easier to remove from their pots. 2 Place crocks at the bottom, and fill the pot with potting compost. Make a hole in its centre, and put in your ‘focus plant’. 3 Then add your smaller side plants and trailing plants. Plant them to the same depth as their rootball, and firm in. 4 Add extra compost around the plants if necessary. Water well, as this helps settle plant roots and firm the compost.…

• Always wash your hands well after handling plants, even if you have been wearing gloves. • If something had irritated your skin, wash the area well and apply antiseptic or antihistamine cream, or take an antihistamine tablet. • Try not to rub or scratch the irritated area. • If you think someone has eaten part of a dangerous plant, take them straight to A&E with a sample of the plant, and do not make them vomit. • If skin starts to blister, or you experience shortness of breath, dizziness or nausea, seek medical advice – and take a sample of the plant your touched/ate with you.…

“Salads were the mainstay” TWO students at Writtle College, Juliette Steyl and Michelle Fisher, took as their course project subject ‘Grow Food for Young Children at Schools . Their objective was to design something good enough to be put on show and also be an inspiration for pupils to grow their own fruit and vegetables. Working on the premise that some schools would not have access to soil, and that space could be limited, they based their work on large pallet dimensions. A raised bed was constructed and then edible flowering plants, fruits, herbs, salads and vegetables were sown in time to start cropping for course assessment mid-May. It was a pretty ambitious enterprise for students in full time education and they did a remarkably good job, good enough to…

1 Weed the soil, and rake it to a fine tilth. If the soil is heavy, add sharp sand to improve drainage. 2 Choose a healthy, non-flowering stem that is long and flexible enough to bend down to touch the soil. 3 Score the underside with a sharp knife. Press the wounded bit down and pin to the soil with bent wire. 4 Cover the pinned down bit of stem with soil. Tie the shoot tip lightly to a cane above the soil. Water well.…

“Overwatering symptoms look a bit like sun damage” AMONGST all the Chelsea Flower Show successes I have a little tale of woe for you. You see, behind the glitz and glamour there’s more than a little heartbreak going on – getting plants to bloom in time for the world’s premier gardening show isn’t as easy as the professionals would have you think. On 10th Feb, my daughter and I sowed the seeds of this beautiful sweet pea, the sales of which raise funds for Thrive’s therapeutic horticulture courses. With supplemental lighting and the warmth of my conservatory I was confident of results in time for the show. Using the tips (right) the first flush of fragrant blooms on long 12in (30cm) stems appeared the first week of May. Job done!…

1 I’m cutting these mature lettuces daily at the moment so will quickly go through them. A gentle squeeze of their hearts (middles) will tell me which ones to prioritise. 2 These little lettuces, on the other hand, still have a couple of weeks of growing to do. I keep them well watered during dry spells to ensure they bulk up as my first batch finishes. 3 I’m now sowing a third batch to mature once the second ones are cut. Water the base of the drill thoroughly and cover the sowings with newspaper to prevent drying out.…

WHAT could be more quintessentially British than to feast on strawberries and cream in June –if the berries are home-grown then so much the better! Crops forced under glass have been ripening for well over a month now but not all of us have the space to do that. Thankfully, outdoor plants are now joining the party, producing vivid scarlet fruits that gleam up at you from among the lush leaves. Bedding down the plants with straw will help to keep the fruits off the soil and also deters slugs and snails. Netting rows will ensure you, rather than the blackbirds, eat the harvest, and picking daily will guarantee perfect ripeness. Wait till they’re really deep red for the best flavour, and eat them warm from the sun, not chilled…

“Make trapping easier by attracting them to bait” FEW pests bother us more than slugs and snails – they seem to eat almost anything. They appear from nowhere in spring and become vast hordes by this time. There’s no easy solution, but a series of steps will help to reduce the damage they cause. Snails are often the lesser of the two evils except in gardens with dry stone walls where their numbers can be startling. However in most gardens, snails do less harm than slugs. Even so, they still need control. Slugs are more varied, more numerous, and do much more harm to more parts of your plants. Inconveniently, many slugs seldom move about above ground so are harder to catch. Without doubt, the most effective method is continuous…

AS my early horticultural career was spent in the parks department I have a soft spot for summer bedding. The vibrant colours and chance to start from scratch each year is refreshing. Last June I planted a raised urn, which sits in the centre of a small enclosed part of the garden, with a mix of bedding. There was no centre to the display, just an over the top mop of colour and mingling flowers. It definitely lacked something. From this I have learnt that when a single container is being planted as a focal point it needs a heart - a central plant such as a cordyline or bay. This year I’ve gone for a small box plant and surrounded it with trailing blue lobelia, white petunias and my…

MILD winters can cause shoots to become leggy, so pinch out the growing tip after three or four pairs of leaves and repeat if more long shoots grow later. Should roots become congested in small containers, move on to larger pots. Harden off gradually and plant out around March time, depending on the weather, setting single plants or undisturbed pot-fulls 12in (30cm) apart against their supports. They need a sunny position and rich, deeply cultivated soil. Tie main stems against the supports and once flowers form, give them a high-potash feed and pick regularly. Never allow seed pods to form.…

Graham Clarke, former AG Editor: • I worked as a gardener at Buckingham Palace in the 1970s. The Queen would often walk the corgis, and she’d even spend some time sweeping up autumn leaves into piles – once, Prince Charles landed in his helicopter and blew them all away! One day I was on my own, in a deep hole digging out a new bed in the rose garden (pictured). I heard the words: “Are you digging to ‘Oorstralia’?”, I looked up and was greeted by a pair of royal ankles!…

• Mulch blueberry bushes with well-rotted sawdust helps keep the pH from rising, and stops weeds growing. Apply a 4-6in (10-15cm) layer each spring, but do not allow it to touch the stems. • Don’t let blueberries dry out, especially in pots. Use only rainwater, applied at 51/2gal (25 litres) per sq yd/m² each week, from June until the fruits ripen. • Autumn-fruiting raspberries are the easiest types to grow and look after, trained on simple posts and wires.…

CHELSEA FLOWER Show showcases the very best in horticulture, with award-winning exhibits and show gardens. These lovely herbaceous perennials are popular with garden designers and visitors alike, and are often seen at the world’s most famous flower show. A well-known garden design rule is to ‘plant in groups of three , as it’s easier on the eye. So if you’re looking to recreate the ‘Chelsea look’ in your own garden – and you’ve got the space – consider buying the collection of 12 plants. You’ll then get 100 free* freesia bulbs (which can be planted outside up until the end of July). Supplied as young plants in 28 days. *Just pay postage. Myrrhis odorata Umbellifers like Myrrhis odorata are a favourite of garden designer Cleve West. Their long stems with…

Pot within pot Alpines are the perfect way to add colour to even the smallest of plots. Alpine specialists D’Arcy and Everest had placed pots inside each other and planted with sedums. The result was a terracotta treat with rings of interest that contrasted with the silky smooth alpines. Another effective idea used here was to place slate in large, shallow terracotta pots to divide the alpines and create that natural rocky habitat. Alpines undercover: Consider growing show quality alpines by displaying them in a cool greenhouse. This will prevent damage from rain and keep the slugs at bay. Position them on a bench and it is far more likely that you will spend time admiring the tiny blooms. Recycled charm Diarmuid Gavin’s Silver-gilt dramatic Harrods British Eccentrics…

1 This area is between a weeping pear and a forsythia. It had weeds, a dead shrub, and cherry suckers. 2 Digging up the dead fuchsia and cherry suckers (as well as the root they were growing from) was tough! 3 Once the area was clear, I forked in well-rotted manure to improve the soil’s structure and add nutrients. 4 I planted the refreshed soil with varieties that like dappled shade, such as this home-grown foxglove.…

1 Before planting, check the final size of the plant on its label. Stand the plant in water to saturate the rootball. Dig a hole as deep as, but slightly wider than, the plant’s container. 2 Ease the plant from its pot, and loosen its roots, Place the plant in the planting hole and fill in around it. Water well, and mulch with well-rotted compost or manure.…

• I used a compost enriched with nutrients and water-retaining crystals, which should reduce the need to water every day. • If you are using a multi-purpose compost for your tub or basket, adding water-retaining gel or crystals will reduce the need for daily watering – though always check the compost in very dry spells. • Water-retaining products are widely available from garden centres. • Slugs and snails love hiding under the rim of pots, so protect plants with pellets, or put copper bands or anti-slug gel around the container.…

WITH plants in the full growth of early summer, this is the perfect time to multiply their number by taking cuttings. from new shoots. Woody herbs such as lavender and rosemary are easy to propagate through softwood cuttings. This is a bonus to gardeners, as lavenders can have a fairly short lifespan, while rosemary often becomes straggly and unwieldy, so both may need replacing every few years. Once the cuttings have been taken and inserted into compost, they should start to develop their roots within six weeks to two months. If you don’t have any seed trays, insert your cuttings around the edge of a 10in (25cm) pot, and grow on as before. The new plantlets can be moved into individual 3in (7cm) pots, before being potted on into a…

DIANTHUS, also known as pinks and carnations, are one of the most popular traditional British flowers. They have a delicate scent and long blooming season and, best of all, are incredibly easy to propagate. The easiest way of doing so is by layering, when a stem is slightly wounded, and the wounded area is pressed into the soil. The best time of year to do this is early summer (now!), ideally no later than July, as this gives the layered shoots time to develop roots and be potted up before the colder weather of autumn. Top Tip   To take stem cuttings of dianthus, cut a 4in (10cm) length of a non-flowering stem, remove lower leaves, and push the cut end into moist seed compost in a pot. Water, put…

LAST year I bought a tiny evergreen honeysuckle from a supermarket for a ridiculously small sum of money. It was too small to plant out, and as it was also an impulse buy, there was nowhere for it to go. Since then, my hubby and I have planted a hedge of native trees along one side of the garden, offering the perfect location for the honeysuckle – which has grown considerably since purchase, and been potted on twice. The hedge was planted as young ‘whips’ (one-year-old trees), so we covered the ground around them with membrane to suppress weeds. I had to cut the fabric open to plant the honeysuckle. The soil underneath was rich and loamy, weed-free, and with a healthy population of worms. Honeysuckles are easy to grow.…

Lucy is a former AG gardening editor, and edited a national Grow-Your-Own magazine. A BBC Essex radio gardening expert, RHS author and lecturer, she’s also Head Gardener at East Donyland Hall, Essex. YOU might have gathered by now that I’m a keen advocate of sowing seeds - usually, little and often. Not a week goes by that I don’t urge you to open a packet of this, or scatter a sprinkling of that, but it’s for good reason, trust me. Quick-maturing veg such as radishes, rocket, baby carrots and annual spinach will deliver their harvest in a matter of weeks, but then – unless you keep sowing – they’re gone. So because no summer salad is complete without lettuce, this week I’m starting off yet another batch. Just be mindful…

THE warm, damp weather of late spring and early summer is peak potato growing time. To make sure you maximise your plants’ potential, they need a little ongoing care. Earth up stems as they grow, as this will encourage the plant to produce more tubers from their stalks. If you are growing in the open, use a combination of soil and compost – this mix is lighter than using soil by itself. It won’t crush the growing crops, and also helps retain moisture and provides food, which encourages the tubers to swell. When growing potatoes in containers, as I am doing, use multi-purpose compost, and remember to keep the bags well watered. First early potatoes should be almost ready for harvesting now. Wait until the flowers bud and drop, and…

IF you have a pond in your garden, or lakes, rivers or streams nearby, you’d be very unlucky not to see dragonflies and damselflies between mid-May and September. They are among the most spectacular of any insect species. But how do you tell them apart? And would you know the difference between a banded demoiselle and a brown hawker, or a common darter from a four-spotted chaser? There are more than 3,000 species worldwide, and sometimes they differ only in slight changes of wing colour or veining. Essentially, dragonflies have larger eyes, that usually touch, and different shaped fore- and hindwings (which they hold out horizontally when resting). They are also more agile in flight. Damselflies have similarly shaped wings, but they hold them close to the body when at…

IN Herefordshire we aren’t short of ground elder (Aegopodium podargraria). For those who are not familiar with this perennial weed – thank your lucky stars you haven’t met it yet. We have the Romans to thank for introducing this plant to the country. Not only is it invasive, it’s also capable of crowding out other plants. To get rid of it you’d be wise to go as far as sieving the soil to remove each and every piece of white root. An alternative is to try and eat your way out of the problem! Pick young shoots and treat as spinach. It tastes similar to spinach and is helped along by a knob of butter and some pepper. However, cease your feasting when plants start to flower as I have…

“Long stems of fragrant blooms look good in a vase” THIS week, our free seeds are aptly named, as the cover date of this issue of Amateur Gardening coincides with The Queen’s official Birthday Parade, this year celebrating her 90th. As usual, this is combined with Trooping the Colour, and takes place at Horse Guard’s Parade by St James’s Park on 11 June. I like to remember when our Queen used to inspect the troops on horse back, which she did on 36 occasions, riding side saddle and wearing the uniform of the regiment whose colour was being trooped, only taking to a carriage in 1987. Sweet pea ‘Royal Mixed’ delivers a rich blend of colours from white, through paler pinks and mauves, to more intense crimson and dark purple.…

Sweet rocket A hardy biennial with spikes of purple or white scented flowers in May and June. Sow now into a prepared seed bed outdoors, then transplant in autumn. Seed supplier: Chiltern Seeds 01491 824675. Sweet Williams Dianthus barbartus is a hardy biennial with a gorgeous spicy scent that can be sown now. Grow two or three different varieties together for impact. Seed supplier: Suttons 0844 326 2200. Sweet pea ‘Princess Elizabeth’ Spencer type with beautiful salmon-pink blooms. Order seeds now and sow at the end of September for flowers next summer. Seed supplier: Sow Seeds, sowseeds.co.uk East Lothian Stocks These summer bedding plants (Matthiola incana) can be grown as half-hardy annuals but results are often better if grown as a hardy biennial. Seed supplier: Chiltern Seeds 01491 824675.…

What’s damaged my poppy heads? Q The heads of my Oriental poppies have fallen off, or are partially hanging from the stem. Below the heads is a black sticky substance. What can I do? Shirley Power, Hornsea, Yorkshire AI am sorry your Oriental poppy flowers have not formed, and are hanging from the plant. I fear that a fungus, probably botrytis greymould, is the culprit. Like you, I have noticed this peculiar symptom on some of my perennial varieties of plants. All you can do is spray with a systemic fungicide, such as FungusClear Ultra or Fungus Fighter Plus, which enters the plant’s vascular system to ensure inbuilt immunity from further attacks. Why aren’t my chillies growing? QI bought some chilli pepper plants, and the label said they were ready…

NOW that the grass is growing more vigorously mowing the lawn is a weekly task, however it never looks completely finished until the edges are done. There are many types of lawn edger, but you can’t beat a traditional half moon design for ease of use. A good edging tool should feature a well designed handle, comfortable enough to accommodate both hands, and a flat foot tread as a hard edge can be felt through the soles of your shoes. Most designs follow the traditional half moon shape but we’ve also included in the test a rather unusual Qualcast version, with a deep central foot tread that allows for even pressure and accurate cutting. Like many things, the more you spend, the better the quality, so for serious gardeners, the…

What the designer says... • “I’ve really enjoyed working with this colour palette. The tones work with the cedar wood features and the Cotswold stone wall. The orange Iceland poppy ‘Champagne Bubbles’ is the perfect colour as it represents the Meningitis Now charity colour,” says John Everiss Key plants • Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ – a hardy perennial reaching (35in) 90cm. • Salvia nemorosa ‘Serenade’ – spires of purple flowers. 27in (70cm). • Aquilegia vulgaris ‘White Barlow’ – bright white flowers held on 19in (50cm) tall stems. • Cirsium atropurpureum ‘Frosted Magic’ – white thistle-like flowers. • Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii – lime green flowers making the perfect filler plant. Reclaimed stone The stone for the wall was recycled from a fallen down wall in the Cotswolds. Reclamation yards are good…

Viola ‘Jean Jeanie’ – a cracking plant introduced by Wildegoose Nursery a few years ago. Perfect for a pot. One for the Bowie fans among you. boutsviolas.co.uk Paeonia ‘Coral Charm’ – a semi-double scented stunner. Available from Claire Austin who recommends it for cutting. claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk claireaustinhardyplants.co.uk Rosa ‘Queen’s London Child’ – pale pink patio rose with an appropriate name for this year. Ideal for containers. Scented and repeat flowering.suttons.co.uk Petunia ‘Anna’ – this stunning white and pink double petunia comes highly recommended by AG’s Peter Seabrook. Perfect for baskets next year. mrfothergill.co.uk mrfothergill.co.uk…