Innholdsfortegnelse for 11-Mar-2017 i Amateur Gardening

THOSE tulips need a bit more water,” said my wife, Kath, on a visit to my sister Naomi, in Hastings. She was looking at a vase of beautiful, ramrod-straight flowers in a vase on the windowsill. I picked up the vase and made for the kitchen, planning to generously top up the inch or so of water lapping around the base of the stems. Instructions from the guv’nor are not to be ignored, and anyway, I reckoned she was right – in my book vase flowers need plenty of fresh water. My sister Naomi spotted me heading for the tap and intercepted me. “No, no, tulips don’t need it – the heads will flop over if you put too much water in the vase,” she told me. “Keeping just a…

1 While your plants are soaking in a bucket of water, dig holes as deep as their rootball, and slightly wider. 2 Slide plants from their containers, and carefully tease out their roots, especially ones circling the rootball. 3 Place them in their hole, and infill with a mix of soil and compost. Firm them in, and water them well. 4 Make sure plants are labelled, then mulch them to help the soil retain moisture, and to keep weeds down.…

• Temperatures may be starting to rise, but early and mid spring can bring stormy weather across the country. • Plants may have already taken a battering over winter, so help them withstand the next bout of severe weather by checking they are secure. • Young trees are particularly vulnerable to wild weather, so make sure their supporting stakes are firmly in the ground, and their ties are secure – but not digging into their bark, as this can cause chafing and constriction. • Frosty weather cracks and lifts the soil, so spend time treading it back down around trees and shrubs, so their roots are firmly underground.…

MY winter containers, which are planted up with a mix of spring bedding, herbs and evergreen plants, have been slowly growing and sporadically flowering through the winter. But now the weather is improving, they are becoming more colourful every week, and I need to check they are still in good health. Containers provide a snug refuge for pests – slugs and snails particularly – during the winter, so check for them around the rim and under plants. While you are looking at your plants, take the time to remove dead and damaged foliage, which may start to attract rot and mould in damp weather, and pinch off dead flower heads. Feel the compost in containers to check it is damp but not waterlogged. Containers standing against walls and under house…

THE petunia is the quintessential bedding plant, with trumpet-like blooms that illuminate millions of beds and containers each summer. The variety we are giving away this week is Mr Fothergill’s ‘Confetti Mixed F2’, which will produce flowers in a range of cheerful pinks, reds and purples and white. The plants are vigorous and branching and, with the right care and conditions, should produce colour from early summer right through until October. Petunias can be tricky to sow as the seeds are like dust, so here I show you a handy trick to makes sowing easier (far right). As the seeds are so small, dampen the compost first; if you water after sowing there is a risk you’ll wash them away. The seeds will germinate more successfully if left uncovered by…

WE all know that growing your own food offers nutritional benefits. Alongside fresh fruit and veg, many grains, pulses, nuts and seeds are important to digestive health. Buying them can be expensive, so I’m trying some of my own this summer. Nigella (Nigella sativa), poppy (Papaver somniferum), pumpkin (‘Baby Bear’) and sunflower seeds are all on my ‘to harvest’ list, as are those of fennel, cumin and caraway. You can use the spicier ones to flavour curries, crackers and breads, and combine others with coconut oil and pureed dates to make protein balls (handy for when you need an energy hit on chilly days in the garden). Having eaten quinoa many times, I’m also going to give this ancient grain a try on the plot. The plants are ornamental as…

WE need our indoor plants to look great as well as stay healthy, so although they can resent disturbance, I decided to treat our new yellow-banded mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’) to an attractive clay pot. Known as bowstring hemps, there are around 60 species of sansevieria, originating from dry habitats in tropical and subtropical Africa, Madagascar, India and Indonesia. Mature plants send up new rosettes of growth from thick underground rhizomes and amongst their ranks are some weird and wonderful specimens, such as Angolan Sansevieria cylindrica, whose narrow, tube-like leaves reach 3ft (1m). The secret of success is to treat these plants like succulents, always remembering they like a warm, minimum temperature of around 13°C (55°F). Many a plant has rotted during winter, when left with soggy roots next…

“Put wetted newspaper down before mulching” DON’T send newspapers off for recycling. Like Blue Peter, you can wrap sheets around the bottom of a bottle to make paper pots that rot away when planted out. Handy when you need lots of a size you don’t have, for example both sweet peas and sweetcorn love deeper narrower pots than are easily found. For these, making your own from newspaper is the answer. The real value of newspaper though is for a mulch or rather an ‘under mulch’. Most mulching materials are expensive and need to be applied really heavily to be properly effective. I find laying down a layer of wetted newspaper before mulching, more than halves the amount required and much extends the time this stays clean. Obviously the area…

EVER dreamt of creating a fernery? Now’s the time to do it. Over the years, I’ve built up a stock bed of ferns in my own garden a few miles from Stockton Bury and now I’m ready to rehome them. I’m keen to replant them in the Dingle Garden here at Stockton Bury for our visitors to enjoy. The long-term plan is to create a mini fernery by our shady grotto. All the fronds have been cut back and the plants lifted. I’m amazed at how large their root balls are. So, if you’re moving ferns lift with a fork quite a considerable distance away from the heart of the plant. Move them now or in winter as ferns are never keen to be uprooted in summer. My next challenge…

THE wall by our garden shed is west-facing, offering a sheltered growing environment. West-facing walls are easier to plant than east-facing ones, as the rapid morning thawing taking plasce with these can cause damage to flower buds. In most parts of the garden the soil pH is neutral, but we have pockets of more acid soil and here is one of them. To take advantage of this I’ve chosen to plant the reliable Camellia ‘Donation’. This popular pink flowerer has the reputation of being easy to grow, offering blooms from February to April, and the west-facing aspect is ideal. To give it a head start, I’m backfilling the planting hole with ericaceous compost. I’m hoping that after a few years I will be welcomed every spring morning by a new,…

DURING March, several birds and mammals are digging holes in trees, sometimes even ousting the current occupants of them, as a prelude to breeding. Here are three main culprits, plus a few of the chancers: • Grey squirrels mainly make their nests (called dreys) from twigs, leaves and dry grass, high in the crooks of tree branches, but they will also gnaw small cavities in trees, often in rotten wood where a dead branch has fallen off. Teeth marks are usually visible around the edge of the hole. • Woodpeckers generally excavate new holes each year, often in wood left weakened by fungal attack. Holes are usually 6ft (1.8m) above the ground, but can sometimes be found lower down. You may find wood chips at the base of the tree.…

1 “Avoid hard lines – plants should be encouraged to grow over the edges of paths, and climbers should be trained up and over walls. Margery Fish grew climbing roses up through old apple trees. Annuals self-seeding between plants and between stones should be encouraged.” 2 “The secret of success in creating the right cottage garden look are the borders, which should be filled with a mix of shrubs, herbaceous plants, bulbs, annuals and old roses. The cottage garden style also lends itself to mixed planting of vegetables, fruit and flowers.” 3 “Originally, cottages would have been humble dwellings, so their gardens would be small and all available space would be used. The intimate feel of cottage gardens can be achieved if the main emphasis is on planting and hard…

SUTTONS is claiming a ‘world exclusive’ with its new dwarf self-pollinating mulberry that bears seedless fruits. Mulberry ‘Charlotte Russe’ grows to just 5x5ft (1.5 x 1.5m) compared to traditional types that can grow into trees up to 26ft (8m) tall. It is being hailed as a breakthrough in breeding that’s ideal for a large tub. Fully hardy, ‘Charlotte Russe’ fruits on new and old wood. Suttons says it’ll crop in its first year. Older mulberry varieties take up to nine years to crop. A Suttons spokeswoman said: “Fruits taste like a cross between a strawberry and a raspberry, with a hint of blackberry, too. They make wonderful jams, sorbets, pies, muffins and mulberry gin!” Fruits appear in May and are still ripening in September. No pruning is required unless the…

IF you have a large lawn, use a lawn spreader to apply treatments as this makes application easier and faster. Ensure that the brand of spreader you buy will accept other brands’ products, as this is not always the case, meaning that you would need to stick to one brand of weed killer, moss killer and fertiliser. Calibration of such machines to accept other manufacturer’s products can be difficult and failing to do so can result in the wrong amount of treatment being applied to a lawn.…

Q My son lives in Australia and has this in his garden. What is it and can it grow in the UK? Sue Gidney (via email) A It is Bougainvillea glabra ‘Golden Glow’. A native of Brazil, its flamboyant bracts embrace tiny creamy white flowers. Resistant to drought, it thrives in free-draining soil and needs little attention apart from some form of support for its stems. It can be grown outdoors here in summer, but must be overwintered in a frost-free conservatory or greenhouse. Q What does it mean when a garden is ‘west-facing’ etc? Pat Wilson (via email) A Most gardens receive light from all angles. So to call a border ‘west’, ‘south-’, ‘north-’ or ‘east-facing’ depends on the degree of light that it receives. Thus, a west-facing border…

Now we know where the wildlife went I JUST had to write in to thank Amateur Gardening, and Graham Clarke in particular, for the ‘How to construct a Wildlife pond’ article that appeared in AG 18 Feb issue. We’ve had a pond for over 20 years and always had plenty of birds visiting our waterfall and river, together with lots of frogs, tadpoles and newts. However a few years ago we opted for a larger, expensive, plastic pond with a UV filter. We’ve got some beautiful koi, golden orfe and shubunkins, together with lovely clear water ,but to my surprise all the frogs and insects have disappeared. Luckily for us Graham’s tips were first class and explained exactly why we’d lost our wildlife. We didn’t realise that a UV filter…

“Smaller plants may take time to fill gaps’” IT’S such a relief to have warmer temperatures and longer days, and to see the gardens slowly coming back to life. Early spring is a great time to take stock, to see what has survived, what needs replacing, and to decide what new plants your garden needs. Perennials are a great way to colonise beds, borders and permanent containers. Most of them are ridiculously low maintenance, and they come in many forms, being available as plants, seeds, bulbs and corms. With the soil warming up, new plants can be placed now, while the shoots of returning perennials can be fed, mulched staked and protected from pests. Plants from garden centres can seem a major expense – you can expect to pay £20…

HOUSEPLANTS are always best repotted in spring, just as they are starting back into growth after their winter’s rest. In my experience, the further you get into spring, the more green-fingered jobs arise, so I am repotting my houseplants this week to give myself one less task to find time for. Several of my plants need to be moved to larger containers, and I decided to start with two ancient specimens – one a variegated alpinia (circled), and the other an asparagus fern. They’ve been sharing a pot for several years and now need their own space. There are a couple of things to remember when repotting houseplants. First, if you have to do your repotting indoors, lay down some plastic sheeting first. Where possible, use houseplant compost, as it…

“An excellent companion to winter flowering pansies” WHEN we buy modestly priced primroses from colourful garden centre displays at this time of year, there is little hint of the work that has gone on behind the scenes. Thanks to the skills of plant breeders we now have different series of primroses to flower from November to April. The Primula ‘Primus Series’ are very early and quick to flower, then comes the ‘Elvie Series’, followed by mid-season ‘Ambie Series’, mid to late ‘Tobie Series’ and finally ‘Cabaret Series’. All of these come in every rainbow colour and some are multi-coloured as in the ‘Ringostar Series’. All these primroses could be seen at a recent large-scale trial staged by Belgian breeder Rudy Raes. I was encouraged to hear during my visit that…

THE lessons we learn best are often the ones learned the hard way. Last summer I planted a mint in one of our borders, and this week I had to dig it up again, before it took over the whole area. I knew that mint is an incredibly invasive plant, so I planted it in its pot, hoping it would be contained. Even though the roots stayed put, it threw out robust runners under the soil, colonising areas well away from the parent plant. I could have put weedkiller on it, but several stems were mixed up with other plants, and I didn’t want to kill the wrong thing. I started by unearthing the pot, and then teased up the most visible runners, and traced them up to their ends.…

LAST week I was explaining how now is a great time to sow herbs – particularly annual ones, but you can speed things up a little. Keen (otherwise known as impatient) plotters like me will be itching to dice up mint, oregano and chives in their kitchens, yet seedlings take time to bulk up. This is where dividing the plants will be beneficial, because they can hit the ground running once introduced to warmth. Certain herbs, such as mint, oregano, chives, lemon balm, French tarragon and creeping thymes, thrive on division. Chopping up clumps now, while they’re just starting into growth, will not both deliver rapid new shoots for the kitchen, and rejuvenate tired plants. See panel (right) to find out what to do. TopTip Dividing herbs works with pot…

MORE compact rootstocks, dwarf patio varieties and improved flower hardiness means that all of us can now enjoy growing these sun-lovers. Just position them in a south- or west-facing spot and the heat will help to ripen the best fruits. Notorious for their early flowering, peaches, nectarines and apricots may be in bloom now. Hopefully you’ve followed my late December advice and either covered your plants with clear polythene or moved potted plants under glass. Either action will help to deter peach leaf curl fungus, but it also prevents pollinating insects from visiting the flowers. Remedy this by hand pollinating freshly open blooms with a soft paintbrush, moving from flower to flower. Repeat every day or so till flowering stops.…

1 Mix three parts potting compost (I use a combination of John Innes no 2 and soilless multipurpose) and 1 part potting grit (sharp sand as well). 2 For a natural look, the tight clump was divided carefully into two, each bearing short, fibrous roots. Old, claggy, compost was knocked away. 3 Put rocks in the pot base, and new compost, and stand plant sections on top, making sure they will be at the same height as before. Firm in. 4 Wait for a week before watering, so that any damaged roots can heal. After watering, don’t give any more until the surface has dried out.…

1 With small soft paint brush, feather or cotton bud, hand-pollinate early blossoms as fewer bees are about. 2 Under cover, especially in the propagator, make a close inspection of all your plants for small pests. 3 Birds will still scratch up what they don’t eat so put protection, such as fleece, over all your sowings. 4 Full moon, time for pest hunting with a torch and jam jar, rubber gloves – or tongs if you’re squeamish.…

WE have two very productive blueberry plants that are grown in terracotta pots. They spend the winter in a sheltered, frost-free spot and will be placed against a south-facing wall later in spring. To keep them in tip-top condition I’m removing the plants from their pots, gently knocking off the compost and repotting them in fresh ericaceous compost with an added slow-release fertiliser. They will then be watered with rain water as this won’t risk raising the soil pH. Soil in pots dies after a few years so it’s important to refresh it – you don’t necessarily need to pot into a larger container.…

‘Arabian Night’ Plant this decorative type for fully double, dark burgundy flowers that measure 8-10in (20-25cm) in diameter. (From Woolmans). ‘Jescot Julie’ A real firecracker with burnt orange petals that have a contrasting purple reverse. Part of the ‘orchid-flowered’ group. (From Sarah Raven). ‘Darkarin’ This sophisticated dahlia has been likened to a faded velvet cushion. Its open blooms are great for pollinators. (From Sarah Raven). ‘Burlesca’ Ball dahlias cut a dash in borders, and ‘Burlesca’ really stands out with its masses of rosy pink two-tone blooms. (From Woolmans). ‘Miss Sophie’ Early to flower and long-lasting. A pale pink semi-cactus type dahlia, the centre of which softens to cream as it ages. (From Woolmans). ‘Blanc y Verde’ Described by Sarah Raven as the “most extraordinary” white dahlia she has ever seen;…

• 11-12 March: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. Spring Flower Competitions. See a glorious display of spring flowers. As well as the RHS Early Camellia Competition and RHS Hyacinth Competition there will be classes for growing ornamental shrubs. For details 0845 265 8072 rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor • 14 March: Alpine trough workshops (10.30am and 2pm): RHS Garden Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB; 0203 1765 830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisely • 14 March: Grafting for Beginners (10.30am & 2pm): RHS Garden Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH; 0203 1765 830; rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor • 14 March: How to Grow Cut Flowers: RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB; 0203 1765 830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr • 15 March: Grow Your Own Vegetables (spring): RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettenden Common, Chelmsford CM3…

LEADING grower David Austin Roses has unveiled its three new blooms to be released at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May. All cost £19.95 for a bare-root or £24.95 for a potted rose. Go to davidaustinroses.co.uk or call (01902) 376300 for more details. • Rosa ‘Dame Judi Dench’ Named after one of Britain’s best-know stars of stage and screen, this shrub rose bears rich-apricot blooms. Fragrance is described as “medium-strong, combining classic tea with a note of cucumber and a • Rosa ‘Vanessa Bell’ Pink-tinged buds open to medium-size soft lemon-yellow flowers. Scent is said to be “green tea, with aspects of lemon and, at times, honey”. To be named after the painter and interior designer, Vanessa Bell. • Rosa ‘James L Austin’ Cerise-pink blooms and a scent comprising…

A VIBRANT red rhododendron has been bred to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Rhododendron Society – but gardeners will have to wait at least a year to grow it. Horticulturists at Caerhays Castle in Cornwall spent years developing Rhododendron ‘Red Centurion’ which has been registered with the RHS. It’s a cross between R. ‘Elizabeth’ and R. ‘Charles Michael’. Estate owner Charles Williams said: “We’re delighted to have developed a rhododendron to celebrate the centenary of such a worthwhile organisation.” A spokesman said the rhodo flowers in May with plants reaching 3-5ft (1-1.5m), making it suitable for smaller gardens. He said: “It flowers at a young age. Flowers are a striking deep waxy-red. The variety will be for sale via Burncoose Nurseries but it is probably still a year or…

In hanging baskets Pretty and productive, this method is ideal if you are short on space. Look for a trailing or ‘tumbling’ variety that promises vigorous growth and plenty of fruit – cherry tomatoes work particularly well. In a pot Choose a determinate or ‘bush’ variety (not cordon), which will form an attractive bushy shape as it grows. Bigger pots are best. Keep on top of watering and position out of wind, as top-heavy plants may blow over. As cordons against a wall Also known as ‘indeterminate’ varieties, cordons are trained as a single main stem that will need staking as it can reach 6½ft (2m) tall. Remember to pinch out any side shoots (inset) to encourage best flowering/fruiting. As dwarf bushes So small they can be grown on a…

SPRING then summer won’t be far around the corner, so now’s the time to be thinking about how you’ll conserve rainwater to keep precious plants alive when the sun starts to sizzle. Wooden barrels used to be the only way to save water – they’re still available but are relatively expensive, heavy to shift even when empty, and can leak if not properly maintained. Modern plastic butts are the answer and come in all shapes and sizes, some plainly utilitarian and others more attractive. We’ve looked at smaller butts for use where garden or patio space is at a premium. Active Outdoor Butt & Stand £65 delivery free or click and collect 0333 014 3098 diy.com  for store finder Features Sixteen-sided oak barrel effect with matching base, made…

1 Now is the time to cut back any plants you left intact before winter, taking care not to hurt or remove new shoots. 2 After pruning, mulch plants with well-rotted compost or manure to feed them and protect against weeds. 3 Weeds will be starting to come back with gusto, so make sure you get them out before they flower and set seed. 4 Edge grass borders using a half-moon tool, to make beds (and lawns) look tidier – remove a refuge for pests. 5 Add well-rotted compost or manure to vacant beds where summer bedding will go in a few months’ time.…

AS trees and shrubs, including fruit bushes and canes, come out of their winter dormancy and start breaking into leaf, they will appreciate feeding to help them as they come back into growth. Use a slow-release, balanced, granular fertiliser such a blood, fish and bone, bone meal, or Growmore for the best results, as they break down slowly, and their nutrients will stay active in the soil for longer. Most trees and shrubs in the ground will probably not need feeding again this year, as they will be able to get most of their nutrients from the soil. Your soil’s ability to retain goodness, and transfer it to the roots of trees and shrubs will also depend on its quality and structure. Sandy and chalky soils tend to have fewer…

ALPINES are tough little plants that have evolved to thrive in poor soil and at high altitudes. What they aren’t so good at is surviving wet weather, which is why so many tend to succumb to British autumns and winters. Whether your alpines are in a trough or a rockery, it is worth checking on them as the winter comes to an end. The alpines I have growing in a trough have spent the winter under a wooden bench, where they have been largely sheltered from the rain. A couple of plants haven’t survived, so I dug them out, checked around the trough for lurking pests, and then finished off the arrangement with a fresh layer of gravel. This improves the trough’s appearance and acts as a deterrent to slugs…

1 Locate the original pot, and dig around it before carefully lifting it, keeping all the roots intact. 2 Using a fork, trace back and lift all the runners that are creating new plants some distance from the parent. 3 Carefully lift other plants caught up with the runners, separate them. Replant, firm and water them in. 4 Gather unwanted plant fragments together and dispose of them – burn or add them to a recycling bin.…

HAVE you become a fan of peashoots? I’m addicted to their flavour and texture, regularly adding them to risottos, stir fries and salads. They mature quickly (within three or so weeks) so sow batches regularly. You can cram the seeds in – sow a thick layer of any variety on top of a shallow pot of compost. There’s no need to cover the seeds, just keep them well watered on a bright windowsill for easy indoor production. I’m also keen to have a constant supply of garden peas. I mentioned a few weeks ago how to sow into modules but you can also sow directly outside now – if one crucial element is right: soil temperature. If it’s warm enough for weeds to germinate, you’ve got the green light to…

IT’S now that most gardeners ponder which crops should go where – that’s where crop rotation comes in as a means to limit pests and diseases, and to boost yields. Charts, diagrams and grids of veg can be bamboozling – especially if you don’t grow regimental rows of veg. I’ve not followed a formal crop rotation in 20 years of gardening and it’s never caught me out. I just apply one sensible rule. – if any crop suffers from a soil-residing pest or disease one year, I do not follow it with a crop that is vulnerable to that problem. So, if carrots are struck down with root fly, or onions suffer from white rot, don’t crop that area with, eg. parsnips (root fly) or shallots (white rot) next year.…

A FEW weeks ago my mother came bounding into the garden saying: “Look what I’ve found.” I could tell by her enthusiastic pace and tone that she was very excited. “There’s a sweet pea called ‘Leominster Boy’ – you must grow it,” she said. Stockton Bury Gardens is just over a mile from the market town of Leominster in Herefordshire. I’d never heard of this large, pink sweet pea from Mr Fothergill’s, so got straight on the phone to the seed company to ask about its history. Sadly, very little is known apart from the fact that it was raised by an Andy Beane and named in celebration of a Leominster boy – a life well lived as a soldier, father, husband and gardener. We have since bought about 10…

STOCKTON Bury gardens is looked after by myself and my two uncles. We all have different tastes, so panic set in when one of them announced that he had bought a new garden feature. All I knew was that it was lily pads with a frog. Would it be a giant frog with comedy features? Fortunately it was tasteful and perfect for our formal pond. Phew! Choosing and placing garden features is tricky and I would advise involving the whole family to avoid mistakes. Decide what you want the feature to do. Is it required to draw the eye down the garden, to add humour, to be in memory of someone or to add year-round interest or height? If you are a collector however, try to stick to one scale.…

From March, soak tubers in water for a few minutes before planting in a pot of good quality compost and leaving them in a light and airy spot. Start hardening off plants in a sunny spot outside from April – but do make sure they are brought in at night if frosts are forecast. Plant out into their flowering positions once all danger of frost has passed. Choose a sunny spot with humus-rich soil. Employ measures to deter slugs. When the first frosts come, mulch the soil above dahlia tubers with a good layer of compost – to protect them over winter.…

Be inspired Get hold of a copy of Margery Fish’s book Cottage Garden Flowers (Amazon £7.99). First published in 1961, it’s still a go-to book for gardeners today. And if you can, visit her garden at East Lambrook. Sow Get going with annuals such as poppies (try the Shirley Series or the bold scarlet ‘Ladybird’) and cornflowers. The dark blooms of Centaurea cyanus ‘Black Ball’ will create an up-to-date look. Pot up Buy ready-potted spring-flowering bulbs such as Fritillaria imperialis (right), from garden centres. Transfer seedlings of Madonna lily (Lilium candidum) and other summer-flowering bulbs into small pots. Plant Don’t miss the boat with perennials and shrubs for summer flowers. Roses, too, should go in the ground as soon as possible. The climbers ‘Madame Alfred Carrière’ and ‘Zéphirine Drouhin’ (right)…

‘YOUNG, urban consumers’ are the target for a new ‘premium’ brand of compost and plant food. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, the firm behind big brands such as Miracle-Gro, Levington and EverGreen, has taken the wraps off Black Magic. Enhanced growth Black Magic Potting Soil is a peat-based compost that’s boosted by four ingredients. They are bat guano, worm casting, humic acid and Biochar – all of which are said to enhance growth. The compost, which costs £9.99 for a 20-litre bag, also contains coco-coir, perlite and zeolite which are claimed to optimise the compost structure and maximise water retention. General manager of Scotts Miracle-Gro, Sheila Hill, said: “Black Magic will deliver fantastic results for urban gardeners with limited space.” The second product is Black Magic Black Elixir plant food. Scotts…

Q Help! My lawn is in a mess after winter. It’s scruffy, with worm casts, bare patches and lots of moss. Even the edges look shabby. What can I do to improve it? Sylvia Lawson, Norwich A It sounds like your lawn is in a bad way but with a bit of attention it should soon recover. Worm casts are more of a problem over winter than in spring, but any that remain should be left to dry out then brushed into the surface using a stiff broom or besom broom. Before you start mowing, set the blades as high as possible. Gradually, over the month, mow more frequently and lower the height of cut towards the end of March. As you have a moss problem, I suggest that you…

Q We bought a hydrangea in a pot last summer and it is still waiting to be planted. It is looking bedraggled, but still alive. How should we plant it? Judy Case (via email) AI suggest that you move your potted hydrangea into the garden when the soil is workable – crumbly not too wet. If possible, choose a sunny or lightly shaded spot where the soil stays moist in summer. After tapping the root ball gently from its pot, tease out matted roots and set the plant in a hole three times the width of the root ball. Ideally, before planting, work in moisture-retentive well-rotted garden compost or manure. Water copiously after planting and for several weeks thereafter to help the plant establish well. Then, monthly, from April to…

LIVEN up the garden with 9 FREE* hardy fuchsias! These easy-to-grow varieties are long-lasting, winter hardy bush plants, perfect for borders and containers. Height and spread: 36in (90cm). Supplied as plug plants. • ‘Delta’s Sarah’ – unique semi-double purple-blue. • ‘Shrimp Cocktail’ – a fusion of marbled hot pink petals with a candy blush. • ‘Dollar Princess’ - a long-flowering fuchsia. Double blooms in shades of cerise, pink and purple for real impact in the border or the patio from June through to November. Your order will include three plants of each variety and 100g of Incredibloom Fertiliser. Other special offers: Fuchsia ‘Beauty Queen’ Fuchsia ‘Beauty Queen’ is the largest-flowering hardy fuchsia. The white blooms have brilliant pink sepals that make a dramatic contrast. Ideal for bringing a bright splash…

Metal circle   £59 free delivery 0345 544 4044 furnish.co.uk What goes around? Logs when they’re stored in a circular holder of course. Fun, yet rustic thanks to a distressed painted finish, it’s been handmade in a simple eye-catching design that will compliment a modern or more traditional looking burner. Measures: W. 2ft 3in (71cm) x D. 10 1/2in (27cm) x H. 2ft 2in (70cm). Rattan tall store   £75 p&p free 01993 845559 gardentrading.co.uk Pile your logs high with the help of the Bembridge holder. Made from kubu rattan there are additional supports at the back to keep it braced ready to take the weight. Plus, the rectangular shape fits easily into narrow spaces or corners out of the way. A natural looker, it measures: H. 2ft 1in (65cm)…

“It’s the living incarnation of a jar of Colman’s” I’M cock-a-hoop and over-the-moon, because I’ve passed the test! My optician wouldn’t tell me if I had come first (even though I asked twice) but I’m happy that my eyes have a qualification. But is my sight, as educational professionals might say, “the best it can be?” The answer is probably not, simply because of a lack of fresh leafy pickings from my garden. Carrots might take the credit for improving night vision but according to my optician, it’s leafy greens that keep eyes free from macular degeneration and help to improve sight. As a veg-lover, I don’t need persuading to eat greens, and just the thought of a succulent salad topped with a tangy balsamic vinegar or a bowl of…