Innholdsfortegnelse for 8-Jul-2017 i Amateur Gardening

with AG’s gardening expert Ruth Hayes Top Tip There is one school of thought that argues for keeping the soil around plants slightly dry, because it will encourage stronger root development as they travel further and deeper to find enough water WATER, water everywhere (the Ancient Mariner could have been talking about your average British summertime), but how can we use it to its best advantage in the garden? In this week’s AG we take a comprehensive look at watering, including how to water, when to water, keeping plants alive while you go on holiday, which plants cope best with a limited amount of water and the best tools for the job of watering. We also state the importance of getting the balance right, because too much water is as…

Porous hosepipe Buried in border soils or pegged and covered with a thick mulch, these offer efficient watering for permanent plantings and can also be trailed through annual borders and vegetable patches for hands-off watering. Multi-spray gun Most hosepipe kits come with a simple twist nozzle. your first upgrade should be a multi-spray attachment. This will give you different spray options to tackle a range of plants and gardening tasks. Hanging basket gun A watering ‘wand’ makes basket upkeep that much easier. no over-stretching to reach your baskets, and no water running down upstretched arms! Multi-spray wands are available, so you may not need to buy a separate multi-spray gun. Oscillating sprinkler One of my must-haves, these are excellent for hands-free watering. Turn on, make sure the desired area is…

with AG’s indoor plant expert Anne Swithinbank BROMELIADS are a large group of mainly tropical plants native to South America, the West Indies and southern USA. Most grow epiphytically, attaching themselves to nooks and crannies on the branches and boughs of trees, where they absorb water and nutrients through leaves, or catch drips in the funnel or ‘vase’ at the centre of their leaf rosettes. In the wild, they are often home to tree frog tadpoles. Flowers are held in showy bracts and make popular indoor plants with flamboyant names like rainbow star, flaming sword, blushing bromeliad and pink quill. Bracts and flowers are long-lasting and although the pot plant trade would probably like you to bin your plant when they fade, I find most enthusiasts want to keep theirs…

with AG’s gardening expert Ruth Hayes Top Tip Don’t automatically thin your fruit – check the tree first. Over-large crops can mean the tree produced too much fruit the previous year, so thin them hard this time to give the tree a rest THE June drop should be over by now, but if your trees are still carrying too many fruitlets, you may need to remove some of them by hand. This is your last chance and it is worth doing because leaving too many can cause branches to break. Plums, damsons and gages regularly over-crop. The ideal spacing is one fruit every 2-3in (5-8cm) or a pair of fruits every 6in (15cm). You may also need to support branches with stakes and ties. Pears also require hard thinning and…

with Martyn Cox in his city garden SINCE giving my northfacing garden a complete overhaul about a year and a half ago, I’ve steadily planted up one bed at a time. The last spot left was a triangular bed close to the back of the house that doesn’t receive any direct sunshine until very late in the afternoon. The only plants that are going to thrive here are those that can cope with low light levels so I’ve slowly been gathering a collection of likely candidates, including several from my old front garden in London that I’ve had to nurture in pots until I was ready to go ahead with the bed. My sticking point was on deciding what should take centre stage. I’d considered giving the job to a…

With her team of experts John Negus, Anna Toeman, Dr Jane Bingham QI want to turn my mother’s grave into a rockery, but it is covered with horsetails. What should I do – and what would be the best low-maintenance plants to use? Hilary Giltrap (via email) AThe first thing you should do is dig out the horsetails with as much root as possible, then work in a soil conditioner. Next, cover the site with weed-blocking membrane and anchor it. Finally, make slits in the membrane and set evergreen carpeting plants to create a tapestry of colour. There are several hardy and spreading kinds to choose from: rock rose (helianthemum) in a multiplicity of colours; white mountain avens (Dryas octopetala); white and silver-grey-leaved Anthemis cupaniana; blue lithodora; pink armeria; blue…

with AG’s gardening expert Ruth Hayes Top Tip To encourage your verbascums to bloom again and for longer, cut down the spent flower spike just above where the side spikes emerge VERBASCUM, also known as mullein, are a beautiful and statuesque addition to any garden border. These hardy perennials grow to 36in (90cm) tall and because their stems are woody, they are less at risk of being battered into submission by summer storms than, say, the softer stems of foxgloves or sea hollies. This means their stately spires of flowers, which come in a range of colours, stay standing when all else around them has fallen. This week’s free seeds from Mr Fothergill’s are Verbascum phoeniceum ‘Mixed’, which carry flowers in a range of shades from cream to deep red.…

‘Black Knight’ A classic tall variety with dense spikes of tiny tubular blooms in the deepest purple, which contrasts dramatically with the splash of orange in the centre of each flower. Height: 10ft (3m), spread: 16ft (5m). ‘Buzz Sky Blue’ A new variety, billed as the first patio buddleja, its compact size makes it perfect for pots. Slender, silvery-white branching stems are covered in greygreen leaves and lavender-blue flowers. Height and spread: 4ft (1.2m). ‘Wisteria Lane’ This buddleja has long flower spikes (up to 20in/50cm) that droop from the plant like wisteria. This tumbling effect of the lilac-coloured blooms looks particularly attractive in large containers. Height and spread: 5ft (1.5m). ‘Nanho Purple’ Magenta flowers of this variety combine well with pastels, adding a shot of colour to an otherwise cool…

Prize Draw Keep your plants safe from slug and snail damage with Growing Success Advanced Slug Killer. Pellets contain a naturally-occurring ingredient that remains effective after exposure to rain, watering and sunlight. It’s certified for organic use and crops can be consumed shortly after application. We have four packs (575g) to give away, worth £6.99 each. See below for details of how to enter. How to enter Send your name and address on the back of a postcard to Growing Success Advanced Slug Killer Draw, Amateur Gardening, Westover House, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1JG. Or you can email your details to ag_giveaway@timeinc.com, heading the email Growing Success Advanced Slug Killer Draw. The closing date is 10 July 2017.…

I READ with interest the letter from Penny Wering (AG, 17 June) – how right she is. A disused quarry would not be so formal and weedy at the same time and the water pool would not be so perfect – but ‘Best in Show’? Even the small gardens were better presented… one that springs to mind was Mr Ishihara’s. The People’s Choice Award winner Chris Beardshaw proved that viewers had a better idea on what a winning show garden should look like. The majority of us who are amateur gardeners could not emulate a quarry in our gardens, Mr Ishihara’s on the other hand, well, I would love to try and copy that in my garden. Evelyn Fordyce, Elgin, Moray READER Penny Wering criticises the Maltese quarry at Chelsea.…

Rain chance: If rain is forecast, leave a few bowls out to catch it for future use. There is much more to watering than turning on your hose and aiming it at your borders every few days. The ideal times are early mornings and evenings, when conditions are cooler and evaporation is slower. It also gives plants access to enough water to see them through the day. Water your borders thoroughly twice a week in hot weather, so the soil is soaked right down to the roots. Light watering means that roots will gravitate towards the surface, reducing plant stability. Wet the soil all the way round the plant and avoid getting water on leaves, as it can create conditions for fungal disease and mould, and magnify the sun’s rays,…

Add organic matter One of the cornerstones of a thriving ‘dry garden’ is well-tended soil. Dig in lots of organic matter (garden compost or a locally produced soil improver mix) prior to planting – or growth may disappoint. Compost breaks up dense dry soil (such as clay), airing it and allowing roots to move freely. It also adds bulk to dry, sandy soils, thus preventing nutrients from being washed away. Select drought-tolerant plants Be strict about your plant choices, only opting for those that thrive in drought. For instance, silver-leaved plants (such as lavender) reflect the sun; hairy plants (like Stachys) trap moisture; and succulents with fleshy leaves (sedums etc) conserve water. Plants from the Med (Santolina, Dianthus and rosemary) are also safe bets, as are any that grow on…

(Prices are for guidance only, most products are available in stores or via the internet) Hozelock Ultimate Hose (£30-£50) Hozelock’s best-selling hose is available in 100ft (30m) and 165ft (50m) lengths. Benefits include UV and frost protection, lightweight build with trademarked Soft and Flex anti-kink technology. Supplied as a basic hose, it needs an additional tap connector and spray attachment. RHS Everflow (£25-£14) Everflow hoses employ RHS endorsed multi-layered Aquaflex pipe, designed to offer continual water flow even when tangled, kinked or trapped under the weight of a vehicle. Used by garden centres, nurseries and sports grounds, AG awarded them a Best Buy last year. X Hose (from £14.99) The original kink-free expanding hose, X Hose extends up to three times its original length and then automatically contracts for easy…

with AG’s gardening expert Ruth Hayes Top Tip High winds can scorch leaves and cause water loss. Reduce the effects by creating a windbreak around vulnerable plants or moving them to more sheltered areas during the storms STORMS are part and parcel of the gardener’s life. In winter, we expect floods, freezing conditions and high winds to cause some level of damage and inconvenience. It goes with the territory and is almost expected, but when I looked out of the window the other morning and saw that the garden had been hit by a summer storm the night before, I felt a pang of dismay that will be familiar to others who experienced the same. Several stands of foxgloves had been levelled, a fruit-bearing branch had been snapped off our…

with Bob Flowerdew, AG’s organic gardening expert AT this time of the year garden jobs can become one big rush, and without a plan it’s too easy for things to be forgotten – especially when you’re growing lots of crops that may go over in an instant. With everything growing flat out watering has to be your first priority – in particular those plants growing under cover or in containers. Plants in the ground also need water for decent performance, and if no rain has fallen recently then they should be next on the list. Most needy of water are recently-sown crops, bedding and transplants, the lettuces and salad crops, spinaches and leaf crops, potatoes, peas and beans, leeks, celery and sweet corn. All of these need moist soil. If…

with Lucy Chamberlain, AG’s fruit and veg expert Top Tip Lay newspaper on drill seeds to stop them drying out. Check daily for emerging seeds and remove it when they appear BY now your edible garden is in full swing, giving you trugfulls of tender pods here, and punnets of ruby fruits there (plus armfuls of deliciously crunchy leaves in between). It’s tempting to put your seed tin aside, but doing so can deny you future pickings from quick-to-mature crops such as lettuce, radish, baby turnips and salad leaves. These go so well with barbecued meats and poached fish. It would be a shame to buy them when they’re so quick to grow in your own garden. Sowing when soil is dry can be tricky, however. Often germination is poor…

New series! with Val Bourne, AG’s organic wildlife expert WHENEVER I dig a patch of ground in my garden, the very first seedlings to spring up are always weeds and I find myself getting my hoe out. Weeds are primed to beat the opposition, whether it’s your carrots, beetroot or flower seeds, and insect pests are just the same. They bounce back within days and it’s said that aphids could produce 40 generations a year given ambient conditions. They don’t even have to mate because their eggs are already inside them and they don’t need fertilising either - a process called parthenogenesis. Pippa Greenwood, the pest and disease expert, likens the process to a series of Russian dolls and that’s a great analogy. It’s said that one aphid can produce…

We try before you buy ARE you a plant serial killer – always over- or under-watering, causing stress and even plant deaths? Or perhaps you are planning a short break and there’s no one to pop round to water your plant pots. A self-watering pot could help by letting the plant take as much,or as little water, as and when it wants. Most self-watering containers have a built-in water reservoir in the base to collect excess water for use on dry days. Some have a tube or special port through which to pour the water and most work by the compost’s capillary action drawing water up from the reservoir. An overflow device is essential to prevent the compost becoming flooded and anaerobic. Remember: the amount of water needed depends on…

IT could almost be known as the ‘mile-a-minute’ clematis, such is the rapid growth of this variety. Clematis montana ‘Mayleen’ is the best scented Clematis montana too, with delightful satin-pink ruffled blooms beautifully set off against vibrant bronze foliage. If you want a handsome, fast-growing climber, look no further! Height 33ft (10m), spread 10ft (3m). Supplied as a 3in (7cm) potted plant. Also included will be 100g of incredibloom fertiliser to help boost your growing power. *just pay £5.65 postage WORTH £19.98 Other special offers: OFFER 1 Clematis ‘New Love’ Save £10 Clematis ‘New Love’ isn’t like your more usual clematis varieties – this one’s an herbaceous perennial, so is excellent for bulking out borders alongside lupins, delphiniums and the like! The blooms are a spectacle too, and emit a…

Nurseryman and former Gardeners’ World host BOX has superpowers. Not only does it thrive in super-dry soils, sun, shade and everywhere in between – it’s a shape-shifter with ability to transfigure into topiary peacocks, hedges, pyramids and clouds. But every super-hero has its arch enemy, and just as Superman had Kryptonite, box has the dreaded blight. This fungal disease burst onto the scene in 1994; not from the Planet Krypton but from South America, and has been wreaking havoc with hedges, knot gardens and box mazes ever since. “I’m really worried it’ll strike again” The disease is a furious duo of fungi with suitably evil names: Cylindrocladium buxicola and Volutella buxi. Working in tandem they gang up on the leaves, appearing as black/brown spots that rapidly spread, defoliating plants to…

with AG’s gardening expert Ruth Hayes WE don’t all have neighbours who can pop in every day to water while we are away, but there are many things you can do before you go to help your plants survive your holiday. Indoors, water them well before you go and make sure there is a layer of gravel in the bottom of their watering saucers. This retains moisture after watering. Move plants off windowsills and out of direct sunlight. If you close some curtains for security, move plants into a room where they are left open. Outside, containers are the most at risk of drying out. Fill plastic bottles with water and attach them to seeper cones that gradually release the water when they are inserted into compost. These are readily…

Sally’s pick: ‘Doublethree’ flexible water hose (£26-30) “I had difficulty tracking down the original X Hose, so chose this similar one, which had good reviews. I particularly like the smart-looking black hose and brass fittings. Being flexible, it’s really easy to pull around the garden when watering and expands up to 30m (100ft). The price is very reasonable, considering it comes with a multi-function spray gun, while the hanger, which slips over the outside tap, means there’s no need to drill holes in the wall.” Kris’s pick: Hozelock 20m Auto Reel (£70-90) “I use this wall-mounted reel in the front and back gardens. It can be extended to the required length and, when finished, automatically draws back in, quickly and kink-free. A ball handle below the end attachment gives good…

with AG’s gardening expert Ruth Hayes Top Tip Check your shrub for nesting birds before pruning and delay work if it is occupied. Disturbing nests is illegal and they are protected by the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act MOST evergreen shrubs are pruned in mid-spring, before they start to put on new growth and after the frosts have passed. The exceptions are plants that bloom in late spring or early summer, because if you cut them back too early you will remove shoots with flower buds. Shrubs in this category include choisya (Mexican orange blossom), camellia, berberis, box, Viburnum tinus and rhododendron. You can also lightly trim laurel now, as well as early-flowering deciduous shrubs such as Weigela and Philadelphus (mock orange). We have a sprawling choisya that needs re-shaping…

with Peter Seabrook, AG’s classic gardening expert Listen to Peter's free podcast every Thursday. Search for 'This Week In The Garden with Peter Seabrook' on iTunes LIVING in the driest part of the country, with rainfall as low as 15in (38cm) in some years, watering is critical if we are to get good growth through dry periods. Whenever possible my soil preparation is done by late January, so that all possible winter rain is held well down in dug soil. Irrigation is started quite early in an effort to retain this moisture level and after watering, mulching is done to hold on to it. The vegetable plot, sweet peas and many containers take a lot of water and to this end, at the last count, there were 12 water butts…

Next week: Harvest the first raspberries, plant winter brassicas under butterfly cages, peg down strawberry runners, sow autumn salads, care for kiwi fruits. I love my compost heap! okay, so I have to take a run-up to it with the wheelbarrow at the moment because it’s so huge, but breaking into a gallop when you’re faced with a wall of rotting vegetation can only be fun, can’t it? In all honesty, our heap where I’m head gardener has grown rather weed-strewn and monstrous, but it reminds me that in high summer our plots generate a lot of garden waste. So, what is the best way to create great compost from it? Key is adding a blend of ‘greens’ and ‘browns’. Greens are soft, sappy, leafy items whereas browns are woody…

with Martyn Cox in his city garden MY raised pond has failed to deliver the goods. Blanket weed, duck weed and sludge on the bottom gave the impression I was trying to create a swamp, while the plant selection was too vigorous for such a small space. In my defence, I only planted the pond up in summer last year, by which time my local garden centre had sold out of all the good stuff, leaving me with a meagre selection of aquatics to choose from. At last though, things are looking up. Having bailed out all the water earlier this year, and given it a good scrub to remove all detritus, the water is now so clean I can see the bottom. I’ve also managed to get down to…

QMy roses look sickly. Leaves are diseased and shoots with no flowers are emerging. What’s wrong? Hattie Pinner, Cheltenham A Keeping roses in top condition over summer can take a bit of time and effort, but the results are worth it. You’ll need to dead-head on a weekly basis. As flowers fade on hybrid tea and floribunda roses, cut them off, together with a piece of stem, cutting back to a plump bud. This brings more blooms. Feeding roses will ensure good growth, better flower production and increased disease-resistance. An application of rose feed this month, such as Toprose, will help to keep plants flowering and reduce the risk of premature leaf fall. Sprinkle the fertiliser onto the soil (at the manufacturer’s recommended rate) and lightly hoe it in. If…

QCan you identify this leaf? Gwen France (via email) AThe leaf is from the maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba). A as a sacred tree in the East and is often planted near Buddhist shrines. deciduous conifer, it is the sole survivor of an ancient family that flourished 190 million years ago. It is regarded It was introduced into Europe in 1727 and to England in 1754. There are several different forms of it. Its golden autumn colour is spectacular. QAfter a hard day in the garden, I brought this ‘leaf’ into the house. Anyone know what it is? Darren Mitchell, Wadsley, Sheffield AIt is a seldomseen moth called the Large Emerald. birch, beech, alder, hazel and broom and the moth favours woodlands, heaths, moors and fenland. Larvae feed on silver There…

They may hail from the Far east but buddlejas have definitely made themselves at home in Britain. A favourite with many gardeners, they have developed a reputation for being able to grow in seemingly impossible places – from crevices in brickwork and walls to railway embankments. And while their self-seeding prowess and potential size (certain varieties can reach over 3m/10ft) deter some people from growing buddlejas, there are plenty of reasons why this fragrant, long-flowering shrub deserves a place in every garden. Buddleja davidii, the most wellknown, flowers from July to October, so it’s in bloom during the difficult August lull when many plants are fading. The attractive silvery foliage combines well with other grey-leaved plants like nepeta and lavender. Then there’s the delicious sweet honey fragrance, which attracts masses…

Star letter I HOPE these pictures encourage other gardeners to grow exotic plants. My inspiration came when I was 10 years old seeing an avenue of phoenix palms in Tenerife. Then, the bug really started in 1990 when I turned my parents home into a small sub-tropical paradise. When I first saw this garden, it was bare with awful soil in a south-facing position and the previous owner had laughed and said the only thing that we could grow here would be palms and cactus. Little did they know that was my exact plan! My mum has the exotic bug but many people are put off by the expense of some palms; I have 18 different types and the rare ones, such as Parajubaea (Mountain Coconut palm), come at a…