Innholdsfortegnelse for 7-Oct-2017 i Amateur Gardening

TopTip Leave late buds and flowers alone as late-flying bees may still be foraging for pollen on warm autumn days. Also leave dead plant material, such as stalks, standing as insects often hibernate inside it. I DON’T know about you, but at this time of year all I want to do is snuggle down in the warmth with a good book or decent TV series and ignore the deepening cold and wet outside. I don’t have that luxury, however, because the garden is calling and there are still jobs to be done. Many autumn tasks are to do with tidying and pruning. One of my main annual ones is cutting back a mature weeping pear (Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’) that turns into a beautiful, silver-green fountain of foliage in summer. Pruning…

Plant and move: Don’t forget to buy next week’s AG when I will be showing you how to plant and relocate trees and shrubs. I recently took possession of a scythe, a fact that has induced mirth and fear in equal measure among my nearest and dearest. the main reason for acquiring it was to cut back our wildflower lawn before winter. Scything seemed a pleasingly traditional way of doing so and while I didn’t go the ‘whole Poldark’ – the neighbours might have complained – it tidied up the lawn and gave my muscles a good workout. After cutting a wildflower lawn, leave the trimmings in situ for a few days. this lets seeds drop onto the soil for next year’s flowers, so a smaller number will end up…

■ Autumn is a good time for planting new perennials and getting rid of those that are past their sell-by date. ■ We had a blowsy floribunda rose that always suffered from black spot despite our best efforts. Its roots were also tightly tangled with those of a large ground elder. ■ I dug up and dumped both, to avoid black spot spores and ground elder fragments in our compost. ■ Winter gives cleared ground a breathing space. Dig in lots of wellrotted organic material and the weather will help break it down and improve the soil and its structure. ■ Autumn is also perfect for planting perennials, as soil is still warm and dampened by autumn storms.…

TopTip Keep raspberry canes healthy by giving them plenty of space to encourage good airflow between plants. Also weed, feed and water them regularly during the growing season. OUR mixture of summer- and autumn-fruiting raspberry canes have cropped fantastically this year and we’ve been harvesting their luscious red berries for months. To ensure a repeat performance next year, I have cut back the cropped canes of summer fruiters right to the ground. They are easy to tell apart from the young canes that have yet to fruit because their leaves turn yellow and the whole cane looks below par by the end of the season. The remaining canes should be tied back and supported through the winter. They will return to life and produce fruit next year. Autumn raspberries produce…

1 It’s the last chance for sowing hardy annual seed for an early show next year – best in a warm corner, cold frame or cloche. 2 Sow hardy peas and broad beans for much earlier crops next year in the hope that a mild winter lets them come through. 3 It’s also the last chance to sow green manure seeds on bare soil and empty beds under soft fruit, trees and roses. 4 Once price-reduced by the garden centres, buy ‘gone-over’ potted chrysanthemums, cut back and keep in a cold greenhouse or frame for flowering next year.…

1 Firstly, grade your bulbs into small, medium and large. Secure a loop of strong twine (at least 2ft tall when looped) to a head-height hook. Taking your largest bulb, hang it at the base of the loop and tie it in place with more twine – you don’t want this one to fall off! 2 Using the largest bulbs first and the smallest last will allow you to create a well-balanced, symmetrical rope. Thread a bulb’s stalk through the loop of twine, then around it, then back through it. Finally, pull the stalk downwards to lock the bulb in place. 3 Repeat this with another bulb so that it sits directly opposite the first one. This first pair of bulbs creates two dips for two more bulbs to sit…

DON’T leave renovating your garden furniture until next spring. It’s a pain discovering it’s in disrepair on a sunny spring day, so act now and be ready to use it next year. Metal and plastic furniture can simply to washed down with soapy water. Hardwood garden furniture will respond well to being washed down and once dried given a coat of teak oil. Softwood furniture will benefit from a coat or two of wood preservative. To ensure this type of furniture lasts for a good few years cover it or store in the shed over winter if you’re not using it regularly. You would also be wise to store rattan furniture undercover in winter. Rusty metal furniture and deteriorating wooden furniture will need to be well rubbed down before repainting…

A HEDGE cutting ban was put in place a few years ago for farmers as part of an EU directive. Farmers cannot cut hedges between 1 March and 1 September unless the hedge skirts a highway (or they have permission for a specific reason). Most farmers have traditionally cut hedges in August. Gardeners have not been banned from cutting their hedges at any time – why not I ask? Surely birds nest in garden hedges too! To be in tune with the local farming community I’ve left my hedge cutting until now. One at the far end of my garden has not been cut for a year and it’s now so high it blocks views beyond. Many of the plants in this mixed hedge have stems as thick as my…

From Double up for 1p CompaCt and floriferous, Lavatera ‘Barnsley Baby’ is perfect for patio containers and small gardens. With a well branched habit and racemes of saucer-shaped, soft pink blooms, this tough little mallow needs little maintenance. Height: 30in (75cm). Spread: 24in (60cm). Supplied as a 3in (7cm) potted plant. ■ Buy 1 for £11.99 ■ Double up for 1p & Buy 2 for £12 ■ Buy 1 Lavatera Pot collection for £29.95 (Worth £48.95) Collection includes: 2 x 3in (7cm) potted Lavatera plants, 1 x 100g pack of Incredibloom Fertiliser and 2 x 24 litre large patio pots. How to order TELEPHONE ORDER LINE 0844 573 2021, please quote aGt326Z all orders will be acknowledged by letter or email, advising you of the expected despatch date. this offer…

1 Rake the ground clear of weeds and debris and create a fine tilth to help germination. Water the soil before sowing. 2 Sow the seeds thinly in curves and swathes rather than lines. You can thin the seedlings once they are large enough to handle. 3 Rake a layer of soil over the seeds and gently tamp it down using the back of a rake to prevent the seeds being washed away. 4 Raked soil and sown seeds attract cats and birds. Protect them using a deterrent chemical and twigs laid across the ground.…

Japanese anemones These are fantastic, long-flowering plants for lighting up the back of borders in the autumn. ‘Honorine Jobert’ (above) has elegant white flowers on tall stems, but there are also pretty pink varieties such as ‘September Charm’ or ‘Hadspen Abundance’. H&S: 4ft/1.2m. Cyclamen hederifolium Buy these eye-catching cyclamen in flower now and enjoy them for years to come in the garden. With an AGM, C. hederifolium is the perfect solution for tricky areas of dry shade under trees, and will bring a burst of colour to dull ground in the autumn. HxS: 5in/12cm x 6in/15cm Liriope muscari An RHS AGM holder with longlasting spikes of purple flowers that appear from August until November. This toughie can tolerate a range of conditions, including dry and full shade, while its petite…

“Some don’t flower well after a haircut” During the months of December to February and March, when winter holds us in its icy grip, the sight of anything in bloom in the garden seems incredible. And the fact that those flowers that do brave the chill are often highly scented is even more miraculous. The likes of winter honeysuckle and viburnum exude an intense fragrance that carries on the air. But while these deliciously scented winter flowerers are undoubtedly appealing, many of them are also enormous, and enjoying them can seem unfeasible in the small garden. The fragrant witch hazel Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Pallida’, for instance, reaches 10ft x 10ft (3m x 3m), and the honey-scented mimosa (Acacia dealbata) soars to almost 50ft (15m)! But fear not, be smart with…

Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Heronswood Globe’ (AGM) In October and November the amber-pink leaves of the katsura tree give off a delicious aroma of burnt sugar as they fall. The species reaches 33ft/20m, but this is only 8ft/2.5m after 10 years, eventually reaching 20ft/6m. Hamamelis vernalis ‘Quasimodo’ This witch hazel is a dense, compact, slow-growing shrub that is ablaze with saffron-yellow spidery flowers from January to March. Plant in extremely well-drained, fertile soil, in sun or dappled shade. H: 4ft/1m. Daphne mezereum During February and March bees will flock to the spurge olive, whose bare branches are coated in intensely scented mauve-pink flowers. This compact shrub resents transplanting, so position it well, in moist, fertile, well-drained soil. H: 4ft/1m.…

TopTip To protect developing curds from frost, rain or sun, fold leaves up and over them, securing with twine. You may also need to use netting to protect the curds from birds. Why are my cauliflowers tiny? QI grew cauliflowers but the curds were small and full of caterpillars. Where did I go wrong? Joan Sheriton, Barnsley, South Yorks A There are limits to finding pests in your food and while a tiny maggot in a raspberry might just be permissible, large slugs in lettuce and definitely boiled caterpillars in your cauliflower are beyond the pale. Whether they are from the small or large white butterfly or cabbage moth, they turn as pale as the cauliflower curds they are feeding on and easily escape detection during cleaning and preparation. Cooked,…

Free Standing Garden Bag £16.99 + £4.99 p&p 01344 578 000 crocus.co.uk When leaves start to fall, collecting into a large tip bag makes the job much simpler. Easy to manoeuvre using the large handles, this bag has a wide opening for easy filling and the sides fold flat for storage. Perfect for taking bulky, yet light debris, to the tip in the back of the car. Sensibly sized at 2ft (66cm) sq. Also in Medium, 22in (56cm) square for £14.99. Wilko Leaf Grabber £3.50 + £4 p&p 08000 329329 wilko.com click & collect Ideal for picking up leaves and grass clippings, simply slip your hands through and grab the handles - you’ll wonder how you ever managed without them! The generous scooped shape and toothed edges of these grabbers…

Write to: Wendy Humphries, Amateur Gardening, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7BF or email: amateurgardening@timeinc.com Star letter Brilliant borders F OR the last 24 years I have been a gardener at Upton Country Park, Poole. So I thought it was time to to create a border in my own garden. The photos show what can be achieved in ten months, from spraying off the grass with glyphosate to creating a new 80ft x 25ft border. In December, eight tons of rotted manure was spread directly on top of the grass, then the worms did all the work for us, producing a friable soil ready for planting in May. Over 500 visitors came to our National Garden Scheme open day this summer! Paul Guppy, West Moors, Dorset Crazy winter…

1 Measure the girth of the tree trunk to make sure you have enough band to go the whole way around. 2 Open up the band so the sticky surface is on the outside and attach it to the trunk so the ends are overlapping. 3 Secure the band top and bottom with twine so that nothing can crawl underneath it and get to the top of the tree. 4 Alternatively, paint a thick strip of tree grease around the trunk to stop any marauding insects in their tracks.…

■ If you took hardwood cuttings last autumn they should be ready to pot on now. ■ It’s an easy task; gently tap their container to loosen the compost then slide them all out together, keeping the rootball intact. ■ Separate the cuttings by prising the rootballs apart. Pot them up in individual pots of John Innes No 2. ■ Overwinter the plants in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse and plant out next spring.…

1 Fairy rings: These are caused by a number of fungi that live in the roots of the turf. Symptoms include a ring of toadstools and dead grass. There is little you can do to remove them, except for spiking and watering the ground. 2 Fusarium patch/snow mould: A damaging fungal disease that causes unsightly patches on lawns. Help prevent it by aerating the lawn and brushing away heavy dews early in the day. The fungicide Bayer Garden Lawn Disease Control may work, though use sparingly as the fungus can become resistant. Red Thread is a similar fungal disease, which can be combatted through improved drainage.…

1 Deadhead, but leave the more unusual ones standing as they can look attractive when sparkled with hoarfrost. 2 Remove old and tattered hellebore leaves that can harbour spores of the unsightly fungal disease hellebore leaf spot. 3 Keep deadheading lateflowering varieties such as astrantias and dahlias to encourage plants to bloom as long as possible. 4 Mulch plants with wellrotted organic matter to protect roots and supply them with slow-release nutrients through the winter.…

IT never hurts to plan ahead with gardening and in autumn my thoughts turn to growing next year’s crops. As most of our veggies are grown in raised beds, the soil needs to be kept nutritious. One way of going about it is to dig a trench in the soil and gradually fill it with green waste. It’s incredibly easy and a great way of putting kitchen peelings and other green scraps to good use. Once you have decided where you want to grow next year’s crops, dig a trench around 24in (60cm) deep. Gradually fill it with the green waste from your kitchen and garden – peelings, tea bags, deadheaded flowers and soft growth pruned from plants. Once the trench has been filled, cover it with a layer of…

TopTip Rub off the loose outer skins before you start, then hang your finished onion ropes somewhere cool and dry – a shed or garage is ideal. IF this project conjures up images of old boys on allotments, their trousers held up with string, please think again! This is not an ‘old school’ job – it’s a craft that, if done well, will leave you with an immense feeling of satisfaction. It’s also a very handy way to store your overwintering onion harvest. The very best onion ropes I’ve seen were hanging in the kitchen garden office at West Dean Gardens in West Sussex. Each bulb was uniform in size, allowing the onions to be fixed into place with precision. That’s a luxury of growing vast rows within kitchen garden…

Next week: Greenhouse use over winter, move tender fruits under cover, covering up bare earth (if you’re a fair-weather gardener), cut celery, pick quinces. Many gardeners use crop covers in the spring. They enable us to sow or plant out sooner, giving valuable early harvests. But they are important in the autumn too. Hopefully you’ve been following my advice and making sowings in august and September of hardy crops like Swiss chard, annual spinach, winter lettuce, mizuna, land cress. These late sowings should look promising by now, and their steady growth rate can continue if cloches are used. The resulting growth will be lush and palatable instead of chewy and tough. While warm autumn days allow hardy sowings to grow, it’s the cold autumn nights that slow things because it…

“Butterfly netting is a double-edged sword” WHO said being green was easy? Certainly not me. There’s no magic wand involved in eco-gardening, but I am a keen observer. I spend a lot of time looking and, if I see a problem, I nip it in the bud. That means either rubbing pests off with my fingers or ‘big booting’ them underfoot, and looking for any diseased leaves that need plucking off. My brassicas are all grown under netting to stop large and small cabbage whites laying eggs. The butterfly netting is a double-edged sword however. It lets smaller insects through, and that can be good, but restricts birds from picking off pests – and they will eat small, newly hatched brassica-eating caterpillars. The net doesn’t prevent marching caterpillars gaining access,…

WE’RE never short of apples in Herefordshire. In the garden, we have a row of dwarf eating apples that include ‘Laxton’s Epicure’, ‘Lord Lambourne’ and ‘James Grieve’. James is the perfect apple for a cheese board. But don’t head out and buy an apple tree that you like the sound of before tasting the fruit. It’s now you need to be a little bit cheeky and ask neighbours if you can taste their apples. Or look out for local apple days where you can try the incredible range that are grown and flourish in your region. If you don’t get the chance to go tasting then I’d choose one of the traditional varieties such ‘Spartan’ which has bright red juicy fruits.…

Gaultheria procumbens (AGM) This dwarf evergreen shrub is perfect for containers and produces vibrant red berries that will light up gloomy spots. Its leaves also add interest, taking on a red hue in the winter. Plant it in acid soil or grow in a pot with ericaceous compost. H&S: 20in/50cm. Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana Liven up pots and borders with this evergreen shrub, which has clusters of creamy-white flowers in spring, and long-lasting cheery red berries in the autumn. Factor in the slightly aromatic, leathery leaves and it’s a must for a shady garden. HxS: 3¼ft/1m x 6½ft/2m. Pyracantha Perfect for a north-facing wall, this evergreen shrub can have orange, yellow or red berries, depending on the variety you choose. Although it can be grown in sun, pyracantha performs well…

Sarcococca hookeriana ‘Winter Gem’ This new Christmas box is a hybrid of S. hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem’ and S. hookeriana var. humilis; it has glossy evergreen foliage and white winter flowers that smell of jasmine and honey. H: 1ft/30cm-3¼ft/1m. Iris unguicularis ‘Walter Butt’ The most fragrant of the Algerian irises, this evergreen perennial produces pale violet flowers in winter and spring. Plant at the base of a sunny wall in very poor, very gritty soil, and don’t disturb or lift. H: 1ft/30-1½ft/45cm. Narcissus ‘ Martinette’ One of the best early-flowering narcissi for scent, the cheery yellow and orange flowers of this multi-headed Jonquilla variety bloom in March, filling the air with a beautiful powdery perfume on still days. H: 16in/40cm. Viola odorata The true flower of St. Valentine, our…

Why did my Fest alis fail? Q I planted these Ismene festalis bulbs earlier this year. They took a long while to come up and produced healthy growth but no flowers. What should I do now? Susan Grant, Rochford, Essex A I am sorry that your Ismene festalis plants failed to flower. If bulbs were large enough they should have peformed. Ideally, move your charges to a frostfree greenhouse or sunny windowsill. Then, when leaves die back, lift bulbs and store them in pots of dry peaty compost – growing bag mix is fine. Replant them in your trough in March. When you do, ensure that bulb tips are just showing. If feasible, grow them in a greenhouse, conservatory or on a sunny windowsill. When leaves are about 6in (17.5cm)…

It isn’t all work: Take time to enjoy flowers such as cyclamen and nerines that are brightening the garden now. 1 Good garden hygiene is key now, as fallen foliage and debris washed down by rain can accumulate and cause blockages, as well as providing a haven for pests and disease. Sweep patios and decking regularly and keep gutters flowing freely. 2 If you sowed early sweet peas last month they may have already started to germinate. Keep young plants bushy and healthy by pinching out central stems. 3 Birdbaths and bird tables can soon become fouled through constant use. Clean regularly with a non-bleach detergent and keep them topped-up with fresh food and water. 4 Sweep up fallen leaves, not just for leaf mould but to prevent them becoming…

1 Dig a trench in a sheltered, freedraining area and add well-rotted organic matter and horticultural sand. 2 Cut a long, healthy piece of this year’s growth and divide it into 6-12in (15-30cm) lengths. 3 Dip each cutting in hormone rooting powder or gel for healthy root development. Tap off any excess. 4 Insert the cuttings in the trench around 6in (15cm) apart and infill around them with soil and sand.…

“Outer roots are diverted into the dimples” EVERYTHING has to be instant these days, it seems, and you can now get trees ready to go along with ready-to-use plant feeds. Majestic Trees in Flamstead, Herts, is one supplier for example. It’s a relatively young nursery, established in 2002 and now a major player in the supply of large to pretty well full size trees. When we’re in a hurry for instant results and want to buy big specimens, rather than starting small and growing on over the years, it will obviously cost more. Even then we get what we pay for: if you want to plant large specimens, which will re-establish securely and flourish, the trees need to have been cultivated in the right way in the first place. The…

“Next summer the whole lot will be a seamless sward” WOULDN’T you like to remake your old garden to a new plan? Now is THE time to do it – and you can do so by simply moving turf around. You can re-shape your beds, paths, lawns and borders just by moving your lawned areas from one place in the garden to another. By next summer the whole lot will be a seamless sward, making this such a good way to renovate an old weedinfested design. Of course it makes sense to plan it out on paper first. Then remove all your valued plants and put these in pots or a temporary holding bed while you prepare the ground, ideally digging it over and raking level. You can if you…

FRESHLY picked berries are a June thing, right? No! Not if you grow a patch of autumn raspberries. These troublefree canes are a cinch to grow. They don’t need supports (unlike summer varieties), are simply cut down to ground level in winter (again, unlike more fiddly summer types) and the canes merrily wave around in sunny borders, yielding fruit from late July right up until the first frosts. I want this row of autumn raspberries (‘All Gold’ and ‘Polka’) to continue to crop, so I’m erecting some winter insulation in the form of a double layer of horticultural fleece. Push some canes into the ground to hold the fleece off the plants, and just peel it back to reveal the ripening fruits when you want to pick them.…

OnIOnS are an essential ingredient for a multitude of dishes, so while my step-by-step project this week shows how to store them, I make no apologies for planning next year’s crop, too. Onion ‘sets’ are tiny little bulbs that, when planted, grow into much bigger ones! It’s an easier method of starting off onions than sowing, so is great for beginners. Some varieties like being planted now, others prefer the spring. your soil type also dictates timings, too, with overwintering crops performing better on lighter soils than heavier ones. With my light, sandy soil I’m opting to plant some onion ‘Shakespeare’ sets now, spacing them 20cm apart each way. They use up bare winter patches in my plot and can be lifted earlier than springplanted sets. What’s not to love…

WERE you pleased with your summer borders this year? Did any plant take over too much space or were there unsightly gaps? It’s now that you can fix any obvious issues by lifting and dividing and doing a little plant editing. In a south-facing border I’ve had great success with Lysimachia clethroides. Its pure white flowers have been attracting butterflies and bees but it has spread to such an extent that it’s edging out neighbouring plants. The only way to prevent it from completely taking over is to lift and divide. Another plant that has proven to be too overpowering in my borders is golden rod (solidago). By lifting I don’t intend to get rid of these plants completely but I simply need to show them who’s boss and reign…

NOW that we’ve entered the perfect planting time for trees, shrubs and perennials it’s an opportunity to add a few new plants that garden birds will feast on. The perennial in my garden that offers rich, red berries in October is Actaea rubra. This low-growing plant is ideal for a shady border. For those with room for shrubs, the berries of the aronia, mahonia, callicarpa, holly and skimmia will be much appreciated. Yew berries are also a favourite with birds, as are the berries of the mistletoe – ours has been in berry since August! If your borders are packed, then add a climber with berries such as lonicera or pyracantha. The wider the range of berries you offer in the garden the more varied your garden visitors will be.…

■ Don’t worry if you haven’t got round to sowing all the free seeds we have given away this year – most should store well over winter. ■ For the best results, make sure you keep your seeds properly. ■ Store them somewhere cool and dry, such as a drawer or cupboard where they are safe from rodents. ■ Next spring, if you are unsure whether any are still viable and will still germinate, a simple test is to place them on dampened kitchen paper and leave them somewhere light and warm indoors. ■ Sound seeds will start to shoot after a few days. ■ Larger seeds, such as sweet peas, can be dropped into a bowl of water. Good seed will sink, but poor ones that won’t germinate will…

“For best results, mix a variety of heights and forms” Top tip Keep an eye out for the Perfect for Pollinators logo on plant labels when you are looking for plants that will attract wildlife. Autumn really is a spectacular season in the garden – at this time of year borders should be ablaze with fiery foliage, bright berries and vibrant flowers. In a shady garden this might seem hard to achieve, but it needn’t be. If you have dark corners or north-facing boundaries, it’s all the more important to incorporate colour into your planting displays, and there are a surprising number of plants that can help. Whether it’s shrubs covered in glossy berries or trees that turn a spectrum of hot oranges, yellows and reds as the temperature drops,…

Acer palmatum Prized for their fiery autumn shades of yellow, orange and red, Japanese maples are a good choice for shade – given a sheltered position. In fact, variegated and green types are best suited to partial shade, as full sun can scorch their leaves. H: 5ft- 26¼ft/1.5-8m (depending on variety). Anemanthele lessoniana Pheasant tail grass will grow even in dry shade, producing arching bronze foliage that turns orange, yellow and red in the autumn. It’s the perfect ornamental grass to add extra wow factor to borders as summer comes to an end – little wonder it has an RHS AGM. HxS: 3ft/90cm x 4ft/1.2m. Chinese Virginia creeper (AGM) Parthenocissus henryana is a fastgrowing climber – but not as vigorous as the common Virginia creeper. Turning dark red in the…

Follow your nose Plant scented winter bloomers near a path or driveway that you use often. The perfume of daphne and winter honeysuckle will carry on the air for some distance, whereas scented violets and snowdrops ought to be planted right beside the path. Place in prime position Grow winter aromatics close to the outdoor areas you frequent during the winter months, such as the composter, refuse bins or wood store. If these are located in a shady area, consider either mahonia (above) or sarcococca, both of which flourish even in dense shade. Front door fragrance Greet guests with the smell of winter plants such as the evergreen Camellia x vernalis ‘Yuletide’, which has scented scarlet and gold flowers at Christmas. Place containers of Tazetta narcissi (try ‘Minnow’ and ‘Grand…

Q What is this plant please? I think it might be a hebe. Esther Shackell (via email). A Your plant is a spirea: it is Spirea x billiardii (Billiard Spirea). This pretty shrub is fully hardy and thrives in a sunny spot, where it should flower all summer long. It does best in well-drained, moist, acid soil. It grows to about 6.5ft (2m) tall and is loved by bees. Q Please can you tell me which Sisyrinchium is growing in my garden? Elizabeth Lloyd (via email). A The plant in question is Sisyrinchium ‘Biscutella’. Unusual, its small brown and cream blooms are freely borne and command attention. S. nodosum, which few nurseries stock, enchants us with blue flowers. Both are happiest in full sun, in fertile, free-draining soil. Q What…

RAKING fallen leaves can be time consuming and really hard work. Then there’s the mountain of leaves to get rid of. Three-in-one leaf blowers, vacs and mulchers are the answer – a blower to get the leaves into a manageable area, and a vacuum to pick them all up and mulch them down to a fraction of their original size. This mulch is then ideal to add to the compost or leaf mould heap. We looked at the budget end of the market, testing six machines widely available for less than £100. All these cheaper machines are corded electric – you have to pay a lot more for a petrol or battery-powered garden vac. Although you’re restricted to as far as your cable and extension lead can reach, electric machines…

Worth over £285 WIN MAKE light work of clearing up leaves this Autumn with the new Gtech cordless Leaf Blower. Leaf raking can be a time-consuming chore in the garden; a leaf blower not only takes some of the repetitive strain out of this back breaking task, but it will speed up the process too. Ergonomically designed, the new Gtech Leaf Blower is perfectly balanced to afford great control, making it comfortable to operate throughout its 20-minute run-time. Great specification The new Gtech Leaf Blower is the most powerful in the cordless market using a state-of-the-art lithium-ion 36v battery (interchangeable with the Gtech Lawn Mower) and provides a powerful airflow of 38 metres per second for high performance gardening. Ideal for clearing drives, pathways and gardens, its broad nozzle (70mm…

From SAVE UP TO £10.98 ORIGINATING from Nepal and parts of China, Clematis napualensis loses all its foliage in early summer and remains dormant until the autumn when it puts on lush new growth which is followed by large clusters of stunning, scented pendulous flowers. Perfect for adding colour during dull winter months. Height: 9ft (3m). Spread: 5ft (1.5m). Pruning group: 1. Supplied as a 3in (7cm) potted plant. ■ Buy 1 for £11.99 ■ Buy 2 for £17.99 Saving £5.99 ■ Buy 3 for £24.99 Saving £10.98 ■ Buy 1 Clematis Collection for £29.99 (was £36.97) - Collection includes 1 x 7cm potted clematis plant, 100g of Incredibloom® fertiliser and 1 Tower Pot. How to order TELEPHONE ORDER LINE 0844 573 2021, please quote AGT328Z All orders will be…

Nurseryman and former Gardeners’ World host “Sweet potato is just the job with ginger” SINCE starting my BBC Radio Devon Sunday morning show three months ago I’ve learnt two important lessons: don’t mutter or guffaw when the news is being read as everyone hears, and be careful when talking about cake. A few weeks ago I reflectively asked whether cakes could be made with vegetables other than the regulation carrots and courgettes and since then I’ve received a steady stream of recipes from keen-cook listeners. While on paper the red velvet chocolate and rhubarb crumble cake all sound lovely, the samples I’ve been given by colleagues have left a lot to be desired. Now I’m no fussy eater, but I believe that a cake should never double as dental floss…