Innholdsfortegnelse for 9-Dec-2017 i Amateur Gardening

“Stand your tree in water before bringing it indoors” EVERY year around 7 million Christmas trees are sold in the UK, and this is the weekend when most of them are bought. Evergreen trees have been seen as symbolic since before the time of Christ, but the idea of having a decorated tree inside the home didn’t take off until Victoria and Albert sparked the trend in the 1840s. It is also believed that Martin Luther, the founder of the Reformation in the 16th century, decorated trees with lit candles so they looked like stars. Christmas trees are now a global sign of the time of year and they come in various forms. For many years, slim-branched Norway spruce was the variety of choice. They have a delicious piney perfume…

These seeds usually need the cold to help them germinate and should be sown as soon as possible after purchase and arrival. They will be happy in pots of John Innes No1 mixed with horticultural grit or sand, although acid-lovers such as trilliums and some primulas will do well in ericaceous compost mixed with sand or grit. Larger seeds can simply be sown, watered and their compost topped with a layer of grit, which boosts oxygen levels at the surface of the soil, and helps prevent moss and liverworts. Fine seeds can be sowed thinly on the compost and then washed into the compost using a fine water spray. Then stand the pots in water until all the compost becomes moist. Place your seed pots in a cold frame (ideally…

CHRISTMAS roses (also called Lenten roses or Helleborus niger) are one of my favourite early-year plants. With exotic-looking blooms in myriad colours and their dark glossy leaves, they lift the spirits at a time when there is little else around. Hellebores usually flower any time between now and late spring, and need a little care to keep them at their best. Remove old tattered foliage, which can make the plant more susceptible to hellebore leaf spot, a fungal problem that presents as circular brown patches on leaves and stems. Remove and destroy all affected material and treat the plant with a fungicide for ornamentals. Do not confuse leaf spot with hellebore black death, which causes black streaks and stunts growth. There is no cure for this – plants must be…

ONCE your free-standing apple and pear trees have lost their leaves, you can prune those that need it. The aim is to take out old wood, encourage new wood to grow, and create a healthy, open-shaped tree. Always use sharp, clean tools and start by removing dead, dying and diseased wood, as well as any branches that are crossing, rubbing or weak. Shorten the previous year’s growth on each main branch by about one-third, cutting back to a bud that’s pointing in the direction you want the tree to grow. Young side shoots can be left alone. On older trees, remove or thin out any spur systems (short branches holding fruit) that have become congested. Remove them from the underside of the branches, where fruit will not receive enough light…

1 Don’t slip up when it freezes: keep bags of sand or grit, salt, a stiff brush and a light shovel to hand. 2 Drop sealed plastic bottles, each partly filled, in your pond or pool to bob around and keep air holes open when the water freezes. 3 To catch debris washed down by rain and keep it out of the butt, hang an old sock on your downpipe. 4 Don’t forget to top up bird feeders and, just as importantly, remember to give bird baths a regular wash and refill with fresh water.…

“Rows are a recent innovation” THERE is a long-held theory that aromatic and pungent plants, such as sages, chives and French marigolds, discourage pests like root flies and whiteflies. Many, including me, had great faith in this companion-planting theory. RHS Wisley even did an experiment with tomatoes and single-flowered French marigolds (Tagetes patula) in one of its greenhouses. However, it was found that the rather pungent foliage of the marigolds suffered from whitefly just as much as the tomato crop did. Insects are not equipped with noses. They use chemical receptors on their feet and mouthparts. Research carried out at the Warwickshire-based HRI International, by Stan Finch and Rosemary Collier in 2000 ( warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/wcc/research/pests/ companionplanting) studied the behaviour of pest insects on brassicas, observing that they land on green surfaces…

MENTION the word topiary and many people will think of a formal garden with an extensive collection of clipped shapes growing around a stately pile. Yet topiary is not just the preserve of those with a few rolling acres, as these carefully manicured plants will add structure, texture and a dash of élan to any garden, whether it’s big or small, in the town or countryside. Cones and pyramids, balls and domes, cubes, spirals, lollipops and even a menagerie of animal forms add interest to a garden all year round. They also provide a welcome shot of verdant colour during the colder months when their crisp silhouettes stand out after a light dusting of snow or are encrusted with a sugary hoar frost. Box, yew, privet, phillyrea, Japanese holly, Portuguese…

Q I have cleared lots of dead and dying plant material from my pond. Can I compost it? Jenny Strachen, Fort William, Highland A In most cases you can. However, if you have any invasive species, such as water horsetails, leave them to decay in a black plastic bin liner first. Always leave removed aquatic greenery by the side of the pond for 24 hours so that any trapped creatures can return safely to their watery home. Q How can I speed up the process of making leafmould? Jenny Cruikshank, Coventry, W. Midlands A Well-rotted leafmould is a wonderful thing to have. Cover collected leaves with a carpet, removing it occasionally to let rain in and so you can turn leaves. Alternatively, lay blocks of wood on top of the…

Prize Draw Why shouldn’t birds enjoy Christmas too? Give them a treat with the Peckish Winter Warmer Suet Cake 8 Pack in festive mince pie flavour! The suet cakes have a high fat and energy content to give garden birds all the vitality they need to help them through winter. We have three packs with a free feeder to give away, each worth £10. See below for details of how to enter the prize draw. How to enter Send your name and address on the back of a postcard to Peckish Winter Warmer Suet Cakes Draw, Amateur Gardening, 2 Pinehurst, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 7BF. Or you can email your details to ag_giveaway@timeinc.com, heading the email Peckish Winter Warmer Suet Cakes Draw. The closing date is 12 December 2017.…

• If your Christmas tree is growing in a pot in the garden, there are a few key points to remember if you decide to bring it inside. • Leave it outside until as late as possible and return it to the garden at the earliest opportunity. Twelve days is probably as long as a tree will be happy inside. • Indoor temperatures and dry, centrally heated air won’t benefit your tree. Stand it somewhere cool, away from direct sources of heat. • Keep the soil or compost in its container damp – and watch out for hibernating insects, including pests, that may be woken by the warmth of the house. • Your tree will start to droop and look unhappy if it stays too long indoors. As soon as…

“There are prizes for the heaviest yield” ONE of the most successful of all school gardening campaigns is that operated by the Potato Council, under AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board) sponsorship and now embarking on the 14th free potato send-out. This year the scheme will be limited to 15,000 kits, which will consist of free seed-potato tubers and the black polythene pots in which to grow them. Teachers can download lesson content, growing advice, video clips, games, recipes and additional activities online. All schools will get the very early cultivar Potato Rocket, while different cultivars will be sent to each of 10 regions across the country. Splitting the country up into regions evens out any climatic advantage some warmer areas might have. There are prizes for the heaviest yield…

8-10: Magic of Christmas: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr 9-10: Christmas Shopping Showcase: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr 9: Christmas Decoration in Willow (AM and PM sessions): RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. 0845 6121 253, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 11: Explore Rosemoor’s Woodlands: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. 0203 176 5830; rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor We would love to know about events in your area, so please send details to ruth.hayes@timeinc.com or write to: What’s On, Amateur Gardening, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Industrial Park, Farnborough GU14 7BF. Listings need to be with us at least six weeks in advance of events taking place. • Please check that the event…

POACHED in the tiniest amount of water and elderflower cordial for just a few minutes so they’re still whole – that’s the way I love to eat culinary gooseberry varieties like ‘Invicta’ and ‘Careless’. Each fruit bursts as you pop it in your mouth, releasing the most delicate floral flavour – and a sharp burst of acidity if you’ve picked them too early! There are dessert types, too, such as ‘Early Sulphur’ and ‘Hinnonmaki Red’ which, once fully ripe, can be eaten straight off the plant. Gooseberries are excellent for shady areas. Their tartness means they don’t need a sunny wall to boost sugar levels. I’ve fan-trained two plants against a north-facing wall at home and now it’s time to prune them. Top Tip You can take hardwood cuttings using…

DECEMBER may be a quiet month in the garden, but it’s a busy time indoors as you sit by the fire thinking about what seeds to order for next year. You may be tempted to wait until February, when the sowing season starts, but doing so runs the risk that varieties whose seed is in short supply will be sold out. And given that these are often the most desirable, it makes sense to act quickly. Your first choice is: catalogue or website? I confess, I like to have a printed catalogue in my hands – I’m old fashioned that way. The catalogues are all free, so you can ask for them from all the companies that appeal. And don’t just stick to the familiar ones, as some of the…

How do you tame rampant clematis? Q AS I look out of my window, I can see a thicket of evergreen Clematis armandii threatening to pull over a fence and invade the gutters of our bungalow. I want to see it flower but after that, how do I prune such a mass of intertwined live and dead stems and what about nesting birds? Mildred Pierce, Crawford Vale, Glos A This beautiful evergreen clematis is a large climber which, when left to its own devices, can extend to 25ft (7.5m) or more. While this might be permissible in the wilder areas of a large garden, it is not great to have cosying up to your bungalow. In bloom, it will be fabulous, with 2in (5cm) wide, creamy-white flowers smothering the plant…

My garden and sanctuary HERE are some photos of my garden, which were all taken in October. They show how, thanks to your magazine, a garden can still be full of colourful flowers well into autumn and on a tight budget, too. I gave up work 10 years ago to care for my husband who has multiple health problems, and I also care for my mother who has Alzheimer’s. We have a very limited income, but my sister gave me a wonderful Christmas present last year of a subscription to your magazine. I had never sown my own seeds before, but decided to have a go using the free seeds on the cover each week. The results were superb all summer long, and now still well into autumn I have…

DECK the halls with boughs of holly… and decorate your home and garden for the festive season. Most people like to decorate their home for Christmas, so why not give the garden a yuletide makeover too? We’ve looked at an eclectic selection of illuminated decorations – something for every taste – that can be a festive focal point in your garden or porch to welcome you home at night on dark end-of-year evenings. Mains or battery-powered, they are all designed to bring some Christmas cheer. Christmas Tree Pathfinder Lights £24.99 + £4.95 p&p 01226 388889 ukchristmasworld.com Features Set of four clear plastic tree shapes on clear plastic support tubes and black plastic ground stakes. Each one features 10 LED lights that illuminate green under mains power. Transformer plug must be…

1 Water the shrub well so its roots are saturated. This makes it easier to slip from its container. 2 Dig a hole as deep as, and slightly wider than, the shrub’s rootball. Add some well-rotted organic matter. 3 Slide the plant from its pot and check that the roots are healthy. Tease out any constricted or spiralling roots. 4 Get the plant in its hole as soon as possible. Keep it straight and infill around the rootball, firming the soil. 5 Once it is planted, water the plant thoroughly. Take your time, so the water sinks in and doesn’t run off. 6 Mulch around the shrub with well-rotted organic matter. Make sure it isn’t touching the trunk.…

1 Trials undertaken by Thompson & Morgan proved that an 8-litre bag pot is large enough to grow acceptable yields from one tuber. 2 When growing potatoes in pots for early heavy yields, it is worth chitting tubers (getting them to produce short dark-green shoots) on window sills before planting. 3 Keeping your pot-grown potatoes under overhead cover, so that the foliage remains dry, is a good method for reducing blight disease attack.…

“A home is not a greenhouse” WE all love to see flowers and house plants indoors, but we don’t expect a bunch of flowers to last forever – maybe a week or so on average. However, we do want house plants to last a bit longer than that. The trouble is that homes – even modern ones – are darker than most plants like, including the best survivors that are offered for sale specially as indoor plants. It’s not that you have brown thumbs rather than green fingers, it’s just that a home is not a greenhouse. Lovely plants will do well on bright windowsills and in bay windows, but will wither away if placed deeper indoors. It’s probably lack of light, though of course assiduous watering and occasional feeding…

1 Regardless of what shape your gooseberry is trained into, pruning aims to open up the canopy to deter pests and diseases, and to keep fruits clean. First, remove any lower shoots that will otherwise yield berries that would dangle in the soil. 2 Now remove any congested growth. Gooseberries yield fruit on old as well as newer stems, so you can leave some older wood in place. The aim here is to ensure good air flow around the fruits, so congested areas, whether old or new, can be thinned out. 3 Free-standing bushes can simply be left at that, but fan-trained and cordon gooseberries need one more snip to keep them compact. Cutting just above a bud, prune back all this year’s growth to 2-3in (5-7cm). This ensures fruits…

Why do my baskets fail me? Q I am at a loss with my winter hanging baskets, as the plants start off well but soon die – even the cyclamen. I keep them well watered and use added gel to keep the compost damp. What am I doing wrong? Mags Lee (via email) A I am sorry that your basket plants have flopped. I suspect that poor drainage is to blame. If excessive water remains around the roots and deprives them of oxygen, plants may die. It may not be too late to help them recover. Start by removing plants and reset your charges in fresh compost – a mix of two-thirds John Innes potting compost No.2 and one third coarse grit. Work in slow-release fertiliser granules. Consign your baskets…

These incredible varieties of oriental lily can grow as tall as 8ft (2.5m) in as little as two years. One bulb can produce up to 30x 8in (20cm) trumpet blooms. Grow them through shrubs in borders, against walls and fences, or in large patio pots, and let them look after themselves. Height: 8ft (2.5m). Spread: 24in (60cm). Supplied as top-sized lily bulbs size 18/20. Collection comprises • Tree Lily® ‘Yellow Rocket’ • Tree Lily® ‘Starburst’ • Tree Lily® ‘Pink Explosion’ • Buy 3 of any variety for £6.99 • Buy 9 (3 of each) for £14.99 Saving £5.98 • Buy 18 (6 of each) for £19.99 Saving £21.95 How to order TELEPHONE ORDER LINE 0844 573 2021 please quote AGT352Z All orders will be acknowledged by letter or email, advising…

Ceramic Birdball £44 p&p free 01889 502716 black-by-design. co.uk Based on the shape of bird nests there’s a naturalness about the ceramic birdhouse made by Green & Blue. Slipcast in clay, it’s designed to be a nesting haven for smaller birds like blue tits, that can easily access and feel safe behind the 28mm entrance hole. Comes supplied with a stainless steel wire and tree protector. Diameter 18cm. Bird Seed Gift Box £18 includes p&p  boxwild.com Looking for a gift for a bird lover you won’t be seeing on Christmas Day? Along with a seed scoop there are three hand-blended seed mixes in this 1kg box, including one for robins, which is made up of nine seed types. Select a posting date and a message to go with…

“Young stems contain chlorophyll” ABSENCE may make the heart grow fonder, but is a lack of something necessarily a bad thing? Now the autumn leaves have fallen, a new kind of beauty offers food for the eye as the vivid winter stems of snakebark maple and dogwoods are so brilliantly bright they have the power to lift the even gloomiest December day. But have you ever wondered why they are so colourful? Perhaps not, although it’s this kind of horticultural conundrum that keeps me awake at night. It turns out that unlike the other great questions that face humanity, such as, ‘Is there extraterrestrial life?’ and ‘Why are secateurs so easy to lose?’, science has a pretty good idea. Young stems, like leaves, contain chlorophyll – a green pigment that…