Innholdsfortegnelse for 3-Mar-2018 i Amateur Gardening

IF you are looking for lazy, low-maintenance gardening then look no further than summer-flowering bulbs. Yes, a few varieties – gladioli and dahlias – often need lifting for winter, but even this isn’t arduous. The next few weeks are peak bulb-planting time and there are so many available you really can’t go wrong. Whether you like voluptuous brassy flowers that shout out and demand attention, or more delicate shades and shapes that bring quiet and dainty colour and scent to unexpected places, there is something for everyone. The only caveat is that most bulbs do best in free-draining soils, so if you are gardening on cold and heavy clay you should leaven it by digging in plenty of organic compost or manure and a generous amount of grit. If all…

Although it’s warming up, I would still be cautious about planting new and lifted dahlias. New tubers should be happy for another week or so in a cool, dry shed or garage, away from pests. Tubers lifted and stored last autumn should be checked over and any rotten ones disposed of. Dry tubers should be soaked in water for a couple of hours and then potted up in general-purpose compost. When the tuber starts to shoot and the growth is 3in (7.5cm) long, take cuttings and grow them on in cuttings compost, kept damp with a plastic bag tied over their pot. Harden off all your dahlias and plant them out at the end of May or after the threat of frosts has passed.…

1 Pinch off dead flowers to encourage more blooms, and remove dead and damaged foliage before disease sets in. 2 If plants have died, remove them and replace them with new ones to keep the pot looking better for longer. 3 Remove the top few inches of compost from long-term plantings and replace it with fresh to give plants a boost. 4 Cut back ornamental grasses to 2in (5cm) tufts to encourage new growth. Avoid chopping this season’s shoots.…

MARCH is traditionally the time when gardeners prepare their rose bushes for this summer’s flowers. You should have already cut them back by a third in autumn, but if you didn’t, don’t worry. You have from now until mid-April to give them their late-winter trim. Cut them back to knee-height, as this will help them withstand spring storms and reduce the amount of wind-rock, which can loosen their roots’ hold on the soil. You should also check them over and remove any unwanted growth that can cause future problems or allow them to grow in an unattractive shape. Cut away any dead, damaged or spindly branches. Cut them right back at ground level if the entire branch is dead or diseased, or cut stems back to healthy growth if only…

FRENCH lavender is one of my favourite summer plants, a deliciously scented floral treat that looks fantastic in pots as well as borders. Not as hardy as our native varieties, French lavender will still thrive in warm, free-draining soil in a sunny site. Also known as Spanish lavender, Lavandula stoechas has larger flowers than English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and blooms earlier. The flower heads are larger and tufted with large bracts, and come in a range of colours, from deep purple to gentle lilac. Sow your seeds and pot them on into 3in (7cm) containers when the seedlings have developed their first sets of “proper” leaves. Grow them on and gradually accustom them to outside temperatures before planting them out in their final position. Like many Mediterranean plants, this lavender…

“Improve drainage and reduce moss by spiking a lawn” LAWNS, like most living things, are better fed, and after over-winter leaching of plant foods by rain and melting snow will respond well to an application of spring fertiliser. The first step is to rake over the surface lightly to remove dead leaves, twigs and other debris. While you are doing this the presence of weeds, moss and bare patches will be seen and help to make decisions on subsequent treatment. Weeds are easily controlled with a selective lawn weed killer, but it is worth waiting until next month when weeds are growing fast and sap is flowing to get the best results. Moss is another matter and dense patches are better treated with a specific moss killer and then raked…

1 If soil is friable, plant onion sets, garlic cloves and shallots. If it’s cold do the same under cloches. If it’s claggy plant in pots indoors. 2 Even if your soil is friable don’t sow much outdoors without cloches yet, apart from broad beans, wrinkled peas and parsnips. 3 You can sow almost every hardy vegetable and flower in pots, cells and trays under cover to plant out later. 4 Under cover with warmth, sow tender long-season crops before it’s too late: tomatoes, aubergines, sweet and chilli peppers and melons.…

1 You only want to use prunings that are young and vigorous, so select stems that were last year’s new growth. Ideally, they want to be 6-8in (15-20cm) long, but if they’re shorter don’t worry. Make a straight cut just below the bottom bud and a sloping one just above the top bud. 2 You can either root your cuttings in a large pot, or in a patch of weed-free, dug-over ground. Fill the pot with multipurpose compost, watering it well. Insert your cuttings with the sloping cut facing upwards into the pot or soil, so only the top bud is visible. 3 Keep the cuttings well watered, especially during dry spells. Rooting should occur in spring, and your cuttings can either be carefully dug up or removed from the…

BEING the daughter of (now retired) smallholders who used to grow two acres of asparagus, it’s reasonable to say that I’ve eaten a fair few spears of this luxury crop in my time. Married with smoked salmon and scrambled egg, wrapped in pancetta and griddled, or just slathered in butter and eaten with your fingers, the flavour of asparagus is something to relish. Savour it you must, too, because the season for fresh homegrown asparagus is just 10 weeks. Spears begin to push through the earth as soon as soil temperatures are sufficiently high (generally in late March or early April). Cutting every single shoot (even the weak ones, which you can use in soup) encourages yet more to form, so be thorough. But then stop! Harvesting asparagus for longer…

3: Beginners’ gardening – pruning, soil science, transplanting: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon, EX38 8PH. 0845 6121 253; rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor 3: RHS Gardening Advice: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks, HG3 1QB. 01423 565 418, rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr 3-4: Snowdrops at Colesbourne Park, Colesbourne, Cheltenham, Glos, GL53 9NP. 01242 870264/870567,colesbournegardens.org.uk 3-4: Techniques for Painting Leaves, RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 3-4: Step into Spring, RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 8ET. 01245 400 256, rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall 4: Fritillaria Society Show: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 4: Snowdrops at Cleghorn: Stable House, Cleghorn Farm, Lanark, ML11 7RN. 01555 663 792, cleghornestategardens.com 5: Gardening Advice: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks…

■ Water thoroughly after planting, and mulch with weed-free organic matter. ■ Water again, adding Maxicrop or Seasol to the water, 2-3 weeks later. ■ Protect the stems against rabbits, deer and other animals if you have any suspicion that they might be a problem. ■ Many apple trees will need pruning after planting; follow the advice that comes with your tree. ■ Remove any weeds that emerge round the tree. Do this by hand – do not use weedkiller. ■ Apply a general fertiliser such as Growmore or blood, fish and bone. This should be spread across and slightly beyond the planting area. ■ Container-grown trees are prone to drying out in their first year; water thoroughly whenever necessary.…

EARLY spring is the time when allotments turn into a hive of activity as seasoned plot holders make the most of improving weather by sowing and planting in earnest. Yet if you’re taking on a plot for the first time it can all seem a little daunting – the patch might be smothered in weeds, look like it’s been subjected to fly tipping and generally seem like a lot of space to manage. Don’t get discouraged at such an early stage. Abandoned detritus can be moved and even the weediest plot can be tamed, although it may take a couple of seasons until fully usable. Once the hard work is done, the plot can be laid out in a clever fashion to make it easier to look after. One of…

Gladiolus ‘The Bride’ Choose this elegant gladiolus for its large white starry flowers (which will light up the garden from May to July) and strappy foliage. Plant corms 3in (8cm) deep in well-drained soil, in sun, in autumn or early spring. H: 2ft (60cm). Tigridia pavonia The peacock tiger flower is an exotic Mexican corm with three-petalled summer blooms in bold, bright colours. In milder areas it can stay in the ground all year; elsewhere it should be grown in a pot that’s overwintered indoors. H: 14in (35cm). Eucomis zambesiaca Weird but undeniably wonderful, this pineapple lily has spikes of white flowers topped with a punk hairdo of green leaves, from summer into autumn. Grow in sheltered sun, or in pots that can be brought inside…

‘The Czar’ Very free-flowering, with deep purple flowers. In his 1893 book Flowers from the French Riviera, botanist Henry de Vilmorin noted that this violet was in great demand at flower markets. ‘Melanie’ (AGM Floriferous; blooms have deep-pink petals with the thinnest of silvery edges, plus a lovely scent. More tolerant of less-than-perfect soil and happier with more sunshine than other violets. ‘Princess of Wales’ Introduced by French violet grower Armand Millet at the end of the 19th century. Popular as a cut flower due to its large violet-blue blooms, long stems and fabulous fragrance. ‘Diana Groves’ Established from a seedling at Groves Nurseries, this won gold at 2004’s International Violet Congress. Claret petals feature pretty white markings and veining at the throat of the flower. ‘Perle Rose’ A heritage…

Agapanthus ‘Blue Giant’ Expect dark stems to 4ft (1.2m) bearing heads of rich-blue flowers. A deciduous or semi-evergreen variety. Agapanthus ‘Eggesford Sky’ This deciduous cultivar with pale-blue flowers and dark stems is my newest acquisition. Reaches 30in (80cm) tall. Agapanthus ‘Northern Star’ This is a reliable deciduous cultivar with strappy leaves and deep-blue flowers on stems to 1m (3ft). Agapanthus ‘Queen Mum’ This semi-evergreen has white flowers with blue bases that reach 4ft (1.2m). It’s hardy in an average UK winter. Agapanthus ‘White Heaven’ Ideal for a large container, this white-flowered cultivar needs protecting in winter in my garden. Height 4ft (1.2m).…

Give me the pip! I WAS delighted to hear about your reader who successfully grew an avocado from a stone ( AG , 10 February). For several years now I have been keen to grow plants by collecting seeds from fruits purchased from my local greengrocer’s shop. The most successful of these have been citrus plants grown from grapefruit, orange, lemon and lime pips. The largest plant is a grapefruit that was planted in 2012 and has reached a height of 3ft (90cm). It may take about ten years for such plants to produce their first fruit, but last year I was rewarded with a flower about the size of a fingernail that produced enough scent to fill the whole room. I may not get good-quality fruit, but the plants…

Land of My Fathers This Thursday is St David’s Day, so there’s no better time to look at some of the plants, gardens, people and traditions associated with Wales. First, why is the leek the Welsh emblem? In the 6th century, St David is said to have suggested to King Cadwaladr that his troops should wear leeks in their hats, so as to distinguish them from their similarly dressed English adversaries. The character of Fluellen in Shakespeare’s Henry V talks of the leek as “an honourable padge (badge) of the service”. However, in truth it is far more likely that troops would pull up readily available wild garlic to put in their hats, rather than raid some poor peasant’s vegetable patch! Another emblem So why is the daffodil also associated…

Viewers of TV’s Gardeners’ World or listeners to Gardeners’ Question Time on the radio in the 1980s will remember the name Clay Jones. Born in 1923, his given name was David, not Clay. When he went to school in Cardigan he found at least a dozen other David Joneses, so he called himself Clay (his mother’s maiden name). He took a degree in botany at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, before joining the Bees’ Seed Company and then Cuthberts. He started to write and broadcast and eventually ended up presenting on the two gardening shows. He had a fine garden of his own outside his 16th century cottage near the Severn at Chepstow. Clay died in 1996.…

WHERE do you keep your seeds? The kitchen drawer, your gardening coat pocket? Make this the year that you get organised and invest in a seed storage tin or box to keep your precious seed safe and organised. If you store them in one place you are more likely to find the right seeds when you want them, and as a result you’ll save money and have a more productive garden. Your seed store can accompany you when you visit gardening friends. You’re more likely to do swaps with friends if all your seed is in one place. Keep your box in a dry place and to reduce the chance of moisture getting to your seed add a little pouch of silica gel. This gel is available from most craft…

WHEN I read that cat-rescue centres are filled with a disproportionate number of black cats, I assumed there’d been a post-Harry Potter decline in witches. But no! Black cats, it turns out, are being abandoned because they’re harder to spot in photos and therefore don’t look as cute on Instagram or Facebook! And cuteness isn’t only affecting choices of cat. There’s been an explosion of interest in cacti and succulents thanks, again, to Instagram. These easy-going sun-worshippers were once the domain of children, but are now the trend-setter’s plant of choice. Requiring considerably less care than a hipster’s beard, when potted into natty painted terracotta or polished steel pots they look – in photographs at least – as cute as a tabby kitten wearing a fluffy Tam o’ Shanter! More…

1 Dig a hole approximately three times as deep as the bulbs and fork in some well-rotted compost or farmyard manure. 2 Place the bulbs so the plants have room to grow. Arrange them randomly so they don’t look too regimented when they flower. 3 Cover with soil and lightly firm it down using the back of a rake head. Spray with a chemical pest deterrent or overlay with twigs to keep cats away. 4 Label the site clearly so you don’t accidentally dig up the bulbs, and water well. Don’t let it dry out.…

1 Line the base of the container with crocks to help drainage. You can make compost more free-draining by mixing in some grit. 2 Add compost and position the bulbs. They should be roughly three times their own height from the top. 3 Cover the bulbs with more compost, making sure there is a gap of around 1in (2.5cm) between the rim and compost. 4 Label the pot and water it well. Make sure it is raised on feet so excess water can easily drain away.…

A mole passed through the back garden during the winter, leaving behind a few telltale hummocks of bare earth. I’m not particularly bothered by our velvet-coated visitor, especially as he has left us with some lovely loamy soil to use. I removed the earth from the molehill and put some on the flower borders and mixed the rest with home-made compost and sharp sand to make my own seed compost. I then re-seeded the bare patch of earth on the lawn after raking it flat.…

• My black-eyed Susan seedlings took off like rockets and soon became rather tall and weak. • This is because they were on a windowsill that was possibly too warm, and only provided light on one side. This meant the seedlings had to “stretch” out to get what they needed for healthy growth. • I have moved them in to the colder, unheated greenhouse where they will get lots of light and won’t “bolt” in too much warmth. • I will fleece them on cold nights and when I pot them on I will bury part of the long stems in compost to encourage strong roots and more robust plants.…

A wide plastic rake is best for surface raking which will allow you to better see the condition of your lawn and which parts need attention A wire ‘springbok’ type of rake is good for removing moss and dead grass after having applied a specific moss-killing treatment. Modern slow-release fertilisers are much less likely to cause scorch after application, they last longer and only release plant foods when temperatures are warm enough to encourage grass growth. Overseeding with some lawn seed next month at half the sowing rate for new lawns is a good investment to maintain a thick healthy turf…

THE mere thought of tearing open a blueberry and lemon muffin, still steaming from the oven, makes me salivate. I like these berries fresh, but they really come alive when baked. To satisfy my cravings I have four young bushes at home – ‘Bluecrop’, ‘Patriot’, ‘Brigitta’ and ‘Goldtraube’. Now in their third year, they’re settling in well. New growth is readily appearing so I need to prune them (see my other project), but there’s not a chance I’ll be throwing those prunings away! We have a local charity plant fair in the summer, so I’m using the opportunity to propagate some more plants. Taking cuttings is easy and the success rate is pretty good, so why not join me and raise some funds for your community in the process (see…

IF you’re a believer of quality over quantity, then alpine strawberries are certainly for you. The wilder relative of our plumper, more prolific strawberries might bear fruits that are diminutive in size but boy, do they make up for it in flavour! Pop a handful of those aromatic fruits in your mouth and you’ll rediscover that true strawberry taste so often lost in modern varieties. Alpine strawberries also have the bonus of being more versatile than conventional strawberries. They’re less likely to rot off in wet conditions, are prone to far fewer pests and diseases, and can be left to their own devices to form an attractive ground cover of flowers, foliage and (of course) fruits. I’ve grown them for many years at home and find them handy for colonising…

GARDENERS love simple pleasures, and one of mine is watching the birds on the feeding station just outside my kitchen window. It’s a British hobby, and according to the RSPB we spend around twice as much on birdseed and birdfeeders as they do in mainland Europe. The BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) reports that we spend £200 million each year feeding our birds, and it’s paying dividends. In the 1980s about 18 species of birds were recorded, but that number has risen to 130. It’s boosted the numbers of certain species. Goldfinches, which I considered a good spot in the 1970s, are now two-a-penny here – their favourite is sunflower seeds. They stay put for minutes at a time, splitting the seeds with their beaks. It’s also helped the tit…

WHEN I was growing up we had a prolific apple tree in the middle of the back lawn. It was a dual-purpose cooker/eater called ‘Newton Wonder’. My mum baked it beautifully, with raisins and brown sugar, and given time to mature after picking it was a sharp but tasty eater, too. There were, however, three issues. First, the tree produced a huge crop one year and just about nothing the next. The RHS told my dad to pick off half the baby apples in June to kick it into cropping every year. What a job! What’s more, it didn’t work. Second, it was big – 13-16ft (4-5m) high and wide. Oh, and it also suffered from mildew. ‘Newton Wonder’ was introduced in 1887, but thankfully, these days we can avoid…

ONE way to solve the pollination problem is to forget about choosing apple varieties that will pollinate each other and instead plant a crab apple that will pollinate all of them. ‘John Downie’ is usually recommended, but it is prone to disease and that’s the last thing you want. A good alternative is ‘Red Sentinel’. Unusually resistant to scab, fireblight and mildew, it features fragrant white spring flowers and long-lasting blood-red fruits.…

Beetroot ‘Boltardy’ A bolt-resistant variety that can be sown very early in the season and produces tender, spherical roots with smooth skin Carrot ‘Early Nantes 5’ This French variety produces crunchy, sweet roots. They can be picked at finger size or left to mature Potato ‘Swift’ A first early with oval, white-skinned tubers that are ready for unearthing about 10 weeks after planting Onion ‘Sturon’ A popular variety that is slow to bolt and produces large juicy bulbs that will keep forages in storage Swiss chard ‘Bright Lights’ A mixture of red, white, orange, gold and pink-stemmed varieties topped with glossy green, bronze or burgundy leaves Courgette ‘Defender’ A traditional variety that’s extremely prolific, producing heavy crops of uniform dark-green…

Back of border Canna ‘Wyoming’ Produces exotic tangerine-hued flowers above purple-bronze foliage all summer. Grow in sheltered, fertile soil, in sun. In mild areas, cover with mulch over winter; otherwise, lift rhizomes and store indoors, in compost. H: 5-6 ½ ft (1.5-2m). Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ Postbox-red flowers rise above dark foliage from July to September. In mild areas cover with thick mulch over winter; elsewhere, tubers should be lifted. Clean and dry them, and store in compost indoors. H: 3 ½ ft (1.1m). Lilium ‘Casa Blanca’ This classic oriental lily has deliciously scented white flowers from mid to late summer. Plant bulbs 6in (15cm) deep in free-draining soil, in a sunny spot (with the base in shade). NB: Lilies can be fatal to…

Lilium regale (AGM) Easy to grow (even on chalk), the king’s lily is prized for its headily scented white trumpets, with their yellow throats and pink jackets. They’ll fill the garden with fragrance in midsummer. Plant 6-8in (15-20cm) deep in well-drained soil, in sun. Like all lilies, they can be fatal to pets. H: 39in-2 ½ ft (1-2m). Freesia These South African natives can be purchased heat-treated for UK cultivation (from suppliers such as Sarah Raven). Plant corms 2in (5cm) deep, in pots or directly into fertile, well-drained, sunny borders in April, then enjoy their potent perfume and bright colours in July and August. H: 16in (40cm).…

Primula vulgaris Primroses are another native wildflower that loves the sunlit edges of deciduous woods and hedgerows. Those pale-yellow flowers will gladden the heart when they appear in early spring. Anemone nemorosa Plant these star-like blooms en masse to create a spectacular sight in spring. The white flowers, often blushed with a pale pink, track the sun during the day, and will mingle happily with sweet violets. Narcissus ‘Thalia’ With crisp ivory petals and trumpet, understated elegance is key to this exquisite old variety’s appeal. The multi-headed stems grow to about 8in (20cm) high. Flowers from March to April. Convallaria majalis The tiny bell-like blooms of lily-of-the-valley love woodland conditions and soil rich in leaf mould. They’ll flower in mid to late spring, so plant with later-blooming violets…

1 Run an old, long-bladed kitchen knife between the rootball and the pot. Upend the pot and knock the rim against a firm wooden post or place on its side and tap with a wooden block. 2 Look for a halfway mark between crowns of growth and cut down between them using the old kitchen knife. It seems brutal, but the plants won’t mind. 3 Having cut through the joining tissue at the top and the toughest roots, prise the rest apart so they come away undamaged. Work old compost from the shoulders and shorten roots if necessary. 4 Crock the pot, place compost in the base, centre the plant and ensure it is at the correct height. Fill in around the roots, firming gently. Leave a 1in (2.5cm) watering…

• 27 February 1706 John Evelyn, naturalist and diarist, dies. He was known for his knowledge of trees, and in 1664 published the groundbreaking Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-Trees. • 27 February 1965 Goldie the golden eagle brought London to a standstill when it escaped from London Zoo in Regent’s Park. The late comedian and keen gardener Cyril Fletcher once said that the eagle had probably wanted to buy his hat: “It put a deposit on it!” • 1 March 1878 The Belgian government announced compulsory training for professional gardeners. Classes were held on Sundays to allow as many as possible to attend, and covered fruit growing and market gardening. • 2 March 1923 The Rev William Wilks died aged 80. A keen gardener and plant breeder, he developed…

■ London-born plantsman Edmund Charles Buxton (1838-1925) moved to North Wales where he had a famed garden: Coed Drew, at Betws-y-Coed. Anthemis tinctoria ‘E.C. Buxton’ and Geranium wallichianum ‘Buxton’s Variety’ are named after him. ■ Arthur Tysilio Johnson (1873-1956) was an amateur plantsman with a 4-acre (1.6h) garden at Ty’n-y-Groes. Notable geraniums ‘A.T. Johnson’ and ‘Johnson’s Blue’ are named after him, as is Erica x darleyensis ‘Arthur Johnson’. His 1931 co-authored book Plant Names Simplified is still in print.…

Leather-Handled Seed Packet Storage Tin £22.99 p&p £4.99 0114 233 8262 burgonandball.com Features Available in Atlantic blue, stone or frog (shown), this steel tin comes with leather side handles and sturdy clips on the lid. It is powder coated inside and out, and comes with three compartments. One runs the length of the tin and the others are wider and deeper. Wording is on one side, the lid is hinged and the tin has curved edges. W. 11in (27cm), D. 5in (13cm), H. 6in (14.5cm). Performance This is ideal for storing any size of seed packet. The larger compartment is large enough for secateurs. The clips that secure the lid are a bonus because if you drop the tin the contents remain inside. The leather side handles are warm to…

1 Lay out your moss on a table in a quilt-thick 1ft (30cm) square. Then, using soil with some sticky clay content, make a 50:50 mix with potting compost, adding water to the bucket until it has a cake-dough consistency. Knock your plant from its pot, remove the loose compost, and then ball the soil mix in an inch-thick layer over the roots. 2 Place this on to your moss and use it to wrap around the soil mix. Use twine, catgut or, easier still, chicken wire pre-cut into squares, to mould into a sphere-like shape. Then hang outside from twine where the rain will help with the watering.…

1 Nectaroscordum are dainty beauties with nodding pale umbels. Plant them in a sunny site. The seed heads are lovely for flower arrangements. 2 Big, bright and bold, Stargazer lilies add a blast of colour. They are toxic to cats, so if you are a feline household get pollen-free varieties. 3 Heavenly scented Polianthes tuberosa flower abundantly and look delightful with agapanthus and ferns. Perfect for cut flowers, they will fill a room with their delicate perfume. 4 No-nonsense alliums come in many sizes and are as happy in pots as in the ground. The pom-pom seedheads make wonderful indoor decorations for autumn and Christmas. A rocky patch: If your rockery and alpines took a battering in winter, buy next week’s AG and find out how to spruce them up.…

PESTS may be a nuisance, but they are no less interesting than the creatures we welcome into our gardens and I was fascinated by Val Bourne’s column about different species of garden snails (AG, 24 February). Until I read that article I thought a snail was a snail was a snail, but no! It would appear that gardens host several varieties, the most common being the garden snail (Helix aspersa). These grow to 1.5in (4cm) and live in matte shells that are cream with brown stripes on their 4-5 spirals. Older snails develop a lip at the opening of their shell, which is edged with white. Originally hailing from the Mediterranean, these are now the world’s most widespread mollusc and can be found on all continents except the Antarctic. They…

HEDGEHOGS are largely nocturnal, so if you see one out during the day it may be injured or unwell, but check their behaviour before going to its aid. “If it is going about with purpose during daylight hours it could be a mother finding herself some food or more nesting materials,” said Fay Vass. “If it’s like this, leave it alone. But if it seems lethargic or is obviously injured, it will need help.” The advice is to put the hedgehog (making sure you’re wearing sturdy gloves when you pick it up) into a large box with a towel at the bottom they can hide under. Give it some water and cat or dog food and leave it somewhere quiet and warm indoors. Call the society on 01584 890 801…

1 Remove completely dead branches at their bases. Cut back areas of dead, damaged or spindly growth to healthy wood. 2 Remove inward-facing shoots as they will cause the plant to look congested and disrupt airflow around the plant. 3 Cut back main stems to just above an outward-facing healthy bud. Cut on a slant so moisture doesn’t collect on the wound. 4 Don’t prune rambling roses until they have flowered, but do tie back any loose shoots blown about by winter storms.…

1 Fill a seed tray or seed modules with fresh sieved seed compost and tamp it flat so the seeds don’t get “lost” in it. 2 Carefully sow the seeds thinly on the surface. This is easier if you sprinkle them off a dampened fingertip. 3 Cover the seeds with a thin layer of vermiculite, which helps transfer air, light and moisture to the germinating seeds. 4 Water using a fine rose, cover with a lid and place the seeds in a coldframe, greenhouse or light windowsill. Germination takes 3-6 weeks.…

IT won’t be long before the grass is growing again… well, it barely ever stops anyway. Soon we’ll be getting out the mowers and cutting sward once more, and we really should make it easier for ourselves. After all, we’ll be doing it weekly or at least fortnightly for the next eight or nine months and that’s a lot of walking up and down. So, first, make sure your mower will start, as nothing wastes more of your goodwill than half an hour’s fruitless pulling on that cord. Those of you with an electric mower will never experience that joy – although even these can have their faults. Anyway, a good service is always worthwhile. But now here is a point. We usually get our mowers serviced in winter as…

ALL this talk of blueberry muffins has got me yearning for a heavy crop of berries this summer. If, like me, you’ve got a soft spot for these superfruits, then the time to act is now. Pruning ensures bushes remain productive, and it’s handy to carry it out once you can clearly see which branches hold an abundance of the plump fruit buds at their tips (leaf buds are, in contrast, flat). That time is now, so grab your secateurs and remove any weak or low-growing shoots that are sprouting from the base of your plant. Also, take out any crossing or congested growth, and shorten any unusually long, whippy stems. On older bushes, take out a couple of the most mature stems.…

MAYBE you were rushed off your feet in autumn, or perhaps you garden on heavy soil. Whatever your reason for not getting onions and shallots in the ground, you can play catch-up now. I’m eager to get the sets (little bulbs) planted so they can reach a good size come the summer. I love the long ‘banana’ shallots so am planting ‘Jermor’, alongside heat-treated ‘Hytech’ and ‘Red Ray’ onions. Heat-treated onion sets are handy if you plant in early March when temperatures are still quite cold, because they won’t bolt (flower), whereas non-treated sets may well do. Leave just the little top tuft sticking out of the earth, plant in full sun (on raised beds if your soil is heavy) at 20cm spacings each way.…

SPRING-FLOWERING bulbs, especially those that bloom early, give a sense of optimism after the dreary days of winter. While most spring bulbs are put in the ground in autumn, some can be planted now, while they are still in leaf or even in flower. This is known as planting “in the green” and we do it to snowdrops and yellow winter aconites. Plants are dug up with plenty of soil around their bulbs and roots. The rootball is wrapped in plastic or Cellophane to keep it damp. Remove the packaging on receipt and keep the bulbs well ventilated and damp – spray with water if they show signs of drying out. They can stay like this for up to 72 hours, but ideally should be replanted as soon as possible…

■ This is pretty much your last chance to order bare-root trees for speedy delivery and planting straight away, so check garden centres for trees in containers. Also, there are bargains to be had – look out for special offers as the end of planting season approaches. ■ Soak bare-root trees in a bucket of water for two hours before planting, or drench container-grown trees. Add Maxicrop or Seasol seaweed tonic to help stimulate new root activity. ■ Don’t add garden compost or manure unless the soil is exceptionally poor. ■ Do not add fertiliser to the planting soil as this will discourage the roots from spreading. ■ All trees will need support; tie cordons to wires or use a short stout stake for bush trees.…

If, like me, you’d like to grow an apple tree in a traditional form and not as a cordon, there may not be enough space in a small garden to plant both eaters and cookers. Luckily, there are a few AGM apple varieties that not only have a lovely flavour when eaten fresh, but also cook well. Large-fruited ‘Charles Ross’ tastes like a Cox eaten fresh and bakes well. As an eater, mildew-resistant ‘James Grieve’ improves with storage and cooks well in September. ‘King of the Pippins’ is good in pies and for juice, as well as eaten fresh, while the huge-fruited (and superbly named) ‘Peasgood’s Nonsuch’ – primarily a cooker – is juicy and sharp when eaten raw.…

Not so long ago it was easy to get hold of an allotment, but demand has spiralled in recent times, making it much tougher to become a plot holder. In some parts of the country people have to wait years until they are provided with a key to the allotment gate. The first step to taking on an allotment is to contact your local council. Most have an allotment officer, who will either allocate you a plot or put you on a waiting list. Ask how long you should expect to wait. If it seems excessive, consider taking on a plot at a site further away, where the waiting list may be shorter. A good tip for those wanting to jump the queue is to ask to take on a…

How do I care for agapanthus? QWe’ve been given an unnamed agapanthus in a pot and are unsure whether to keep it in a container or plant it out. I’ve heard that agapanthus flower better when pot bound, so what should I do with it? Lorraine Shelby, Leicester AAgapanthus, also known as African lilies, bring a lot to the garden. They are tough, fleshy rooted, drought-tolerant plants, sending up flower buds in July and August. These open on sturdy stems to reveal umbels of long-lasting blooms in white or shades of blue. Attractive seed heads are persistent and I leave ours on. A failure to dead-head does not seem to affect flowering. There are more than 500 varieties of agapanthus and the deciduous ones are generally held to be more…

How scan I grow pineapple lilies? Q Many years ago I grew a pineapple lily that was beautiful and looked like a yellow hyacinth. I’ve looked for a replacement, but without success. How can I grow another one? Dorothy Loveridge, Old Basing, Hants A Pineapple lily is the common name of a lovely bulb called eucomis. It is in the lily family and each bulb produces a rosette of strap-shaped leaves and a dense spike of starry flowers topped by a tuft of small leafy bracts – which is how it got its common name. Eucomis bicolour flowers in autumn and has flowers of the palest green. Other species include E. autumnalis (pale greenish flowers), E. Comosa (white and purple flowers) and E. Pallidiflora (greenish-white flowers). Pineapple lilies are easy…

Check baskets regularly to see if they need watering, give regular high-potash liquid feeds and deadhead often. Whitefly are sometimes troublesome under glass. Introduce the parasitic wasp Encarsia formosa while the fly population is still low. Keep a lookout for badly distorted shoot tips and flowers, as this could be fuchsia gall mite, a relatively new pest to the UK. There is no effective chemical control. Cutting away damaged growth can work, but more often than not, destroying the plant is best. Capsid bugs cause minor distortion and holes mainly to leaves outdoors.…

Gro-Sure Smart Ground Cover is a protective and decorative natural mulch ideal for use in beds, borders, planters, containers and pots – its natural wood fibres cleverly lock together to stay in place offering better coverage than standard bark. To use, spread a 1 1/4in (3cm) layer, break up lumps and fluff the mulch before watering to lock fibres together. We have three 10-litre packs to give away, each worth £9.99. 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 Gro-Sure Smart Ground Cover 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 Gro-Sure Smart Ground Cover Draw. The closing…

■ The Welsh poppy Meconopsis cambrica, Icelandic poppy Papaver nudicaule, columbine (aquilegia) and forget-me-not (myosotis) are all unpalatable to slugs. ■ In 1986 HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, admitted during a TV interview: “I just come and talk to the plants. Really very important to talk to them. They respond, I find.” ■ Plants grow better if you talk to them in a Welsh accent! Nurseryman Chris Bonnett, from Essex, conducted a test with plants in a polytunnel. At the end of summer average growth was seen across the Australian, Liverpudlian, Yorkshire and American accent groups, but the Welsh and Geordie groups visibly thrived.…