Innholdsfortegnelse for 21-Jul-2018 i Amateur Gardening

THIS week I was going to hard prune one of our two overenthusiastic Clematis montana right back to the ground. It is a rampageous plant and often smothers windows and patio doors, so a hefty trim seemed a good way to solve this problem for the rest of the summer. I gave the other clematis the same treatment three years ago after flowering and it came back with gusto. However, this year’s plan has been put on hold due to the extremely hot and dry weather. Hard pruning can be traumatic for a plant, so I decided instead to just give it a thorough trim, but leave the canopy and stems attached until conditions become cooler and wetter. Clematis are one of our most popular, exotic-looking plants, and with good…

It is extremely disheartening to see a previously healthy clematis shrivel and blacken almost overnight. There are usually two main reasons for this. Environmental problems are a key culprit. Clematis like their roots buried deep in moist, fertile soil that is in the shade. Their top growth should be in sheltered sun or partial shade. If planted against a wall or next to other shrubs, make sure the roots aren’t in a rain shadow. If possible, plant 2ft (60cm) away from a wall. Another problem is the fungal disease clematis wilt, which is more likely to attack large-flowered varieties than those that have smaller blooms. Leaves and stems shrivel and blacken, but don’t die. Cut back all the stems to healthy growth and wait for new stems to shoot back…

1 Deadhead flowering plants regularly to encourage more blooms, and remove wilting and damaged material that might become diseased. 2 To keep your plants looking good, cut off dead leaves using clean scissors or snippers. 3 Regular feeding and watering is essential to promote healthy growth. Wilting will knock back plants and make them weaker. 4 Honeydew excreted by sap-sucking pests attracts sooty mould that can reduce photosynthesis. Wipe leaves clean with a soft, damp cloth and then spray with houseplant pesticide.…

WE have an inherited deutzia ‘Chardonnay Pearls’ that is an absolute joy in late spring. It’s vivid acid-green leaves are a delightful contrast to the rosemary growing next to it, and its creamy-white flowers fill the air with a sweet and heavy scent. However, it is next to the drive and has grown so much that getting in and out of the car is starting to become problematic. More seriously, its flowering is dropping off and it is losing shape and trespassing into its neighbour’s space. Deutzia should be pruned in summer after they have flowered to give plenty of time for regeneration and the production of new shoots for next year’s blooms. If yours is a manageable size, cut back the side branches to just above a healthy leaf…

SEEING plants that have been grown well has always given me pleasure, perhaps in part because the effort put into achieving such success is well appreciated. Last month I went to the Rose Society UK Show, hosted by Squires Garden Centre in Shepperton, Surrey, where the quality of blooms staged was quite remarkable. “Fragrance of roses was heavy in the air” It is not just the growing that is remarkable, though, as exhibitors had travelled from across Britain, with a fair number working through the night to stage perfect blooms. John Bell, for example, had travelled from Kilner Park, Cumbria, to win the first prize for a bowl of roses with any number of stems plus other flowers and foliage. The single-flowered rose ‘Sally Holmes’ was noticeable for the quality…

If fruitlets are still crowded after the June drop, remove some by hand. Thinning lets light in around the fruit and prevents branches from snapping under their weight. Remove misshapen, blemished and poorly positioned fruit, as well as the ‘king’ fruit in the centre of clusters as they often grow a funny shape. The ideal spacing for plums is one fruit per 2-3in (5-8cm), or a pair of fruit every 6in (15cm). You may need to support loaded branches with stakes and ties. Pears also require hard thinning and cooking apples need it more than dessert varieties. Apricots can be thinned if there is very heavy cropping. Remove excess peaches and nectarines when they are walnut-sized.…

1 Remove most of the pumpkin fruit from each plant while still small, leaving just the best to grow huge. 2 When you’re sure all fledglings have gone, clean the bird boxes and compost old nests to destroy fleas and other parasites. 3 Thin any ant colonies by putting tin cans over the site and evicting eggs mid-afternoon – hens, fish and birds love them. 4 Don’t pick and tidy up the larger windfall fruits, but slice open and leave to fob off wasps and birds.…

WHEN I moved to Spring Cottage almost 14 years ago, I wanted to create a mini meadow of British native flowers because making meadows was all the rage. Space was at a premium and my chosen area only measures roughly 18x9ft (5.5x3 metres). It was lawn when we came to the house, although the lawn hadn’t been treated with weedkiller or fertiliser. “The orchids have done well and give me great joy” I began by scalping the area with an old Flymo lawn mower. The day was damp and I kept going until there were lots of patches of bare earth. I raked the patches over and scarred them badly, then sprinkled on yellow rattle seeds ( Rhinanthus minor ). I trod and shuffled the seeds in like someone out…

NOW the summer solstice is behind us, and (dare I bring it up?) autumn is only a handful of weeks away, it pays to turn your attention to a group of vegetables that enjoy cooler, moister weather. Collectively called Oriental or Asian vegetables, these crops are a hugely under-used and underrated resource. The vast majority are variations of Brassica rapa, a quick-growing annual cabbage. Its genetics encourage it to flower as the days lengthen – not a problem if you want to grow Asian vegetables such as kailaan or rat’s tail radish. But if you plan to harvest lush, leafy rosettes of pak choi, Chinese cabbage or komatsuna then it’s the last thing you want. The solution? Sow now, as days shorten, and flowering won’t be triggered. It might seem…

IT’S my belief that most grow-your-owners are also enthusiastic cooks: what’s the point of producing all those delicious ingredients otherwise? And while crops such as new potatoes, tomatoes and strawberries are the stars of the show, where would they be without mint and basil? Leafy culinary herbs lift flavours to a completely different level, so I always grow a few pots just outside my kitchen door. Most have put on an almighty flush of growth by the summer, but if you leave them unharvested they turn woody and tough come autumn. I suggest that you harvest and preserve them now. After experimenting over the years, I’ve fine-tuned two of my favourite ways to store them – by freezing them whole and placing in butter. Freezing whole is such a simple…

Although these dwarf shrubs never get out of hand, regular pruning will help keep them looking elegant and flowering prolifically. In March, cut out any growth that looks short and spindly – these shoots rarely flower well and collect fallen leaves in the centre, making the plant look untidy. Plants will usually send up some strong growth from the centre; this should be cut back by half or just a little less. Doing so will encourage plenty of flowering shoots. If grown as a low hedge, prune in the same way – do not use shears or a hedge trimmer.…

Basil ‘Classico Tigullio’ (Eden Project range) – this large-leaved aromatic variety is the true Ligurian basil used to make authentic pesto, the famous sauce invented on the Italian Riviera back in the 1860s. Basil ‘Bolloso Napoletano’ – highly prized for its mild flavour and distinctive aroma, this variety hails from Naples and has very large, deeply crinkled leaves on plants up to 60cm (2ft) tall. Oregano – a classic Italian herb that grows wild in central and southern parts of the country. Its small leaves are used fresh or dried, on pizzas, in sauces and to add flavour to vegetable dishes. Parsley ‘Gigante Di Napoli’ – a speciality of the Naples region, this is considered by foodies to be the best-tasting parsley, with flat, glossy leaves that are larger than…

Turn yellow Some plants stop producing the green pigment chlorophyll in autumn. This means that the yellow pigments (carotenoids) usually masked by chlorophyll become visible. That’s why plants with high levels of carotenoids (such as Acer campestre) glow gold in autumn. Blush red Some plants produce red pigments (known as anthocyanins) in autumn. It’s thought this happens to protect the leaves from sunlight so that nutrients can be absorbed before they fall. Hence the brightest scarlet is usually produced by plants growing in sun-baked spots in poor soil.…

Block party Grow sanguisorba in blocks in a border with other herbaceous perennials to create dramatic swathes of colour. For an effective display, plant with aconitum, asters, echinops and tall but delicate grasses such as this pink variety of Miscanthus. Think big Plant tall-flowered S. canadensis alongside similarly statuesque plants – glossy-leaved Acanthus mollis works particularly well. Perfect for adding height and structure to the back of a border. Hazy does it Team with other slender-stemmed perennials for a haze of delicate colour. Try ‘Red Thunder’ with Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Firetail’ (right). Or get a similar feel from partners such as salvias, Veronica hastata, and thalictrum, with its fine, feathery foliage. Go natural Take the naturalistic approach and grow a perennial meadow by weaving your sanguisorba through grasses of a similar…

How do I get rid of my goji? Q I have a fast-growing plant that is hard to get rid of. It spreads along the ground and grows to 7ft (2.1m) high, with large spikes later in the year. What is it and how can I get rid of it? Brian Lunn, via email A The plant is known as Duke of Argyll’s tea plant or perhaps more commonly as goji berry (Lycium barbarum). It often appears in wildflower books, but was introduced to Britain and is not a native. It belongs to the Solanaceae family that includes potato, tomato and deadly nightshade. First, cut back all the stems to as near ground level as possible. I realise this is going to be hard where the plant has taken root…

ANTS are the most numerous insects in the world. It’s a fact that will come as no surprise to British gardeners who do battle with them every summer. Ant nests undermine plants; the insects farm aphids primarily for honeydew, the sweet substance they excrete and spread from plant to plant; they are known to defend aphids against other insect pests to protect the honeydew and they bite. They are far from the worst of our horticultural enemies, but they can be a nuisance, and being so plentiful they can be difficult to get rid of. There are lots of different products available to tackle the little blighters. Here we’ve looked at six of the most commonly available to assess their performance and value. Not all of these are friendly to…

Plant quite deeply in sun or light shade, so bulbs are buried with twice their depth of soil, so usually 5-6in (13-15cm) under. Do not cut foliage away for at least six weeks after flowering, and preferably not until it dies back naturally. In grass, areas must be left unmown. Give bulbs growing on poorer soils a high potash liquid feed, while leaves are young and fresh. Water during dry springs and deadhead (not necessary on richer soil). Don’t knot foliage, as this is tantamount to cutting it off and it looks silly.…

17 July 1939 Rev A.T. Boscawen, creator of the rectory garden at Ludgvan, Cornwall, died. He also introduced the anemone as a commercial crop to Cornwall. 17 July 1955 Disneyland in California opened its gates for the first time. It has a flower factory for the multitude of plants it needs each year. 18 July 1811 James Bateman, botanist, writer and garden creator at Biddulph Grange, Staffordshire, was born. He wrote the book Orchidaceae of Mexico and Guatemala. 18 July 1920 A 100-acre (40.5 hectare) colony of box huckleberry (Gaylussacia brachycera) was found on this day in Pennsylvania, near the Juniata River. It is estimated to be 8,000 years of age. 19 July 1838 Landscaper and writer Thomas Blaikie died. He designed the garden surrounding the famous Château de Bagatelle,…

Nesting tubes for bees I WAS delighted to read the article by Val Bourne ( AG , 23 June) about bee boxes in her garden. For those who’d like to support solitary bees, I do have a word of caution. I have half a dozen bee boxes and, like most, started with types made from bamboo canes or holes drilled into wood. The problem with these is that as bee numbers increase, so do the number of associated bee ‘pests’ – the most common in my experience are the houdini fly and pollen mites. As a result, I saw my bee population increase for a few years and then crash massively. The solution is to harvest the bee eggs (laid in lined cardboard harvesting tubes) at the end of each…

Acidity in soil has an affect on colour, making reds brighter and deeper, while alkaline soils give the best blues. As they age, pigments in flowers also wash out like ink on paper in sunshine, whereas in leaves purples become more intense. This is because the purple/red pigments act like a factor 50 suncream, helping protect the leaves from scorch. Occasionally hybrid plants become ‘chimeras’, splitting into their parents inside the same plant and displaying distinctly different flowers and leaves. Chimeras are rarely stable and eventually the stronger flower takes over.…

1 Stand on a stable platform or ladder and cut back any top shoots that are questing outside their allotted space. 2 Using sharp shears, cut away spent flowerheads and any damaged or dead foliage. 3 Work your way around the plant, trimming it back to a neat shape. Make sure it is no longer blocking windows and doors. 4 Pruning can be stressful for plants, especially in very dry weather, so feed and water afterwards and mulch with a generous layer of organic material.…

GOOD warm weather brings gardens back to life and the same applies to houseplants, which should be in full growth now. Some can go outside (see Anne Swithinbank’s Masterclass on page 35), but whether they are in or out they require the same sort of care. Houseplants need regular watering and should also be fed with a liquid houseplant food (or specialist feed where applicable) once a fortnight. When you do so, check them over for pests, especially more tender varieties of plants that are spending summer in the warm, still security of the house. Scale insects, aphids, mealybugs and glasshouse red spider mite are common summer threats and should be controlled as soon as you see them. Scale insects have a hard shell that makes them almost impervious to…

Start by cutting back branches carrying spent flowers to strong new side shoots that will develop next year’s blooms. Remove up to 20% of old wood to the base (do this each year) to open up the plant, improving shape and air circulation. Cut out weak and spindly shoots and any that are growing inwards, crossing or rubbing. This encourages the plant to grow in an attractive open ‘goblet’ shape to…

Some modern roses are very disease resistant. The original rose ‘Flower Carpet Pink’ (pictured) has never needed a fungicide spray in my garden. Where roses make over-tall growth with all the flowers at the top, slowly bend the branches down into a horizontal position to encourage lateral (side) flowering shoots to grow. A new series called Home Florist Roses is just coming onto the market. These roses are suitable for beds and to cut. Rose ‘Timeless Purple’ (pictured) in this series is very fragrant and has fully double, richly coloured flowers. Rose ‘Compassion’ remains one of finest climbing roses. It is repeat flowering, beautifully perfumed, and lovely to cut and arrange indoors in water.…

1 Save the strongest shoots you have pinched out between the stems and the main lateral leaf shoots. 2 Remove the tip of each shoot and pinch out the side leaflets, leaving a couple at the top. 3 Dip the end of each shoot in hormone rooting compound to promote the growth of strong roots. 4 Insert the shoots into a 3in (7cm) pot or around a 4in (10cm) pot of seed compost and perlite. 5 Seal the pot in a clear plastic bag, making sure the sides don’t touch the shoots, and place it somewhere light and warm.…

ICELAND poppies are one of those charming plants that will brighten any garden. Cottage border favourites, their papery petals in red, yellow and orange look wonderful outside and also cut well, so you can bring their beauty indoors too. Endlessly versatile – as long as they have free-draining, fertile soil in a sunny spot – they will thrive in beds as well as patio pots, and burst into flower from June right through to autumn, coming into play where late spring flowers such as foxgloves leave off. This week’s free seeds, Mr Fothergill’s ‘Iceland Mixed Seeds’, can be sown early in the year for same-year flowering, or now, when they will bloom next year. You can sow them direct or in trays, but as the soil is so parched this…

I’VE been harvesting my ‘Malling Minerva’ summer raspberries for a good month now, and pretty soon the autumn varieties will be ripening, too. It’s been a bumper yield for raspberries so far, and no doubt you’ll want to keep it that way. Usually, raspberry canes leaf up in spring with nature-defying vigour, but the lush, green foliage can start to take on a yellower hue as the season progresses. This could just be a reaction to hotter, drier weather (as raspberries prefer it cool and moist), but it can be a sign that your plants are suffering from magnesium deficiency. If left unchecked, this nutrient dearth can impact upon yields, so remedy it now. Follow our guide (opposite) to find out what to look for and how to treat it.…

IN the height of summer, it’s tempting to focus on harvesting rather than maintenance, but heed my warning. If you staked trees with ties when you planted them, or secured stems in place with rubber-coated wires, you might have inadvertently created the perfect storm. The trunks and stems of young trees can expand at an unexpected rate in summer – so much so that certain ties can eventually cut into them. Rubber tree ties have some stretchability to them, but it pays to ensure they’re not getting too tight. I use twine to tie in the stems of my fan-trained and espalier fruit trees, rather than wire. That way, if the tie becomes too tight, the twine snaps instead of the tree – that’s a much better outcome!…

WE’RE often led to believe that the best way to know the conditions a plant likes in the garden is to check the habitat it prefers in the wild. The late Beth Chatto was a great believer in this approach, and generally it works well. But in the case of the shrubby potentilla, it’s a mistake. This British native, Potentilla fruticosa (its common name is shrubby cinquefoil from the five-lobed foliage), is most often seen growing on the gravelly banks of northern rivers such as the Tees, especially in areas that are prone to flooding. In gardens it makes no such demands, however, and is happy in any reasonable soil. In fact, grow it in wet conditions and it will die. Believe me, I’ve tried it – if only to…

Shrubby potentillas, especially those with silvered foliage, make splendid specimens in sunny raised beds. I’ve found that where the drainage is good, the length of stems between the leaf joints (where the flowers open) tends to be shorter. Consequently, the flowers are carried closer together, increasing the impact. In areas where the brightest display is often earlier, all shrubby potentillas help fill the colour gap; meanwhile, those with silvery leaves are attractive right through from spring to autumn.…

Kale ‘Cavolo de Nero’ – forming a dramatic 1m (3ft) tall clump of deeply crinkled dark-green leaves, this winter-hardy vegetable looks good and is used traditionally in Florence to make hearty ribollita soup. Onion ‘Tropea Rossa Lunga (End Project range)’ – a speciality of the Calabria region of southern Italy, this oval-shaped red onion is so sweet it can be eaten raw in salads or is ideal for turning into marmalade. Lettuce ‘Meraviglia d’Inverno San Martino’ – originating from the San Martino valley, where temperatures regularly fall to -40°C, this is a tough lettuce that can be sown outside until December if given some protection. Chickpea ‘Principe’ (Eden Project range) – grown like dwarf beans, 60cm (2ft) tall plants produce lots of pods containing up to two chickpeas. It’s the…

‘Scharlachglut’ (Scarlet Fire) The heart-stopping single red flowers of this wonderful Gallica hybrid shrub rose are followed by a generous supply of orange-red hips. Flowers once over a long period. H: 6ft (1.8m). ‘Francis E. Lester’ AGM Pretty pink and white flowers will coat this healthy hybrid musk rambler in June and July, before giving way to orange-red hips in autumn. The delicious scent really carries on the air. H: 16½ft (5m). ‘Fru Dagmar Hastrup’ AGM A healthy repeat-flowering rugosa rose producing large powder-pink flowers that attract bees, followed by red hips resembling cherry tomatoes. Sun or semi-shade. H: 4ft (1.2m). ‘Geranium’ AGM If you have space for it, you won’t regret planting this wildlife-friendly shrub rose, which has an open, arching habit. The geranium-red flowers are followed by wonderful…

Q I have read that indoor plants like to be stood outdoors for summer and have moved some of mine to the garden. However, not all of them are appreciating their summer break. Is this a good idea or not? Dawn Sargent, Carnforth, Lancashire A Sudden exposure to bright sun, wind, rain and varying temperatures can be a shock to the system of delicate houseplants. While some will benefit from a holiday in the garden, you can’t really treat them as a job lot. There could be bromeliads from South America, epiphytic ferns from Australia and succulents from South Africa, all with different needs. I go through my collection one by one to decide what’s best. One of my golden rules is to wait until the weather is properly warm,…

Q Can you tell me what this plant is? I think a bird must have dropped a seed. Judy Hodson, Folkestone, Kent A This is salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius) and is locally naturalised, especially in southeast England. It has great charm. If you like it, transplant it in autumn to somewhere with free-draining soil in full sun. It will eventually make a handsome clump. Q What is this dreaded plant that has taken over our hedges? Mary Boggan, Bridgetown, Co Wexford, Ireland A It is wire-netting bush (Corokia cotoneaster). Hailing from New Zealand, it was introduced to Britain in 1875 and tends to be rampageous. As Roundup doesn’t appear to control it, tackle it with Vitax Brushwood Killer, painting it on shoots and stumps, but keeping it away from cultivated plants.…

£5.15 free delivery  amazon.co.uk Features Plastic pods contain a powerful slow-working insecticide (spinosad). Positioned near an ant nest, the whole colony will be dead in seven to 10 days. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Harmful to fish and aquatic life. Performance Simple to set up: just remove from pack and put the pod close to the nest or run. Other readily available food sources for the ants must be cleared away before use. The poison can’t be accessed by pets and it’s protected from weather. Each pod remains effective for one month. There are no loose chemicals to get on your hands or accidentally contaminate wildlife, the nest is destroyed and the plastic pods are recyclable. Value Convenient, easy and safe to use, indoors and out. More expensive…

‘Jetfire’ In March, the backswept yellow petals of this dwarf Cyclamineus hybrid frame a cheerful orange cup. Stands at 10in (25cm), lightly scented and great in borders or pots. ‘Sir Winston Churchill’ This multi-headed double opens sweetly fragrant white blooms with a flush of yellow, plus orange-yellow petals at the centre. Flowers in April at 15in (38cm). ‘Pistachio’ A trumpet daffodil whose soft yellow petals and lemon yellow trumpet have a greenish tinge. Flowers from March to April at 14in (35cm). ‘Thalia’ Sometimes known as the ‘orchid daffodil’, the elegant white blooms of this multi-headed sort open in April and emit a lovely fragrance. Reaches 14in (35cm).…

Get the best baskets ever with Gro-Sure Easy Containers Compost. This moisture-retaining yet free-draining mix is perfect for pots and baskets, and is enriched with water-storing granules for easier watering and six months of nutrients to feed your plants. It also contains natural fibres for stronger roots and bigger plants. We have three 50-litre sacks to give away, each worth £6.99. 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 Easy Containers Compost Draw (21 July), Amateur Gardening, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 7BF. Or you can email your details to ag_giveaway@ti-media.com, heading the email Gro-Sure Easy Containers Compost Draw (21 July). The closing date is 27 July 2018.…

1 Group 1: Early-flowering varieties such as C. armandii, C. cirrhosa ‘Freckles’ (pictured) and C. Montana. Simply tidy up new growth after flowering. 2 Group 2: Large-flowered varieties such as ‘Belle of Woking’ (pictured) blooming May-June. Prune early spring, keeping a framework of old wood. 3 Group 3: Flowering late summer, cut back old stems to the lowest pair of healthy buds in February or March. Ideal for ‘Gypsy Queen’ AGM (pictured). 4 Groups 2 & 3 combined: Cut some branches to the main framework and the rest back to the base. Varieties include ‘Abundance’ (pictured). 5 Herbaceous clematis: This group includes C. heracleifolia (pictured) and should be pruned back to ground level in late autumn or early spring. 6 Unknown group: If they flower before June, like C. montana…

Summer is the perfect time to propagate African violets (Saintpaulia) and streptocarpus via leaf cuttings as they will soon take and form new plantlets in the warmer weather. With the Saintpaulia, simply remove a healthy, mature leaf from the parent plant and insert its stem into a 3in (7cm) pot of dampened seed compost and perlite. Seal the leaf in a plastic bag, which can be removed once new leaflets form at the base in a few weeks’ time. The large leaves of streptocarpus can be split lengthways, their hard spine removed and the cut edges inserted in a tray of damp seed compost and perlite, as before. Treat the same as the African violet leaves, and leaflets should start to form in a few weeks. Plantlets of both varieties…

1 Water well, making it easier to slide the plants (in this case dahlias) from their pots without tearing roots dried onto the plastic. 2 Dig holes for each seedling, leaving them plenty of space to grow healthily, then slide them from their pots, keeping the rootball as intact as possible. 3 Set the seedlings in their holes and firm down the soil around them. Water it well to soak down to the roots. 4 Protect the seedlings with organic pellets or wool pellets, which also act as a mulch and help to retain moisture in the soil.…

1 Start at the top and remove any over-long shoots to create a neat, rounded silhouette. 2 Work on the sides and trim out the over-long shoots that are encroaching onto other plants or over paths and drives. 3 Cut away dead and damaged foliage and spent flowers. Also prune away shoots growing in the wrong direction and any that are dead or weak. 4 Open up the base and remove weeds and strangling ivy. Give the plant a boost with fertiliser, water and a nourishing layer of organic compost.…

I GREW this year’s entire tomato crop from seed and they are growing into large, robust plants. Some are in the greenhouse and the others are on the patio. With all the hot, dry weather we have been having, giving them enough water has been the main concern so far this summer. Plants that wilt will come back when watered, but the stress of dehydration leaves them weaker and more vulnerable to pests and diseases. Tomatoes that are irregularly watered are also more likely to succumb to blossom end rot, a disorder caused by a lack of calcium. It presents as a circular callous of dark material at the end of the fruit, giving them a flat appearance. Although there is usually plenty of calcium in soil and compost, if…

WHEN you first start gardening, it’s usual to think of pruning as an autumn or winter job. However with fruit trees such as apples, pears and quinces, and bushes such as currants and gooseberries, it’s far better to get started now. While major work (removing big branches and so on) is still best left until winter, you’ll find that summer pruning is a clever way of getting more crop the following year without encouraging too much regrowth. The idea is to mildly shock the plants by removing many of their small, young shoots while in leaf, thus making the plants change their manner of growth. Instead of putting on more wood and even more growth buds, summer pruning makes plants stop growing and turn their remaining growth buds into flower…

21: Designing Gardens for Dementia: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 22: Family Nature Trail: Barnsdale Gardens, The Avenue, Exton, Oakham, Rutland LE15 8AH. 01572 813200, barnsdalegardens.co.uk 22: Plant Fair and Open Gardens: Middleton Hall, Tamworth, West Midlands B78 2AE. planthuntersfairs.co.uk 23: The Curator’s Summer Garden Walk: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor 25: Garden Design Styles: RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall 26: Bat Walk: RHS Wisley 26: Watercolour Painting – Hemerocallis: Barnsdale Gardens 27: Garden Party Flowers: RHS Garden Hyde Hall 27: Gardening for Low Maintenance: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr 27-29: Loseley Park Garden Show:…

1 First things first, you’ll need to identify the problem. Magnesium deficiency creates specific symptoms, where the new (upper) growth is fine, but the lower, older foliage shows yellowing. This yellowing is between the leaf veins, so the veins themselves remain green. 2 The quickest way to remedy magnesium deficiency is to drench your raspberries with a foliar feed of Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate). Use a rate of 20g per litre of water – no stronger, otherwise you risk scorching the leaves. Apply in shady weather, not strong sun. 3 Apply once a fortnight, two or three times. In future, fork a topdressing of Epsom salts at 30g per square metre into the affected row(s) each spring. Dry, acid soils cause most problems, so mulch and irrigate frequently; raspberries prefer…

You can plant potentillas at any time of year, except when the soil is soggy or frozen. Avoid adding too much organic matter – in good soil, forking over the area and adding a handful of bonemeal is often sufficient. Choose a site in full sun for most varieties; those with red, pink or orange flowers develop their best colour in hot and sunny (but wet) summers. They also keep their colour better if never allowed to become too dry – it can be a delicate balance.…

As well as the invaluable shrubby options, there’s also a group of potentillas that are hardy perennials. They’re known for being easy to grow and reliable, and for producing some of the brightest flowers in the garden. They tend to have foliage a little like that of strawberries, and their flowers open over an unusually long season – from spring to autumn. Three have been awarded AGMs and of these my favourite (although it can be a little too vigorous at times) is Potentilla x tonguei, which has red-centred apricot flowers on plants that are low and spreading. There’s also the more upright ‘Gibson’s Scarlet’, with semi-double brilliant scarlet flowers, and ‘William Rollison’, whose semi-double blooms come in brick-orange – both on plants about 1 1/2ft (45cm) high.…

LAST year, Seeds of Italy introduced a Windowsill Garden range for the first time following the indoor gardening boom among millennials. The range consists of six different seed varieties – basil, parsley, coriander, chilli pepper, mint and cat grass (for those with house cats) – that are supplied with jars containing growing medium. Once added to the jars, seeds can be raised on a windowsill. ‘The trend towards growing indoors isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, and is only growing, with young people sharing their gardening exploits on social media and even Ikea selling indoor hydroponic growing kits,’ says Paolo. Because of this, Seeds of Italy is in the early stages of planning a new range of edibles that will be perfectly suited to growing in hydroponic set-ups.…

Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Red Thunder’ A favourite of the Dutch plantsman and designer Piet Oudolf. Deep-red tight flower heads sit on top of bright green stiff stems, surrounded by a mass of handsome, serrated foliage. HxS: 4x2ft (1.2mx60cm). Sanguisorba hakusanensis ‘Lilac Squirrel’ A compact cultivar of the Korean burnet, which looks fabulous planted so that its drooping catkin-like flowers dangle over the edge of a border. Bright-pink, the flowers are held above blue-green foliage. HxS: 2-3ftx16in (60-90x40cm). Sanguisorba menziesii AGM This has lovely grey-green foliage, the serrated edges of which are tinged red. In summer, tightly packed, blood-red flowers open to reveal magenta stamens that lend them a tactile soft and fluffy appearance. HxS: 2 1/2x2ft (75x60cm). Sanguisorba canadensis Native to North America, where it…

1 Citrus: This Tahiti lime (Citrus x latifolia) has stood out in a north east-facing position since late May, is watered using rain water, has regular summer citrus fertiliser and is sprouting happily. 2 Cymbidium: I’m watering this cymbidium orchid by dunking it in rainwater. Letting these orchids feel the chill of September nights helps them to set flower buds. 3 Kalanchoe thyrsiflora : Cleaned of dead leaves and stood out, the succulent foliage of these paddle plants has turned red. If you have no garden, it also tolerates a south-facing windowsill. 4 Saxifraga stolonifera : Common old mother of thousands makes a pretty pot plant to decorate a table in semi-shade. Just check for vine weevil larvae in autumn.…

ALWAYS dreamt of having your own greenhouse? Think how it will open up your gardening hobby to greater possibilities and help you to nurture seedlings and cuttings into gorgeous flowers and shrubs. And grow delicious fruit and veg! You can make that dream a reality by entering this competition today. Vitavia greenhouses offer superb quality and design at the best prices around. If you are looking for a cheap greenhouse there are plenty of them out there, but if you are looking for a very high-quality aluminium greenhouse with toughened safety glass, then you should look no further than Vitavia. Vitavia greenhouses are designed in Germany and constructed from anodised aluminium, a process that keeps the aluminium frame looking shiny and new throughout its life. Ideal for any gardener, the…

Peonies for pleasure! Peonies are virtually unrivalled in their ability to bring impact and drama to a garden. Once established, they flourish for decades, producing large numbers of flamboyant blooms in a magical range of hues and outstanding, often finely cut foliage. And they are looking their best right now, so let’s examine some of the facts and lore surrounding these beautiful plants. Greek mythology origins We all love a bit of mythology – or do we? The peony gets its name from Paeon, the Greek god of medicine and healing (also known as Apollo). Some say he was a student of Asclepius, while others say Asclepius was his son. Anyway, Asclepius became jealous of Paeon but, fortunately, Zeus saved him from Asclepius’s wrath by turning him into the peony…

Where in the world? Generally, the peony occurs naturally in the temperate and cooler regions across the northern hemisphere. Tree peonies are normally restricted in the wild to Central and southern China, and Tibet, while the vast majority of herbaceous species occur in a band stretching from Morocco to Japan. Paeonia californica (pictured), however, is limited to the coastal mountains of, would you believe, California. Molly the witch ‘Molly the Witch’ is the nickname given to a beautiful herbaceous peony with primrose-yellow flowers (pictured). It originates from the Caucasus Mountains (Azerbaijan, Georgia and Dagestan), and was discovered in 1900. And the reason for its curious nickname? Well, the botanist who discovered it was a Polish explorer named Ludwik Młokosiewicz. The plant has been given the scientific name Paeonia daurica subsp.…

“I’ve seen dozens of changeling flowers” EVERY year, gardeners face similar challenges but it seems this year a new conundrum has appeared on the radar. I first encountered it when my friend Caroline pointed out that her peonies had changed from their usual Russian red to pure white with fleck of raspberry. My first thought was that seeds from the blowsy blooms had fallen into the crown and that after years of bulking up unseen had blossomed but in a different colour from the parent. Known as ‘pioneering’, this phenomenon is common on agapanthus and perennial vegetables such as rhubarb and asparagus and explains why, if rhubarb flowers aren’t pulled or berry-bearing stems in asparagus are left un-cut, the stems become thin and un-productive. Since then, I’ve been shown dozens…