Innholdsfortegnelse for 20-aug-16 i Amateur Gardening

I’VE had lots of compliments about the Easy Fill baskets I planted (AG 21 May), especially the one filled with Begonia ‘Apricot Shades Improved’. When first planted I hung it at the back of the house because the other basket, filled with a traditional mix of bedding, looked better. But I went away for a week’s holiday, and to save the traditional basket I sheared back all the plants and put it in the shade. The begonia basket also went in the shade, but was not cut back. A month on from this the traditional basket is recovering, but the begonia basket, unchecked in growth, has continued to fill out and flower better and better. Even my wife, Kath, who said recently “I don’t often agree with Monty Don, but…

1 Compost will be drying out faster, so check your houseplants every few days to see if they need watering. 2 Houseplants grow in the summer, and need feeding every week or fortnight to keep them strong and healthy. 3 Deadhead houseplants as flowers start to fade. As with garden plants, this will encourage them to produce more blooms. 4 Mealybugs, glasshouse red spider mites and whitefly plague houseplants, so treat them as soon as you see them. Clean leaves: Remove dust and debris from houseplant leaves with a soft, damp cloth.…

IT is too late in the year to start sowing biennials, but if you pick up young plants from garden centres or rescue self-seeders from around the garden, they should reward you with a stunning show next year. Biennials are plants that take two years to complete their cycle of life. In the first year, they develop leaves, stems and roots, and then enter winter dormancy. In their second year they come back to life in spring, grow, flower and set seed, at which point the cycle starts over again. The most popular garden biennials are hollyhocks, foxgloves, honesty and sweet rocket. Others include wallflowers, sweet William and some seed-grown delphiniums. Foxgloves grow well on our thin, chalky soil, and one of them has self-seeded profusely, produced a cluster of…

• While you are deadheading, tying back, watering and weeding, keep a look out for pests and diseases. • Removed and destroy leaves that have fungal infections – don’t compost, as fungal spores can remain dormant, and re-infect months down the line. • Fungicides, such as Bayer Fungus Fighter or Rose Clear Ultra, are good for fighting bad infections. • Pick off pests or use a pesticide such as Provado Ultimate Bug Killer (which also comes in a formulation for vegetables) or Resolva Bug Killer. • Keep pest numbers down by enticing predatory insects, such as ladybirds and hoverflies into your garden.…

“The number of cultivars grown is much greater now” AT a trials ground open day recently one of the visitors was heard to say: “Is that Peter Seabrook, is he still about?” Often people ask why I have not retired and the pat reply is: “I would have long ago had I any sense,” but in reality I have a wonderful life and why retire when you have years of experience and can still do the job? Last month I made a trip to Norfolk to visit one of Britain’s largest wholesale rose growers. Such places tell us what is really happening in the world of roses. Yes, there are still plenty of well- established cultivars, such as ‘Arthur Bell’ (breeder: McGredy 1965). What a fantastically good, fragrant, deep yellow…

SUMMER can be a tough time for lawns. Hot dry weather leaves them looking scrappy and brown, while too much warmth and rain gives weeds the chance to get a foothold. There is no need to panic if your grass starts to look arid and patchy after a dry spell. As long as the lawn is healthy, it will soon return to its green state when it rains. If you do need to water, and the ground has dried hard, aerate it with a garden fork first. Broad-leaved weeds can be a nuisance at any time of year, and look unsightly. If you need to treat them, make sure you use a chemical formulated for lawn weeds, as a general weedkiller is non-specific and will kill off grass too. If…

WHEN apples start to fall off the trees it’s a sign that harvest time is near, but these early fallers are often bruised or riddled with maggots, so it is worth checking and cooking them straight away. Apples for eating and storing should be picked by hand and should come away easily without any tugging. Recently, my children decided to plant pips from the apples that they were eating and they have enjoyed watching their tiny trees grow. I felt a sense of achievement too, not having suggested the idea to them in the first place, and watching them succeed under their own steam. The boys were inspired by our next door neighbour’s tree which was laden with apples, and they offered to sort the fallen fruit and make apple…

• When plants have finished cropping, cut back old foliage to about 4in (10cm) above the crown to give new leaves space to grow. • For good hygiene, clear away straw and cut old leaves from around the plants. • Don’t cut back ‘perpetual’ varieties, that can crop until the first frost. Remove their old leaves in the autumn. • Plants will be weak after harvest – give them a balanced feed such as growmore at 35g per m² (1oz per sq yd). Avoid plant crowns and the leaves, as fertilisers can scorch.…

• 20 August: Calver, Curbar and Froggatt Hidden Gardens, Calver near Bakewell, Derbyshire S32 3YF (11am-4pm). In aid of All Saints’ Church, Curbar. opengardens.co.uk • 21 August: Plant Hunters’ Fair (10am-5pm), Abbeywood Gardens, Delamere, Cheshire. CW8 2HS planthuntersfairs.co.uk • 21 August: 1.30-5pm, Quarry End, Walworth, Darlington DL2 2LY. Mr and Mrs Iain and Margaret Anderson for NGS. ngs.org.uk • 21 August: Englefield House, Theale, Berkshire RG7 5EN In aid of British Red Cross redcross.org.uk/Opengardens • 27 August: Kew Horticultural Society Annual Show, Kew Green, TW9 3AP. Stalls open 12 noon and marquee displays from 1pm. General enquires to Emmeline Johnston 020 8948 0312 Further information: kewhorticulturalsociety.org • 28 August: Repton Village Gardens, Derbyshire DE65 6FQ. In aid of the National Gardens Scheme (1.30pm-5.30pm). ngs.org.uk • 28-29 August: Plant Hunters’ Fair…

PHILADELPHUS has had a fantastic year. In the very hot weather we had in mid-July the scent was out of this world. But, now that the flowers have faded it’s time to prune it back along with syringe, ribes and weigela. These summer flowering shrubs flower on newly produced wood. Leave pruning them until spring and you’ll be removing the potential flowering shoots. Prune them now and you’ll be giving plants time to grow these essential shoots for next year’s blooms. Either remove about a third of the growth to neaten the shape and keep the plant to size or, with old and compacted shrubs, remove a few of the very old and woody stems at the base, providing room for newer, stronger ones to flourish. The most important thing…

AT Stockton Bury we are lucky enough to have a polytunnel where we keep all our tender plants in winter and grow on young ones. In a few months it will be an essential space for us as it has an oil fired heater. However, after 10 years the cover has torn so action is needed urgently before winter. The hole is far too big for a polytunnel repair kit so a new cover is required. There are many different types and on average they last for five years, so we can’t complain about ours. Haygrove Garden Tunnels gardentunnels.co.uk will cover any style of tunnel so we have measured up and ordered a new one. I’ll let you know how we get on. In the meantime we are using a…

Carex ‘Ice Dance’ An attractive evergreen grass suitable for sun or shade – almost indestructible. A low grower ideal for use as a groundcover or container specimen. Height 12in (30cm). Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ A popular grass with attractive upright flower stems that reach 6ft (1.8m) in late summer. Deciduous, mound-forming plant that works well as a gentle screen. Ideal for full sun. Molinia caerulea A British native that thrives in a moist soil but tolerates drier ground too. Stunning purple flower panicles that reach a height of 4ft (1.2m). Deciduous mound former that offers arching stems. Panicum ‘Northwind’ Looking for an upright habit? This is the one for you. Deciduous, reaching 5ft (1.5m) in a sunny, open spot. Blue/grey foliage in spring which turns golden as autumn approaches. Pennisetum ‘Fairy…

Q This is a photo of the healthy pitcher plant I am growing. I think it’s done very well so far but I am unsure how to overwinter it – the same goes for a Venus fly trap growing in an old fish bowl. Ian Mitchell, Batley, West Yorks A If you are growing Sarracenia purpurea, which I think you are, it is almost hardy and can be overwintered in an unheated porch or room. Remove ‘browned off’ leaves and flower stalks as soon as possible. As for your Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula), it hails from North and South Carolina, and needs to be overwintered in a temperature of not less than 41°F (5°C). It is important to keep it perky, so sit its pot in a drip tray…

Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Geisha Girl’ (Japanese quince) Salmon-pink flowers are borne on leafless branches in early spring. A compact variety that doesn’t produce many fruits. Will tolerate some shade. Needs moist, well-drained soil. H. and S. (5ft) 1.5m. Abeliophyllum distichum (white forsythia) Scrambling, deciduous shrub with slender branches and forsythia-like fragrant white flowers in early spring. Looks lovely trained in a fan shape. Moist, well-drained soil in full sun. H. 5ft (1.5m). S. 8ft (2.5m). Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’ (silk tassel bush) Vigorous, evergreen shrub with leathery dark green leaves and grey catkins. Buy a named variety that is male as they have the most attractive catkins. H. and S. 10ft (3m). Pyracantha ‘Saphyr Orange’ (firethorn) Dark evergreen leaves with clusters of small…

THERE’S a huge choice of gloves to suit every gardening task. Gauntlets are a popular style, even in summer, as you can carry on clearing nettles or dealing with prickly plants while wearing a t-shirt, confident that your wrists and arms will be protected. Many heavy duty leather gauntlets have become hi-tech, some even ergonomic in design to give better dexterity, and are made of soft and supple leather. Purchasing a pair of leather gauntlets can be costly so to help you avoid making an expensive mistake, we’re testing six to find the ones that provide the protection you’ll need combined with comfort and flexibility. We got to grips with clearing bramble, nettles and pruning a hedge, to gauge how well they protected skin from spikes and whether they gave…

IT’S all about the garden especially late in the when crops are ready to harvest, and there’s plenty of watering and pest patrolling to do. But spare a thought for your houseplants. They too are growing and flowering in the warmer, longer days, so they require extra water and nutrition. They are also prone to scorching by the sun, attacks by pests and disease, and can be damaged by layers of dust and pollution blowing in through open windows. I have been as guilty as anyone of neglecting my houseplants because of the extra daily work I’ve been putting in to keep the garden looking good. So as well as feeding and watering indoors, I took the time to re-pot a succulent that was languishing in a waterlogged, too-small container,…

1 Place drainage crocks at the base of the container, and fill it to just below the rim with specially formulated cacti compost. 2 Place the feature plant in the centre. Tease out its roots, and plant at the same depth as its rootball. 3 Put in the rest of the plants. Handle spiky cacti carefully using a sleeve of folded newspaper around the spines. 4 Decorate the pot with a top layer of horticultural grit, shells, glass nuggets or ceramic pebbles. Water to settle plants.…

1 Water the ground well before lifting plants, as it keeps them hydrated and makes the soil easier to work. 2 Using a hand fork, carefully lift the plant, making sure the roots are intact and undamaged. 3 Dig a hole roughly the same size as the seedling’s rootball, transfer the plant, infill with soil, and firm in. 4 Water the plant, even if rain is due. Mulch with well-rotted compost or manure, and keep the plant hydrated.…

CONTAINER plants need to move to larger pots, or at least have their compost refreshed, on a regular basis. It encourages them to grow (though you can control their size by keeping their roots slightly constricted), and benefits their health. Happy, properly fed and watered plants in nutrient-rich compost are less likely to fall prey to pests and disease. This banana was living in a conservatory in a relatively small pot, and looked like it needed more space and fresh food to help it thrive and grow. I also moved it outside for the summer, where warmth, sunlight and rain showers will hopefully also help perk it up. I used a multi-purpose compost and added some slow-release fertiliser granules as the banana will be in its pot for a couple…

1 A visit to the Royal National Rose Society Gardens at Chiswell Green, near St. Albans and trials in Glasgow and Belfast Parks are good places to go and see cultivars growing before making a selection for your garden. 2 Roses ‘Charisma’ and ‘Eternity’ can be grown in large pots and will reach almost a metre in height and width. 3 Use a compost with plenty of sterilised loam for container roses. This steamed garden soil (steaming kills pest and diseases) is a major constituent of John Innes Potting Compost.…

IT has reached that time of year when some crops are romping away and proving hugely successful, whereas others are just limping over the finish line while you wonder what’s gone wrong. Don’t get disheartened – it’s just nature proving that each progressive year is favourable for some crops and disastrous for others – that’s life! Last year our apricots were amazing – this year they’re non-existent. It’s the same with our celeriac – last year they steadily bulked up their gnarly root, this year I think each harvest will be the size of a golf ball! But determined to make the most of what there is, I’ve a few tricks up my sleeve to help them along. If you’re growing this deliciously nutty veg, here’s what to do, step…

WASPS, like bees, build up large nests of larvae that eventually hatch out into winged adults. Early in the year the larvae need high-protein foods, so worker wasps catch insects such as caterpillars and other grubs to feed them. In turn, the larvae excrete a sugary liquid which the worker wasps feed on. Come high summer, though, the queen stops laying eggs so eventually no larvae develop. With their food source gone, worker wasps then turn their attention to our sugar-packed fruit crops in the garden. Rotten, fermented fruit causes more upset as it makes workers more aggressive, so always ensure you rake this up. You can hang wasp traps in fruit trees, too, but do you really want to cause a slow, lingering death by drowning? I’m using a…

THE ‘Cambridge Favourite’ strawberries I planted in a raised bed did well this year, producing a lengthy crop of large berries with an excellent flavour. Towards the end of the season they threw out a large number of runners, with sprouts of leaves along their length. I pegged several of these to the ground, close to the leaves, and they have rooted and grown into miniature plants. Some of these I lifted and transplanted into individual pots to overwinter in a cold frame before being planted elsewhere. I left some other new plants where they grew. I have also composted several old plants that have been producing crops of berries for the past three or four years. Three years is the optimum time for keeping strawberry plants, as they can…

“A deeper ‘pile’ more effectively excludes most weeds” I’M not one for a show lawn, as you may know. However I do have a large number of grass paths, an orchard, a grassy knoll and the twins’ play area (to be fair half is more mud than grass). I’m really not keen on spending much time or effort on making these areas weed-free swards worthy of a bowling green, but I do like to have them looking half-decent and growing a healthy crop of grass – mostly because I want clippings for mulch and never have enough. Now, a traditional error made when mowing lawns is cutting closer and closer to the ground, scalping the poor plants. This might work if we also pay the attention to feeding, scarifying, rolling…

JUST like people, plants seem destined either for stardom or a supporting role, and dainty gypsophila (also known as baby’s breath) definitely falls into the latter category. The stems in florist’s shops are from the perennial sort, G. paniculata, but if you want a sea of frothy white flowers to set off roses or peonies next summer, sow hardy annual G. elegans in September. Sown directly into the soil, plants will germinate, sit the winter out, then knit together into a mass of delicate, wiry branching stems, narrow, blue-green leaves and tiny white flowers. ‘Monarch White’ should reach only 12in (30cm) in height and will not lean into the growth of other plants in your garden. From the Ukraine and Turkey, this annual is accustomed to dry, stony slopes, and…

MY uncle has cleverly converted an old stone trough into a bubble pool that spills over into a stone runner and then down into a rill. The cooling sound in the heat of a summer’s day makes it my favourite garden feature here at Stockton Bury. However, it needs to be kept clean or it soon turns from a dreamy feature into a murky mess. In order to do this the rill is shut down in winter and refilled in spring after being scrubbed out by hand. Throughout the spring and summer leaves that drift in are removed with a fishing net and the cobbles washed if they start to look a little green. It’s surprising how much water evaporates in a rill, so it is topped up every day…

ON an east-facing wall outside my kitchen window is a grape of great maturity. Each year it produces tiny bunches of red grapes, but they never ripen enough to use. So, along with their early winter prune, I’ve decided to prune now. The plant has put on energetic growth and long stems of up to 39in (1m). I’ve cut these back to a healthy leaf joint just outside the bunches of grapes. This will allow light back into my kitchen and result in a neater looking plant. Removing the mass of foliage that is sheltering the grapes from the sun will also hopefully give them more chance of ripening. If you wish to grow eating grapes then make sure you have a south or south-west facing wall. I have no…

Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ Electric purple spires of flowers in mid-summer that look spectacular with Nassella tenuissima (a soft, light grass that self-seeds readily). Sanguisorba Varieties come in a range of sizes from 19in (50cm) to 6ft (2m). Small red flowers are displayed on wiry stems in summer. Needs a sunny spot and works well with Stipa ‘Goldilocks . Echinacea ‘Magnus’ Fits well with all grasses of a similar height. Will reach up to 3ft 3in (1m). Giant pink flowers in summer that enjoy a sunny spot. Try with Molinia caerulea. Persicaria amplexicaulis Red flower spikes in summer. Ideal for sun or light shade. Reaches 4ft (1.2m). Try with the grass Calamagrostis varia which has really dark, almost black flowers. Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ A popular perennial with red flowers in summer. Plant…

Q How would I know that someone is a qualified tree surgeon rather than just a person with a chainsaw? Gillian Brooks (via email) A The best way to locate an accredited tree surgeon is to contact The Arboricultural Association, The Malthouse, Standish, Stonehouse, Glos. GL10 3DL and request a copy of the Directory of Arboricultural Association registered consultants. Alternatively, log on to: tree.org.uk/find-a-professional/Directory-of-Tree-Surgeons Q Can I use spent compost from potato bags on the garden? Carol Rushbridge, Lowestoft, Suffolk A It will be depleted of nutrients and might contain tiny potatoes that could grow. But it should be fine to fill dips in the lawn, or spread under shrubs. Make sure there are no traces of potatoes left that could cause soil problems or be a source of blight…

Fremontodendron ‘California Glory’ Large, vigorous shrub with yellow flowers from spring to autumn. Thrives in poor, well-drained soil. Grow against a warm wall. H. 20ft (6m), S. 13ft (4m). Ceanothus ‘Concha’ (Californian lilac) Evergreen shrub that produces clusters of deep blue flowers in late spring. Needs well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil. H. and S. 10ft (3m). Where to buy • Burncoose 01209 860316 burncoose.co.uk • Bluebell Nursery 01530 413700 blueballnursery.com • Jacksons Nurseries 01782 502741 jacksonsnurseries.co.uk…

Poppy Bird Feeder £6.99 01406 372227 gardman.co.uk Based on the ceramic poppies of the iconic 2014 Royal British Legion poppy display at the Tower of London, this cast iron bird feeder on a metal stake will bring a splash of red color to any garden. Manufacturer Gardman will give 50p to the legion for every feeder sold. Cumbrian Red Natural Stone Chippings £7.49 for 25kg 0330 123 4123 wickes.co.uk  for store locator Ideal for the surface of pots, borders, water features and general landscaping, these red stone chippings will help retain moisture and suppress weeds, as well as bring an attractive red hue to the surface they’re laid over.…

• Try Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Red Thunder’ with Persicaria ‘Firedance’ for a similar flower colour, but a subtle contrast in the shape and texture of the flowers and foliage. • For a meadowy effect that bees will love, plant Sanguisorba hakusanensis ‘Lilac Squirrel’ with Miscanthus ‘Gracillimus’ grass and scabious.…

“They will lift spirits and light up the garden into autumn” CLEMATIS are like After Eights: no matter how full the garden is, you can always make always room for another one! Scrambling on wiry stems, they have the ability to grow above and beyond less lofty neighbours, filling unused space upstairs of the borders. And at this time of year there are some stunners that will lift the spirits and light up the garden long into autumn. I have a couple on my wish list – one big and another, Clematis ‘Alionushka, that is small. What makes ‘Alionushka’ special is that its head-high stems die down to the ground in winter, like a herbaceous flower, making it perfect for a wigwam in the middle of the border or for…

• The environment around houseplants may not be as unpredictable as the one around those outside, but you still need to plan for when you are away. • Move plants out of direct sunlight, and make sure they are fed and watered well before you go. • Another option is to cluster houseplants closely together to help them form a more humid, and hydrating, micro-climate. • Alternatively, stand them on capillary matting (available from garden centres) that is draped into a bowl of water, for continual hydration.…

• Many houseplants benefit from a summer ‘holiday’ somewhere warm and sheltered in the garden. • However, they aren’t as tough as outdoor plants, and need extra care to keep them in good condition. • Feed and water regularly, as they will dry out faster than indoors. Check for pests, particularly vine weevils that lay eggs in container compost. • Watch the weather – storms can damage and kill plants, so be ready to bring them indoors if necessary.…

AUGUST can be a quiet time for garden borders; many summer plants will have finished flowering, and autumn’s colours have not yet come to their full glory. But there will still be plenty going on, and lots to do to keep the plants healthy and looking their best. Deadhead spent flowers regularly and, if you haven’t done so already, remove the flower spikes of larger perennials such as lupins, foxgloves, verbascum and salvias when they fade. It is too late for them to flower again this year, but deadheading will keep them tidy and prevent them using up their resources to produce seedpods. Continue to tie tall plants to supports. It keeps them looking neat and protects them from strong winds and summer storms. The fungal disease powdery mildew is…

1 Fill base of container with multipurpose or loam-based compost until it is as deep as the plant’s rootball. 2 Carefully slide the plant from its container. Tease out its roots, loosening any that are circling. 3 Place the plant centrally in its new container, and fill around it with fresh compost. Firm it down as you go. 4 Water the plant. I put the banana in a warm spot outside, and will wrap it in fleece before the first frosts.…

AS temperatures hit their summer highs, and crops ripen in the greenhouse, it’s essential to stay on top of maintenance. Temperatures will soar under glass even on dull days, meaning containers and growbags dry out quickly. Plants and the crops they carry can be damaged. So water every day, make arrangements for watering if you go away, and give plants a high-potassium liquid feed – tomato fertiliser is perfect – once a week. You also need to keep the air in the greenhouse relatively cool. One option is to shade the glass using blinds, fleece or washable shading paint. Damping the ground with water lowers the temperature and raises humidity, which helps keep down numbers of glasshouse red spider mite, a sap-sucking pest. Another way to boost humidity and keep…

I KNEW I should have lifted all my maincrop spuds rather than leaving some in the soil! These are now showing the telltale signs of late blight, a fungal disease that spreads through this crop (and tomatoes) like wildfire. It attacks the foliage first, creating large, irregular brown splodges that quickly spread to kill off all the leaves. It also travels down the stems, eventually reaching the tubers. Here, it causes the potato tubers themselves to develop brown flesh which quickly rots. There is no cure, so you can see why it’s such a disaster! But you can prevent it reaching the all-important tubers. As soon as you see blight on potato foliage, cut back the stems to below soil level. This will stop the fungus travelling to the tubers.…

DO you remember back in early June when I decapitated this poor young damson tree? Well I’m pleased to report that it thrived after such brutal treatment, throwing up numerous vigorous shoots which I can now train into the classic fan shape. It’s growing against a sunny fence in our garden, along which we’ve trained three horizontal wires, roughly 1ft (30cm) apart. I’m now going to tie bamboo canes to these wires – two fanned out to the left, and another pair to the right. The next step is to tie one strong new shoot to each cane. I’m doing this now rather than in winter as the young shoots are supple and so obligingly bend into the right shape. I’d hate for any of them to snap!…

1 Check the pegged strawberry runners for growth – if they have taken, new leaves will have developed and roots will hold them firmly in the ground. 2 If plants are growing, sever the runners close to clumps of rooted leaves. If there is no growth, leave the runners for a couple more weeks. 3 After cutting the runner, carefully dig up the plant roots-and-all and settle it into a 4in (10cm) pot of gritty compost, then firm it in. 4 Water the plants well and store somewhere frost-free over winter. Alternatively, leave plants in the soil, where they are to mature.…

THE UK has more than 2,000 species of moth, and they vary from being pests to being beneficial, from day-feeders to nocturnal, tender (indoor) moths to hardier (outdoor) types and, of course, from being tiny to simply massive! Among the largest are the resident hawk-moth species, which over-winter as pupae hidden in vegetation or in the soil, and develop into winged adults by early summer. They are big. Go out after sunset with a torch and look for their chunky bodies, big antennae, and back-swept wings with the look of a jet fighter about them. It’s thought they are named after hawks due first to their size – the largest of the tropical species have wingspans of some 4in (10cm) – and second, for their ability to hover like their…

1 Prep soil by raking to eliminate any stones and lumps. Using a cane, make shallow, parallel drills in straight or curved lines 10in (25cm) apart. If dry, soak the base of the drills and let drain. 2 Sow seeds thinly and evenly along the drills. Cover lightly with soil from the ridges by knocking it back with your hand or the back of a rake. Or scatter over a thin layer of seed compost. 3 Lay a network of twiggy sticks over the sown area to prevent birds and cats from digging or rolling in the soil. After germination, pick the sticks up and push them in to support the plants.…

GARDENERS can get confused about the pruning of grasses, but expert Neil Lucas says it’s straightforward. “All the sun-loving, deciduous grasses should be cut back to the ground anytime between February and the end of March just as the new shoots are appearing,” he says. Evergreen grasses should be combed through in spring with your fingers or a rake to remove dead foliage. The flowers can be cut off at this time as well.” Grass types are easy to identify: if it goes brown in autumn then it is deciduous, if not then it’s evergreen.…

• ‘Tulameen’ is a new summer-fruiting variety producing high yields of large, bright red glossy berries with a sweet aromatic flavour. The canes produce very few spines, making it easy to handle and harvest the fruit. • An excellent autumn-fruiting variety, ‘Polka’ has large berries with a superb flavour. It is heavy cropping and the canes do not need supporting when grown in a sheltered position. Crops between July and October.…

CONSIDER the aspect of the wall and how sheltered the location is before choosing which wall shrub to grow. Many wall shrubs need a sheltered spot and they won’t be happy growing in a wind tunnel. WALL shrubs with their thicker stems need more ground space than wiry-stemmed climbers. Make sure it has room to grow and spread and that other plants will not obscure the view of the trained shrub. THINK about the background colour of the wall or fence when selecting your wall shrub to make sure any flowers and berries will complement the stone, brick or paint.…

Age-defying gardener ! MY neighbour, Roy Wightman is due to celebrate his 100th birthday on 31 August and will be thrilled to see his photograph in Amateur Gardening, a magazine that he enjoys so much. Recently I asked him to reflect back on his gardening years and discovered that he learnt his skills from his father, who had a garden and an allotment, which was vital in feeding the family. He said that folk today want an easy life and often fail to learn the skills necessary to grow flowers and vegetables from seed through to harvest. These days he still grows his own outdoor tomatoes as he says you can’t beat the taste. The rest of his garden is now devoted to flowers and he takes a special interest…