Innholdsfortegnelse for 22-Jun-2019 i Amateur Gardening

“The evocative language used by TV presenters in describing the merits of the main show gardens at Chelsea this year must have taxed their talents to the full. It reminded me of The Emperor’s New Clothes. How many different ways can you enthuse about green shrubs and trees and, of all things, a tin grain silo? Has Chelsea become gardening’s answer to the Turner Prize? It’s still a great event, but I hope those overly hyped designers will remember to put some flowers in next year and have at least some of the show relevant to enthusiast gardeners, rather than being an ego trip of ugliness.”…

OUR patio is currently a scene of great plant activity, with serried ranks of containers growing everything from a dwarf edible cherry and borlotti beans to bedding, shrubs (hydrangeas and ornamental physalis) and perennials such as agapanthus and lilies. It’s a diverse range of plants, but because they are growing in a confined environment they all need more or less the same type of care. Containers are a fantastic way of growing plants that can be adapted to whatever space you have available. This week I added some leftover lobelia to a ready-planted pot of Mirabilis jalapa – nothing goes to waste in this garden! However, container growing does have limitations because the plants have access to a finite amount of food and nutrients. They are also at greater danger…

Choose a healthy length of stem with no flower buds, around 4-6in (10-15cm) long and pinch off the leaves along one section. Wound or cut a small area with a sharp, clean gardening knife. This is the area that will form new roots. Press this area into dampened soil and weigh it down with a clothes peg or stone. You can dip it in rooting compound if you wish. Water the area and make sure the stem remains in contact with the soil. Roots will form in a few weeks,and then the new plant can be cut from the parent and potted up.…

BROMPTON stocks are fuss-free plants that flower through spring and summer and give off a heady, sweet scent. This week’s free stock seeds from Mr Fothergill’s come in a mix of colours, and you can expect upright stems of dense flowers in many shades of pink. You have two sowing options. One is to sow where you want them to grow, then thin them when seedlings are large enough to handle. The remaining plants can either be left and protected through winter (they are half-hardy annuals, so are not guaranteed to survive a cold winter) or transplanted into pots and overwintered undercover. Because my borders are already chock-a-block with summer perennials and annuals, I’m going down the second route and sowing my stocks undercover. When the seedlings are robust enough…

AS we move into high summer, temperatures can soar while air humidity falls. This suits some pests – especially red spider mites, particularly on plants under cover. They are so tiny, it’s hard to see them. However, their small size is compensated by their vast numbers, which, if left unchecked, not only damage yields but may also destroy plants. “Their small size is compensated by their vast numbers” Cucumbers and melons are particularly at risk, and often it’s on these plants that they are first noticed. Leaves appear to be covered in minute spots, each showing where mites have sucked the cells dry. This is accompanied by fine webbing, often found on softer tissues near growing tips and usually on higher ones – the attack may have started low down,…

PROPERTIES these days are changing. New-builds with a big back garden are unheard of – the norm is flats with balconies and roof terraces. So it follows that the way we’re gardening is evolving, too. Small-space plots, and plots with no soil at all, are increasingly commonplace. I often talk about growing your own in a compact space, but what if that space is 30ft (9m) up in the air – is it still possible to produce homegrown veg? Of course! The solution is to work with the growing environment you have, which is different to ground level. Increased winds and exposure to the elements would shred large runner bean and cucumber foliage to tatters, but herbs such as thyme, sage and chives will revel in it due to their…

MANY of us grow camellias in the garden for their in-your-face display of early springtime flowers, but why not grow one to brew up your favourite cuppa, too? While garden forms predominantly produce pink or red blooms, true tea ( Camellia sinensis ) bears white flowers with fluffy yellow centres. It’s not as hardy as garden camellias when young – you need to start this little evergreen tree off in a pot of ericaceous compost (pick some up at garden centres) so that you can overwinter it somewhere frost-free. To make green tea, pick off the young leaves, dry them immediately in a moderate oven, and steep in hot water. Make black tea in the same way, but crush the leaves before drying them a day or so later.…

WITH a different style to that of older varieties, modern Siberian irises are understandably popular. The petals tend to develop a heavier texture, with the lower ones generally held more horizontally, making them very impressive when looked at from above. Plants are also more vigorous, with more robust stems that carry larger numbers of flowers. Perhaps more significantly, blooms tend to be bigger; they come in a wider range of colours – and a second flush is not uncommon. In their favour, older types have a more natural look and the petals tend to flutter attractively (rather than being held rigidly). Varieties such as the prettily veined ‘Flight of Butterflies’ (blue) are more stylish and elegant. The newer types definitely have more impact, though; my favourites among them are ‘Butter…

Colchicum ‘Waterlily’ AGM A gorgeous meadow saffron that produces waterlily-like lilac-pink flowers in September and October. Grow in well-drained, humus-rich soil, in full sun. Excellent for naturalising in grass. H: 4in (10cm). Dahlia ‘Café au Lait’ Delivers a succession of charming peach-cream flowers into November. Plant in humus-rich, well-drained soil, in sun. Place a bucketload of compost over the plant at the end of autumn to protect tubers over winter. H: 4ft (1.2m). Chrysanthemum ‘Duchess of Edinburgh’ This branched chrysanthemum is a beautiful mound of ruby-red semi-double shaggy flowers that will tempt pollinators into the garden during autumn. Grow in well-drained soil, in sun. H: 2ft (60cm). Nerine ‘Zeal Giant’ AGM A stunning Bowden lily that has elegant sprays of cerise-pink flowers…

Rosa ‘Madame Alfred Carrière’ AGM An adorable, almost thornless climber that will tolerate a north-facing wall. It produces an abundance of blush-white blooms with a wonderful scent – they can continue to appear into November. H: 20ft (6m). Rosa ‘Ferdinand Pichard’ AGM One of the best stripy cultivars, this old hybrid perpetual shrub rose features strongly scented ‘raspberryripple’ flowers of bright-magenta and white – often into November. Grow in sun. H: 5ft (1½m).…

AS you browse around your local garden centre, choose only plants with rich-green foliage, and avoid any that look pale and sickly. A flower or two helps the decision-making, but be aware that small plants that are flowering prolifically will probably take a break before blooming again. Also, steer clear of plants that are unexpectedly light in weight, and whose compost looks pale: they may have escaped watering and can be very hard to re-wet.…

How can I propagate my favourite shrubs? Q How and when can I take cuttings of this shrub as I love the colours and would like to grow more? Laura Price, via email A The best way to propagate your spiraea, which I think is ‘Gold Mound’, is to take semi-ripe cuttings in early August. Simply tug current-year side shoots from main stems and shorten them to about 3in (7cm). Reduce the tag of bark to within a 1/4in (6mm) of the base. Then remove any lower leaves that might be buried when you insert cuttings into 4in (10cm) pots of gritty compost. You can make your own compost by adding a third part, by volume, of coarse grit to a multi-purpose mix. Alternatively, use proprietary seed and cutting compost.…

Catmint: Choose compact types such as Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’, reaching 18in (45cm) high. Trim back after the first flush and they will bloom again. Dies back for winter. Cranesbill: Geranium clarkei ‘Kashmir White’ is pretty and ethereal, while G. ‘Ann Folkard’ (above) sends out long, spreading stems that don’t smother. Allium: Added as bulbs in autumn, these are easy to dot between roses. Choose shorter A. cristophii for the front, or white ‘Mount Everest’ (above). Honesty: There’s just enough time to sow biennial Lunaria annua. Plants rise in spring to open pink or white flowers, followed by silvery seedpods. Good at self-seeding.…

Do ✓ Choose a model that suits your requirements. For small gardens a mains electric model is cheapest but you need easy access to a mains power point. Otherwise , buy a battery or petrol-powered model. ✓ Wear the right protective gear . At least wear eye protection such as safety glasses, and gloves. If you’re using more powerful trimmers consider a helmet and safety visor , and strong boots. ✓ Read your owner’ s manual before using a trimmer what each trigger button and lever is for , noting stop the trimmer , and , how to install more , trimmer how to start line and . Don’t ✗ Use a trimmer when other people are nearby . The spinning trimmer line can flick up pebbles and other debris…

ORCHIDS are a great way to add spring colours to any living space. To ensure your orchids flourish, Miracle-Gro is giving AG readers the chance to win an indoor gardening bundle comprising Miracle-Gro Orchid Mist, Miracle-Gro Orchid Concentrate and Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food Concentrate. Miracle-Gro Orchid Mist encourages strong growth and heavy flowering by creating a hydration layer around the plant. Combined with Miracle-Gro Orchid Concentrate’s mix of nine nutrients, your flowers will blossom beautifully. For your other plants, Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food concentrate guarantees beautiful, healthy and strong plants with greener leaves. We have three bundles to give away, each worth £12.99. How to enter Send your name and address on the back of a postcard to Miracle-Gro Indoor Gardening Bundle Draw (22 June), Amateur Gardening, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst…

EVEN after so many years of gardening it never fails to amaze me how the bare soil of winter transforms itself into the luscious, colour-crazy borders of summer. The empty brown soil of a few months ago is now crowded with plants of all shapes and sizes, some coming to the end of flowering, others lining up to take their place. The main task now is to keep plants healthy and productive throughout the summer, but also to ensure there is a succession of interest and colour stretching right through into winter. “Fill the gaps with plants grown from seed” We grow a lot of foxgloves that look their best in early summer. When they go over they leave gaps in the borders, so I am planting more bedding around…

THE discovery of vine weevils lurking among the roots of our poorly looking container skimmia was a timely wake-up call. This voracious pest had never troubled the garden before, so catching it red-handed was a call to arms and increased vigilance. Vine weevils are a major blight of patio pots, so be alert to the signs. The small, dark adult weevils are active between spring and late summer. Their larvae, which are small and white with brown heads and often curled in a C-shape, can be found from summer through to spring. Symptoms of their presence include bitten notches in the leaves caused by feeding adults, and the sudden wilting or death of a previously healthy plant caused by the larvae eating the roots. A heavily infested plant should be…

HERE at AG, we were left scratching our heads somewhat when the winning plant was announced. For all its merits, the victorious sedum did seem rather lacklustre compared to some of the other shortlisted flowers that included a stunning striated peony, an interesting orange osteospermum, two new roses, two clematis and rhododendrons, and a novel lemon-coloured streptocarpus. If I had been a judge, my top three would have been pink Clematis Elodi, the third-placed agapanthus and the pretty Dianthus Cherry Burst. So which plant would have been your Plant of the Year 2019? On this page, we have listed 10 of the plants we thought were best, plus the three winners on the previous page. Let us know your winner by writing to: Plant of the Year, Amateur Gardening, Pinehurst…

1 Choose healthy pieces of nonflowering growth, around 4in (10cm) long and cut them off using clean, sharp secateurs. 2 Strip away the lowest leaves so the bottom of the cutting stem is bare of foliage. This helps reduce rotting when the cuttings are in the compost. 3 Insert the cut end into hormone rooting powder or gel, which will encourage the development of strong roots. 4 Place the cuttings around the edge of a pot of dampened fresh cuttings compost mixed with grit or perlite. 5 Seal the pot in a clear plastic bag held away from the plant material by sticks, and place somewhere light and warm.…

21-23: Flower Show Celebrating ‘Seven Tea’: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr 21-23: Rose Weekend and Craft Market: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/ gardens/rosemoor 22: Plant Hunters’ Fair: Arley Arboretum, School Bank, Bewdley, Worcs DY12 1XJ.planthuntersfairs.co.uk 22: Beekeeping Demo: RHS Harlow Carr 22-23: Woburn Abbey Garden Show: Woburn Abbey and Gardens, Woburn, Milton Keynes MK17 9PG. ✆ 01525 290333, woburnabbey.co.uk 23: Rodmarton Manor, Oathill Lane, Rodmarton, Cirencester, Glos GL7 6PF. 01285 841442, rareplantfair.co.uk 26: Plants for Bees, Butterflies and Birds: RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/ hyde-hall 28: Beautiful Bamboo Garden Walk: RHS Harlow Carr 29: Beekeeping Demo: RHS Harlow Carr 30:…

1 When lifting potatoes, don’t damage the plants – heel these in again and water well to swell the smallest tubers left attached. 2 Try steaming peas in their pods, then serving and eating them a bit like asparagus. It saves podding, and it tastes even better! 3 Prune and pick blackcurrants at the same time – cut cropping branches holding ripe fruit that you can pick elsewhere in comfort. 4 Earth up maincrop spuds to keep light from swelling tubers. You can also use wet newspapers held down with grass clippings.…

The beauty of sedums lies in their leaf colours, and these show best in full sun. In shade, purple-leaved kinds tend to fade or stay green. Plant in well-draining neutral to alkaline soil of poor to medium fertility. In pots, use a mix of 50:50 multi-purpose and John Innes No2 compost with 20% added grit. Give container-grown plants a half-strength, general-purpose liquid feed every month while in growth. Trim and control the spread of vigorous sedums after flowering. In spring, one mature border sedum will divide into many smaller ones. Or you can propagate by taking 3in (8cm) cuttings from spring to early summer. On rich soils, try giving taller sedums a Chelsea or even a Wimbledon chop, reducing their stems by half to make them branch. This may delay…

Check the weight-bearing capacity of a flat roof (small balconies should already be structurally safe by design). To spread the load on a roof, build a deck with integrated horizontal joists; consult a local builder for ideas. Use lightweight materials in tubs, like coir-based compost mixed with perlite. Polystyrene crocks will also help to reduce weight. Utilise vertical spaces, adding trelliswork along the backs of tubs. This creates wind-filtering screening to aid plant growth and give privacy. Install an automatic irrigation system for a low-maintenance option. Adjust flow rates for individual pots. Work with your microclimate: assess the site for sun, wind, shade and shelter, then select crops accordingly.…

SUCH is the excitement of this task for us that we make an annual video of it to send to our young nephew in Australia! I hope lifting new potatoes brings you equal joy – it’s a milestone in the grow-your-own calendar. The first melt-in-the-mouth harvests are obtained by growing first early varieties (‘Pentland Javelin’ and ‘Arran Pilot’), as these mature more rapidly than maincrop types. Tubers start forming at the tips of underground rhizomes; this generally coincides with the first potato flowers appearing. Day length and soil temperature play key roles in the timing, but it usually begins 45-50 days after planting. The trick then is to wait. Two-three weeks after tuber initiation, your precious harvest should be ready. Slide a fork alongside the ridge, ease the plant out…

1 Oriental vegetables thrive in these warm, long days – so start sowing short drills of pak choi, choy sum, komatsuna, raab and Chinese cabbage regularly . 2 Greenhouses can be thirsty work for plant inhabitants during summer . Water daily or , if that’s a hassle , then install automatic systems, or stand your plants in trays. 3 It’s not too late to start off parsnips – just! Sow 1ft (30cm) apart in an open, stone-free bed, but don ’t expect massive roots from these later sowings. 4 Leafy herbs such as oregano , mint and sage will be abundant. Harvest them frequently , preserving them by freezing in polythene bags. 5 Greenhouse cucumbers will be rampaging. Harvest shorter ‘ snack’ varieties frequently . Thin out longer types to…

Siberian irises enjoy summer sunshine or a little shade, although they are far happier with shade from the side than with overhead shade. Best suited to moist soil, they will grow well in borders that do not dry out, as well as on the margins of ponds. Plant pot-grown specimens at any time, but always ensure that those planted in full leaf are not allowed to dry out in the weeks after planting. Irises supplied in small pots (7cm or 9cm) are best grouped in threes to create the illusion of a mature clump. Plant bare root in spring; be aware that they may well not flower, or may flower sparsely, in their first summer.…

Lantana ‘Calippo’ There are a few types within the ‘Calippo’ collection and all offer clusters of flowers throughout the summer. Ideal for full sun. Incredibly drought-tolerant. H: 12in (30cm). Calibrachoa ‘Chameleon Pink Passion’ Also known as a mini petunia or million bells. Ideal for baskets and windowboxes that are hard to reach as they don’t need deadheading. H: 16in (40cm). Pelargonium ‘Lord Bute’ Velvety deep-crimson flowers all summer. Unscented but very reliable in all weathers. Perfect as the centrepiece for a baskets or container. H: 16in (40cm). Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Sonata Carmine’ Perfect for full sun, this compact cosmos has serious flower power. The white form is ‘Sonata White’, and both are perfect for pots. H: 16in (40cm). Zinnia ‘Dreamland’ There’s…

Begonia Whopper Series: A large begonia that flowers well into autumn. Ideal for pots in sun or semi-shade. H: 16in (40cm). Canna ‘Erebus’ AGM: Grow for the exotic pink flowers and large glaucous leaves. Plant in sun-baked pots and maintain moisture. H: 5ft (1½m). Pelargonium ‘Evka’: This pelargonium combines cream-edged green leaves with scarlet flowers. Grow in pots or hanging baskets in full sun. Looks great with chrysanthemums. H: 1½ft (45cm).…

Foliage Coleus The most dramatic and the most varied of foliage plants for summer, coleus, including new trailing options such as ‘Great Falls Angel’ (above), are becoming much more widely available in garden centres. They are also very easily raised from cuttings. Shade Impatiens Busy Lizzies were always the go-to summer seasonals for shade – until mildew almost wiped them out and put us off growing them. Now, you can get resistant varieties such as ‘Beacon’ (above) and ‘Imara’. Plant them around shade-loving perennials like hostas. Fragrance Heliotrope Scent is not a common feature among summer seasonals, but in heliotrope we have one of the best picks for perfume. The rich purple-blue flowers are set against metallic foliage, and have a heady vanilla fragrance that’s sometimes characterised as smelling like…

What do I plant with a shrubby rose? Q We have various bush and shrubby roses around the garden. Is it best to have bare soil below them, or low-growing plants? Carol Winterson, Norwich, Norfolk A This is largely a question of personal choice, and will reflect whether you are a neat, tidy gardener who likes to see bare earth around their plants, or a wilder sort. I encourage my plants to knit together so they shade out weeds and provide a safe umbrella for wildlife. Roses are deep rooting and thrive in good soil, especially improved clay, where there is no competition from trees and shrubs above or below ground. They grow and flower best in an open, sunny position and tend to struggle on poor, dry soils. Their…

BEFORE the advent of nylon-line trimmers, fussy gardeners were often to be found on their hands and knees with a pair of scissors or shears snipping off stray grass stems around posts, or the trunks of trees and shrubs that the lawnmower could not reach. Nylon-line grass trimmers have made this arduous task simple. Strong lengths of flexible nylon line – there can be one or two – spun around by an electric or petrol engine, slice through grass and weeds but bounce off hard surfaces. This means you can get tight up close to fence edges and other hard surfaces, including posts and large woody plants, for a really tidy cut. Many include a flip-over function so you can also edge the lawn rather than using shears. Choice of…

1 Read the instructions about how to start and use your trimmer. Check there’s line in the trimmer head, fuel and oil in petrol engines, battery models are charged, and mains electric models are plugged in with a circuit breaker. 2 Wear the correct safety gear. Gloves and safety glasses are a minimum, but you might consider a helmet with a face shield, and strong boots if you are using a powerful petrol-engine trimmer. Don’t work close to other people. 3 Use a side-to-side sweeping action when trimming big areas. When tackling fence edges, choose a direction of travel that ensures waste is venting away from the edge. Stop and check the line regularly. Tap the head if necessary to release more. 4 When finished, clean the trimmer, especially the…

IN The Times of 21 June 1887, there was a story about Kew Gardens: “Dr Tanner asked whether the First Commissioner of Works would consent to relax the regulation… so that people should be allowed to take their lunch into the gardens with them.” This was considered and approved, with the response that it “would be regarded as a great boon by the working classes.” 21 June (usually) marks the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere (and the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere). For Britain, it is the day of the year with the most hours of daylight. An old gardening adage says we should harvest shallots on this day, and that they will have been planted on the shortest day (21 December). There is some truth in this,…

A CURIOUS fact about the fine bulbous plant shown in the coloured plate above is that is more often seen in good condition in cottage windows than in greenhouses managed by professional gardeners. The reason for this is that the Scarborough lily (Vallota purpurea) likes equable treatment, and this it is impossible to give in a greenhouse, the contents of which are ever varying in their requirements. This plant is a native of South Africa, where it grows best by the sides of small rivers in deep chasms, and where the plants are often submerged for many days at a time in the rainy season. The best and most distinct varieties are V.p. eximia, which has a white-feathered eye or base, and V.p. magnifica, a large form with flowers 5in…

AG’s ‘longest-serving reader’ I SHALL be 98 in July. I had my first ‘garden’ at the age of four in the corner of my parents’ London garden. Amateur Gardening was delivered once a week along with the daily papers. When I was nine and we had moved to Kent, I had a much larger garden. As a child, I read everything I could find, and of course AG was no exception. I married in 1945 (and my three children are all good gardeners) and we continue to read the magazine. When my husband died, I downsized to my ninth garden and still take AG. Best wishes, and congratulations! Olga Ellis, Northwich, Cheshire Wendy says: Here’s a page from the 1920s that you may have read, Olga! Awesome…

UPTURNED terracotta 5in (13cm) flowerpots make excellent bee homes. Part-fill the pot with clippings and moss, then bury into the side of a soil bank, making sure the hole is vertical. If the space you have is flat, sink the upturned flowerpot into the soil, running a ¾in (2cm) hose under the ground into the cavity beneath the terracotta. It’s important that this pipe has a few holes along its length so that water doesn’t collect. Mark the entrance with a pebble, and cover the drainage hole with slate or a tile to keep the rain out.…

Weeds have evolved to outpace cultivated plants, stealing water and nutrients, so they need removing as fast as they germinate. Seedlings can simply be hoed off and left to rot down on the soil. Perennial weeds need removing completely, right down to every last bit of root as they will regenerate from the smallest scrap left behind. Removing weeds gives other plants more space to grow. If they become cramped and are fighting for light, food and water, they are more vulnerable to pests and diseases, especially if airflow is impeded.…

THE flowers and celebrities were out in force this year for the return of RHS Chelsea Flower Show. It was a vintage year with good weather allowing garden designers and growers to display their talents to the very best advantage. The coveted accolade of RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year 2019 was won by Sedum takesimense Atlantis. The plant has variegated foliage and citrus-yellow flowers and is extremely versatile, as happy in a pot or basket as it is in a rockery. It is also extremely attractive to bees, and flowers between June and September. It is available by mail order from Suttons. Suttons managing director David Robinson said: “Is there any coincidence that with a global conversation taking place on climate change, that this year’s winner is a timely…

PERENNIALS are in full growth now so it is the perfect time to make more by taking cuttings. The dianthus family (pinks, carnations and sweet Williams) are some of the easiest to propagate via this method. Dianthus are a delight for any garden as there are so many to choose from. We have several in the borders and they flower for months in our relatively sheltered south-coast garden. They can, however, become rather overgrown and straggly, so taking cuttings now should give you healthy young plants next summer to replace older, worn-out ones. Where possible, take cuttings on a day that is still and slightly overcast, to reduce the risk of cut plant material drying out. If there is a gap between taking your cuttings and potting them up, place…

WE are now well into the summer flower show season and by the time you read this one of the biggest floral displays I have ever choreographed will have come down. On this occasion many of the 80-plus new cultivars exhibited at the NEC, Birmingham will be planted at the RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Essex. This will give many thousands more people the chance to see the latest introductions from home and around the world. One of the reasons for our 10x10m (33ft)-based Plant Pyramid, towering 6m (20ft) high in the NEC’s Floral Marquee, was an effort to retain big spectacles at national flower shows. “Just theatrical stage sets of little interest to home gardeners” I fear for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show where unbelievably expensive show gardens on…

1 Fill a tray with sieved seed compost and tamp it flat to avoid losing seeds, then water with fresh tap water. 2 Sow the seeds as thinly as possible, but don’t worry if some are too close – you can thin the seedlings as they grow. 3 Scatter a thin layer of compost, vermiculite or a mix of the two over the top and label your seeds clearly. 4 Add a lid and place somewhere light and warm. Remove the lid after germination to ensure good airflow around the young plants.…

WE haven’t had a song thrush in our garden this year at Spring Cottage, and I think this is the first year that we haven’t seen lots of smashed-up snails on the paving and paths. Sadly, I found a dead song thrush in early May. It had crashed into one of our south-facing windows and the tail feathers weren’t properly formed, so it was definitely a youngster. It also had a lot of yellow on its head. I did manage to get a good look at the spots on the underside and I noticed for the first time that they are arranged in rows. There must have been a nest close to Spring Cottage, but perhaps there just weren’t any snails to be had in my garden following last year’s…

Sedum kamtschaticum The Kamchatka stonecrop will make a lovely rock garden plant, opening golden yellow flowers in late summer on semi-evergreen plants to 4in (10cm) high and 10in (25cm) wide. Sedum sieboldii ‘Mediovariegatum’ This beautiful Japanese sedum is hardy to 23°F (-5°C) and dies back for winter. Long stems of cream-centred leaves splay out. Grow in a pot and bring under glass for winter. Sedum ‘Red Cauli’ A classy border clumper, reaching 27in (70cm) in height with red stems, reddish-purple leaves and flattish heads of rich pink flowers. Sedum ‘Matrona’ A neat, well-mannered orpine; its fleshy leaves colour purple in good light, joined by pink flowers in late summer. Reaches 24in (60cm) tall.…

1 Pick the correct plants: On windy, exposed plots, grow drought- and wind-tolerant crops. The leaves need to be narrow (lavender), grey (artichoke) or succulent (purslane). A shadier, more sheltered site can support leafier crops such as spinach and salads. 2 Get the right container: A larger tub is easier to look after than lots of small pots; the larger volume of compost needs less frequent watering. This also supports better plant growth, as roots have more room. Line with polythene and top with a moisture-retaining mulch. 3 Provide shelter: A few well-placed evergreen shrubs (like Griselinia, Escallonia, Olea) or grasses (such as Stipa, Carex, Uncinia) will filter wind, allowing you to grow a wider range of crops. Alternatively, use well-placed windbreak material or hazel screens.…

1 Cut back the foliage of early summer varieties (like ‘Emily’ and ‘Honeoye’) once the crops dwindle. Then just give regular balanced liquid feeds to revive them. 2 Lay straw around perpetuals like ‘Bolero’ and ‘Buddy’ (above) and late summer varieties such as ‘Fenella’ as their fruits start ripening, to keep fruits dry and deter slugs. 3 To bulk up stock, peg down runners of healthy, mature plants. These will root over the next few weeks, ready for lifting and transplanting in the autumn.…

WHETHER by the waterside or on the riverbank, in cut-flower bouquets, on the rock garden or in beds and borders, irises are instantly recognisable – we all know what they are. But among the vast variety of different types one of the easiest and most stylish of all can sometimes be overlooked, especially as there are alternative options that are so much more spectacularly flamboyant. The Siberian irises are a group of just over a dozen species, some of which grow naturally in the icy wastes of Siberia – so there’s certainly no doubt about their hardiness. Iris sibirica is what you might call the lead species, with most Siberian irises either varieties or hybrids of this blue-flowered species; the reddish I. sanguinea, in particular, has also played a part.…

Allow plants to mature into impressive clumps; this helps to create a display with real impact. When clumps start to look thin in the centre, lift and divide them in spring or autumn, replanting 8-10in (20-25cm) apart. In heavy soil, spring is preferable. Replant the youngest, most vigorous shoots from the edge of the clump into soil that has been improved with some weed-free organic matter. When replanting in autumn, plant groups of daffodil bulbs between your newly replanted irises. Support plants discreetly if they are growing in windy situations. Deadhead once flowers fade; cut the stems low down among the leaves.…

Crocus speciosus AGM The large autumn crocus produces silver-lavender flowers with veined petals into November. Grow in free-draining troughs of gritty, poor soil and compost, placed in full sun. H: 4in (10cm). Fuchsia ‘Delta’s Sara’ A new hardy fuchsia that is hung with purple-blue-and-white flowers from June to October. Needs a generous free-draining pot of compost, positioned in sun or semi-shade. H: 39in (1m). Gentiana sino-ornata AGM The showy Chinese gentian is one of the joys of autumn, when its electric-blue trumpets open on sunny days. Plant in troughs of gritty ericaceous compost, in sun or semi-shade. H: 4in (10cm). Clematis Little Lemons This new dwarf tangutica clematis produces a bush of bright-yellow bells that lure bees in autumn, followed by silky…

SHIMMERING silvery plants will make a great backdrop for rose flowers. Try some Mediterranean false dittany (Ballota pseudodictamnus), with stems of aromatic leaves that are easy to shear back if necessary. Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ makes low mounds of filigree foliage. Sow Digitalis purpurea subsp. heywoodii ‘Silver Fox’, a neat two-footer (60cm) with white flowers and furry silver foliage. Seed is available from specialplants.net.…

Bump feed: If the trimmer line breaks, fresh line is fed out by bumping the head of the trimmer on the ground while operating at full speed. Line-limiter blade: A blade fixed in the trimmer-line shield that cuts freshly fed line to the correct length. Two stroke: Most commonly fitted to petrol-powered models. Runs on a mix of petrol and oil, is powerful but noisy and polluting. Four stroke: Some now have four-stroke engines that don’t need oil mixed with the petrol. They are less polluting, quieter and more fuel-efficient. Brush cutter: A metal blade fitted to the head of a trimmer in place of the nylon line, capable of cutting down thicker, woody material.…

JASMINE is essentially known for its perfume, but this fascinating group of plants has so much more to offer. Depending on what you choose to grow, you can have flowers from November to March, and from May to October. You can have yellow, white or pink flowers, indoors or outside. There are evergreens, semi-evergreens and deciduous types, and they can be kept small in a pot or left to ramble to 13ft (4m) or more. Many are blooming right now, so let’s take a look at the romantic and versatile jasmines. Despite the plants we know and love as being joyous, the name jasmine is derived from the Arabic jas meaning ‘despair’ and min meaning ‘a lie’. White summer THE familiar white summer jasmine (Jasminum officinale) is a vigorous, twining,…

White jasmine (J. polyanthum) is an invasive weed in Australia. The name for winter jasmine in Sweden is ‘vinterjasmin’! Jasmine, generally, is considered deer-proof; the animals don’t like the taste. However, in a really harsh winter, or if other food is scarce, deer will eat almost anything. In the fabled language of flowers, there are three meanings for different jasmines: yellow jasmine means ‘grace and elegance’; white jasmine means ‘amiability’; and Spanish jasmine (J. grandiflorum, pictured) means ‘sensuality’.…

DO you clean your lawnmower after giving the grass a cut? Me, neither – but after a recent call to my BBC radio show, I definitely will be from now on! Caller Chris contacted the show to say that when he went to cut the grass, he found his mower already thrumming even before he had pulled the starter cord. It turned out the hum wasn’t from the Briggs & Stratton engine, but from a grist of bumblebees that had set up shop beneath the cowling of his Qualcast. “The caked-on clippings make it a perfect site” Stuck for what to do, he called me – and since I was also stuck for what to do, I called out to beekeepers to contact the show. That’s when David got in…