Innholdsfortegnelse for 6-Jul-2019 i Amateur Gardening

“Do you think of yourself as an ‘interactive naturalist’? That’s how Alan Titchmarsh described amateur gardeners at the launch of the RHS Welcome centre at Wisley (see News, page 6). It highlights a truism that is not recognised enough: in towns, cities and villages all over Britain, amateur gardeners are making a vital contribution to the environment. We’re not talking about it in trendy bars or posh dinner parties – we’re out there doing it by growing plants and creating environments for insects and other wildlife. Well said, Alan!”…

It’s heating up in the greenhouse – literally – so take steps to protect plants and keep them healthy. Too much direct sun will scorch leaves and dry out the atmosphere, making it perfect for pests such as glasshouse red spider mite. Help diffuse sunlight by painting the glass with washable liquid shader or by attaching fleece to the greenhouse frame. Keep doors and windows open for maximum ventilation and damp the floors to raise humidity. Use biological controls such as the parasitic wasp Encarsia Formosa to keep whitefly and other pests at bay and remember to water plants daily.…

IT’S all systems go for this year’s 69 Britain in Bloom finalists ahead of judging, which runs from 29 July to 9 August. Community gardeners devote nearly 5,000 hours throughout the year preparing for the tour by RHS judges. This can take up to four hours and involves inspections of all the plants to make sure they are healthy, deliver seasonal interest and are ‘the right plant in the right place’. As they vie to win their category, finalists put on a dazzling array of floral displays while also aiming to impress with their green credentials and community spirit, which each add up to 30% to their overall score. Hale Village in Tottenham, London is among the 2019 finalists. Competing nationally for the first time, their entry might be seen…

RHS Botanical Illustrations: The Gold Medal Winners By Charlotte Brooks (ACC Art Books, 256 pages, £30) YOU occasionally find a nugget of gold among all the tat riding on the coat tails of the Chelsea Flower Show, and this book is one such treasure. Charlotte Brooks, curator at the RHS Lindley Library, has compiled a selection of illustrations of recent RHS medal winners. It is a book to pore over repeatedly, not just for the beauty of the plants but also the astounding talents of the artists involved. Each illustration commands a full page accompanied by a biography of the artist. The book opens with an essay about the formation of the RHS and its artistic connections. It is almost impossible to pick a favourite picture, but I love Jean…

6: Summer Flower Arrangement: RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall 6-7: Meet The Experts – Clematis: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/ gardens/harlow-carr 7: Plant Hunters’ Fair: Sugnall Walled Garden, Eccleshall, Stafford ST21 6NF 8: Free Gardening Advice for RHS Members: RHS Harlow Carr 10: What Now – The Garden in July and August: RHS Garden Hyde Hall 12: Summer Walk and Talk: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 12: Marvellous Meadows Garden Walk: RHS Harlow Carr 12: Free Gardening Advice for RHS Members: RHS Harlow Carr 13: Planting for Plantaholics: RHS Garden Wisley 13-14: Belvoir Flower and Garden Festival: Belvoir Castle, Grantham, Nottingham…

IT’S one thing to grow a good crop of onions, and quite another to keep those that are in an edible condition for as long as possible. And if you want to be eating your own for much of the year, then this is important. The batches that store best are those that were not pushed into soft growth with too much water or fertiliser. If any of yours have been treated in this way, try to use those before winter. Likewise, varieties recommended for summer salads or the show bench, and Japanese onions sown last autumn, are all better eaten straightaway. “Do not bend onion leaves down at the neck” Next, you should harvest your onions only when their leaves have started to wither away naturally. Do not bend…

I HAVE a soft spot in my heart for dahlias. My late grandmother grew a row of them in her vegetable patch. In mid-to-late summer, there was always one huge dahlia bloom displayed in a glass vase that was placed in the centre of the dining-room table. For years, these plants have been traditionally grown in rows for picking, but it’s time to make them feel at home in our borders and mix them with other later summer-flowering perennials. As our gardens get smaller, few of us have the space for a dedicated row of dahlias, but there’s no need to miss out on these reliable flowers. Lifting dahlias Many gardeners are put off growing dahlias because in some gardens they need to be lifted in autumn, stored and replanted…

1 Mulch: Cooling roots, locking in soil moisture and stopping surface evaporation – mulching around drought-sensitive crops with a 2in (5cm) thick layer of organic matter (composted bark or garden compost) is a brilliant way to keep soil damp. 2 Add compost: If you have a light, sandy plot or one that contains flint and/or chalk, add a 3in (8cm) layer of organic matter to the top spade’s depth of soil to boost its moisture-retention. That way, any water added won’t simply drain away, out of roots’ reach. 3 Water at night: During summer, water added in the heat of the day will often be evaporated off the surface rather than soaked into the ground. Water at night or, if slugs and snails are a problem on your plot, first…

Preferring cool, moist conditions, this hardy vegetable grows well if it’s sown now, allowing the bulb to swell nicely during autumn: 1 Florence fennel prefers a sunny, open site. To ensure ample soil moisture, which ensures good bulb size, add good quantities of compost. 2 Make a 2-3in (5-8cm) deep drill and water the base thoroughly. Sow clusters of seeds at 6in (15cm) spacings, then cover over with soil, firm and water. 3 Once well emerged, thin out to leave the strongest seedling per cluster. Keep the crop well watered at all times, harvesting through autumn and winter.…

THESE are exciting times in the world of foxgloves. Plant breeders, nurseries and gardeners have all been developing new varieties for situations old and new, and it can be challenging to work out which foxgloves to grow where. Luckily, here at AG, we can help. Increasingly, gardeners are recognising the value of our native foxglove, and many new varieties of this treasured wild flower have been enhancing our plots. New biennial and hardy hybrids are also arriving, along with a number of hardy perennial foxgloves; plus, there are valuable new options for patio containers. So what to plant in your garden? The elegant, one-sided spikes of the biennial native Digitalis purpurea are especially appealing in wild corners – the white-flowered forms, in particular, bring a ghostly presence to dappled shade.…

MOST foxgloves are tolerant plants that will be happy in any reasonable soil. Biennial foxgloves derived from our native wild foxglove enjoy partial or dappled shade – but they’ll grow in full sun if not allowed to become parched. They will often self-sow, even if not growing particularly well. Hardy perennial foxgloves, on the other hand, are best planted in full sun and prefer good drainage. They can tolerate short periods of drought, although you may find that the lower foliage deteriorates.…

Dig moisture-retaining humus into soil, and water at least weekly during dry spells while the plants are establishing. Mildew is usually a symptom of drought stress. The Chelsea Chop, applied in the third week of May, will reduce the height of tall varieties. You can nip out growing tips or cut stems by half on all or some stems, depending on how tall they have grown and the effect required. A Wimbledon Chop will be equally effective. Most heleniums grow best with some supports fixed in place early so the stems can grow through. Clumps benefit from division every three or four years, in order to refresh plants.…

‘Café au Lait’ Very fashionable at the moment, and popular for use in summer bridal bouquets. The soft, creamy blooms can reach 10in (25cm) across – they look equally spectacular in the border and the vase. H: 4ft (1.2m). ‘Hillcrest Royal’ AGM Favoured by the late, great plantsman Christopher Lloyd, this brilliant pink cactus dahlia will knock your socks off with its bold blooms. Grow with the tall bamboo-like grass Arundo donax for a tropical vibe. H: 39in (1m). ‘Glorie van Heemstede’ AGM A really different dahlia that is an antidote to the usual intense colours on offer. The soft yellow waterlily blooms have a lovely simplicity, while their strong stems make them great for bouquets. H: 52in (1.3m). ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ AGM This deservedly popular classic matches its attractive,…

Deadhead Snip off spent flowers to keep fresh ones coming. Remember: round buds are unopened flowers, conical-shaped buds are the spent ones. Pest control Earwigs are dahlias’ biggest pest. Trap them by stuffing flower pots with newspaper and upturning them on canes amongst the flowers. Improve your soil Dahlias like moist soil during the growing season, so dig in organic matter such as weed-free garden compost; it will act like a sponge, soaking up any available moisture.…

CAPITALISE on the frozen beauty of winter with these dynamic duos in blue, white and silver: Iris reticulata ‘Katharine Hodgkin’ and snowdrops. Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Blue Moon’ and white winter heathers. Scilla mischtschenkoana ‘Tubergeniana’ and white cyclamen. Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ and pale lavender Algerian iris. Clematis cirrhosa ‘Wisley Cream’ and silver birch. Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii and Russian sage (perovskia). Cyclamen coum subsp. coum f. coum Silver Group and common snowdrops.…

What’s wrong with my orchid? Q My Phalaenopsis orchid looks dead at the top, but still has healthy looking roots. Is it going to survive? Deidre Charnock, Salisbury, Wiltshire APhalaenopsis (moth orchids) were the favourites of Victorian orchid collectors, and how amazing that species gathered from the forests of Malaysia and Borneo have been hybridised, multiplied by tissue culture, and now fill supermarket shelves. In the wild, moth orchids are epiphytic, growing on trees, and absorbing water and nutrients from the environment through aerial roots. Growth is made by a central rhizome producing fleshy leaves one at a time, with usually four or five per plant. It is important to keep water out of the centre, especially during winter, when cold, wet conditions encourage the rotting that has probably killed…

Do  ✓ Check with your water supplier which watering systems you are allowed to use. Some require a metered supply. ✓ Break up soil surface to reduce run-off and aid water penetration – it also reduces evaporation by ‘wicking’. ✓ Water regularly, about once a week in summer unless there is heavy, persistent rain, to stop soil drying out. ✓ Water free-draining soils more frequently, but use less water. Heavy clay soils should need watering less often but may need more water. ✓ Mulch garden beds after watering to hold moisture in the soil, but do not bury seep hoses or drippers under mulch. Don’t  ✗ Let weeds establish in flower and veg beds. ✗ Spray water around willy-nilly; instead, apply it to the base of a plant so it…

IN common with millions of others, when it comes to weight control chocolate is my downfall. It started when I was a child and was first introduced to a ‘square’ of Cadbury’s milk chocolate… I can’t even escape it in the garden, as we shall see! This Sunday (7 July) is World Chocolate Day – dedicated to all things cocoa-based. It is brave to hold it on a summer’s day for, as we all know, chocolate melts at a temperature just less than that of skin, let alone when in sunshine (we should be so lucky). We’ll just have to eat it faster! Let’s look at some of the connections chocolate has with plants and gardening. It grows on trees! THE cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao) native to the Amazon and…

TO most people who know about plants, the words ‘chocolate’ and ‘flower’ immediately conjure an image of Cosmos atrosanguineus. Known as the chocolate cosmos, it is a Mexican species that first came to the UK in 1885, when Thompson & Morgan first listed it in the company’s catalogue. It has dark-red/brownish flowers, which have a scent that faintly resembles chocolate. With the combination of colour and scent, you can see why it has such an obvious common name – and why it has become such a widely grown plant. It is a natural species, and it is often said to be extinct in the wild in Mexico – but of course it is abundant in gardens.…

HAVING been gardening for over 75 years, I still find AG the best gardening magazine. In Tim’s review of weeding hoes ( AG , 1 June), I believe he omitted to mention the best weeding hoe yet invented. I refer to the hoe made by a well-known German manufacturer in hardened steel with two scalloped cutting edges. This means the hoe ‘weeds’ on both the ‘push’ and ‘pull’ strokes whilst the side arms enables weeding right up to a plant stem. I’ll forgive Tim’s oversight, because I have been weeding far longer than he has. Bob Musgrave, Street, Somerset JUST a note to say how much I’ve been enjoying Tim’s masterclasses on various aspects of gardening; some very useful tips even for an old guy like myself. How about a…

THE Ricinus communis or castor oil plant ‘Carmencita’ looks like a maple on steroids. Its leaves are the size of dinner plates and redder than Postman Pat’s van, but below its innocent tropical lushness lies a murky Cold War past in the service of Russia’s KGB. Back in 1978, Soviet secret agents masquerading as commuters (allegedly) used its poisonous seed to assassinate a Bulgarian journalist, Georgi Markov, outside London’s Waterloo station. The murder was akin to a James Bond plotline, with the victim stabbed in the leg with the point of a modified umbrella and at the same time injected with a plant-based toxin (ricin) that had no antidote. “My attitude is that knowledge is better than ignorance” It was a grizzly business, for sure, and if memories of that…

GOOD soil and watering in dry weather are essential for a lush look. Add plenty of compost when planting to fuel the roots and plant pot-grown specimens that are tall enough to have their heads in the sun from the start. If shaded, they never catch up with overhanging neighbours. For an exciting effect, combine foliage with different shapes and colours, such as the castor oil plant and bananas with vivid flowers planted throughout. Dahlias always look good, but they must be staked before they mature as competition for sunlight makes them prone to toppling over.…

THE summer should be in full swing by now, though as I’m writing it’s grey and drizzling outside, I’m wearing a thick jumper and the heater is on next to me. The garden is in full swing, however, following its yearly cycle even if the plants are developing slightly slower than they did in last year’s glorious warmth. So there’s plenty to do, especially when the weather perks up. This is your last chance to cut back shrubs that bloom in late spring and early summer, such as weigela, deutzia and philadelphus. Do it as soon as they finish flowering – they bloom on the previous year’s growth and need as long as possible to grow to form next year’s blossom. I hard-pruned our overgrown, unproductive philadelphus two years ago,…

1 Warm, wet weather lets weeds flourish. Be diligent about weeding; weeds steal light, water and nutrients, but please leave one or two for pollinators. 2 When watering, ideally use harvested rainwater or ‘grey’ water from washing-up (don’t use water containing bleaching agents). 3 Keep hard surfaces clear and clean to avoid a build-up of debris that hosts pests and disease, and can block drainage channels. 4 Deadhead short-lived perennials, such as lupins, so the plant puts energy into new leaves and next year’s growth, rather than seeds.…

THERE are many secateurs available to buy – but not all of them are created equal. Felco has long been the purveyor of high-quality gardening tools and its latest release, the Felco 14 secateurs, continues this tradition. The cutters are lightweight yet robust, easy to use and have the trademark Felco red handle, which means they won’t get lost if dropped in the garden or misplaced on an untidy shed shelf. The cutting action is smooth and powerful, and the shock-absorbing design offers considerable protection from strain. The handles have a lifetime guarantee, and there is also a convenient leather holster that can easily be clipped onto a belt or the opening of a trouser pocket. An additional accessory is the Felco Diamond Sharpener, a flat, easy-to-handle tool that keeps…

Staking: Large dahlia flower heads can be tied to stout posts to stop plants flopping over. Smaller-flowered dahlias can be contained inside four bamboo canes with a ‘basket’ of twine. Dwarf bedding dahlias won’t need staking. Watering: Dahlias need generous drinks in dry and hot weather. Direct your can or hose to the base of the plant. Ideally, soak the soil down to the roots once a week rather than giving smaller amounts more frequently. Feeding: Dahlias growing in borders can be fed with either a granular general-purpose fertiliser (monthly) or liquid feed (fortnightly). Those in containers should be fed weekly with a high-potassium liquid tomato fertiliser. Pests: Slugs, snails and earwigs are voracious dahlia pests. The first two can be picked off during torchlight evening forays, while earwigs can…

1 Control weeds by planting shrubs through a weed-suppressing sheet, spread over some well-cultivated soil. Coarse bark holds this sheet in place and gives a decorative finish. 2 Do not forget to feed woody plants – some rose fertiliser each spring and after pruning is a good investment. 3 Plant holly and ivy to attract pretty holly blue butterflies. 4 When planting container-grown shrubs in summer, fill holes with water several times to get plenty of moisture deep down, then water them in to encourage good root establishment.…

1 Inspect your fruit cage for holes, often made at ground level by hedgehogs and rodents, for any trapped birds that will devour your crops. 2 July is the safest month for pruning Prunus trees – cherries, apricots, peaches and plums, both flowering and fruiting forms. 3 Don’t pick soft fruit, especially gooseberries, when they’re underripe. Instead, protect some so that they can ripen fully and become delicious. 4 A good use for over-sized courgettes is to cut them in half, hollow them out and lay them, as bait, beside any crops that are prone to slug attacks.…

ACROSS the country, we’re facing a mixed bag when it comes to cumulative rainfall. January was dry for most parts of the country, whereas March was predominantly wet. April and May provided some local peaks and troughs – so where do we stand now? Essentially, it’s a postcode lottery! No matter what state your local reservoirs are in now, it pays to be water-wise to avoid possible restrictions later this summer. There are some straightforward management methods that you can apply to your plot (see my checklist, right, and the panel below), but it also pays to understand your crops. It isn’t necessarily the case that continual watering is best – this can be wasteful. Instead, focus on each crop’s moisture-sensitive stages so that you’re targeting your irrigation towards the…

THINK you’ve missed the boat for planting up an edible container? Not a chance! There are loads of compact fruit, veg and herbs that are very happy cropping in the latter part of the growing season – you can even buy plants in full growth if instant cropping is your thing. Compact chilli peppers (‘Cheyenne’, ‘Redskin’), tomatoes (‘Totem’, ‘Losetto’) and sweet peppers (‘Mohawk’) will all grow well – just set one plant per standard-sized basket and fill in any gaps with smaller crops such as basil and loose-leaf lettuce. Perpetual strawberries such as ‘Flamenco’ or ‘Finesse’ will also continue cropping well into September, the fruit trusses dangling over the sizes of the basket at a very tempting eye level. Opt for a larger basket size, add water-retaining granules to the…

1 Pull baby carrots every week or so to ensure they’re finger-sized. Mak e extra sowings, remembering to cover all your plants with insect-proof mesh. 2 Can you see fluffy cotton wool-lik e growth on the stems of your fruit trees? If so, it’s woolly aphid attack. Prune out infections with secateurs. 3 Courgettes and summer squashes can swell at an alarming rate! Check your plants daily and use a knife or secateurs to harvest fruits while they’re still small. 4 Nip out the uppermost growing points of French and runner beans once the plants have climbed up their canes. They’ll soon produce some more! 5 Plant out leeks, ready for late autumn and winter harvests. Mak e a hole with your dibber and drop one plant in each, watering…

For the most productive plants, sow seed of biennial types derived from Digitalis purpurea in June and July. Sow in pots of fresh compost, then stand outside in a cool, sheltered place. Ensure that the pots do not dry out. When the seedlings are large enough to handle comfortably, move individually into 2¾in (7cm) or 3½in (9cm) pots. Grow on, before planting in their flowering sites in late summer. Alternatively, sow in a short row in a cool corner; thin the young plants to 2¾-4in (7-10cm) apart, then move them to their flowering sites in autumn.…

WE’VE recently seen a number of new hybrid foxgloves come onto the market. The first of these, Illumination Pink, won the Chelsea Plant of the Year award in 2012, while the latest, ‘Firebird’, was runner-up at this year’s show. All are hybrids between our native purple-flowered biennial foxglove, Digitalis purpurea, and the Canary Island foxglove, Digitalis canariensis, a more shrubby plant with rich, coppery gold flowers. The resulting offspring are dramatic, with bee-friendly flowers in new colours and combinations from May to September. Winter hardiness is a big problem, but they are superb in pots on a sunny patio. Use well-drained compost and be sure to raise the container up on pot feet to ensure no waterlogging. Following on from the success of the Illumination Series and the Foxlite Series,…

‘Biedermeier’ A bicoloured variety with a brown central cone and petals that are red in the centre and yellow at the outer edge. Flowers from early August. H: 4ft (1.2m). ‘Wyndley’ Stiff, upright stems bear blooms of yellow petals with orange-red streaks making a fine show from June on plants 20-30in (50-75cm) high. ‘Hot Lava’ Blooms open yellow, but mature through orange to bright red from July to October. Sturdy stems reach 30-36in (75-90cm) tall. ‘Fata Morgana’ The upswept apricot petals curl slightly at the tips, showing flashes of orange reverses. Blooms from late June to late October, and reaches 30in (75cm) high.…

See-through pots help to check root health. My plants are stunted, due to low winter temperatures and erratic watering. Gauge watering requirements by feeling the weight of the pot. Add an orchid fertiliser to the second watering rather than to dry roots, or use a foliar feed. Bring water to room temperature and apply in mornings during winter. In hard water areas, use rainwater. You need to repot after a few years, because compost breaks down, encouraging overwatering. Cut away dead roots. After the last flower has faded, cut the stem above a node just below the old flowers and a new spike will arise. After the whole spike has died, the plant will grow a new leaf and then a new spike.…

Seep or soaker hose: Porous length of hose that allows droplets of water to seep out along its length. Drip hose: Watertight, usually small-bore hose that is cut to length from plant to plant to fit a junction with a slow-drip nozzle or mini sprinkler. Sprinkler hose: Watertight hose with tiny holes drilled every few inches to deliver a fine mist spray along its length. Lawn sprinkler: Device that delivers either waving (oscillating) or spinning jets of water to cover a wide area. Fine: What you will pay if you use a controlled watering system in contravention of your local water supplier’s rules.…

ON this day, the first cultivated, large-fruited, edible strawberry – ‘Keen’s Seedling’ – was exhibited by market gardener and amateur plant breeder Michael Keen, of Isleworth, Middlesex. The wild strawberry was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans: two of the earliest records of the strawberry are found in the writings of Roman poets Ovid and Virgil. During the late 1700s and 1800s, English breeding led to the development of many new strawberry varieties. Andrew Knight (a founder of the RHS) is credited for developing the basic breeding techniques we use even today. But it is Keen who was the first to raise and market a large-fruited strawberry. ‘Keen’s Seedling’ is in the heritage of practically all commercial strawberries today. Incidentally, strawberries dipped in chocolate…. nothing better! To celebrate Wimbledon…

Venezuela was the country that had the first cocoa plantations. It takes approximately 400 individual cocoa beans to make 1lb (0.45kg) of chocolate. The annual world consumption of cocoa beans averages approximately 600,000 tons! The RHS lists one supplier of the cocoa tree in this country (Treseders Nursery in Cornwall), but if you are tempted to try it, make sure you can supply the tropical conditions it requires! A garden centre at Congresbury, near Bristol, is called Cadbury Garden Centre – but it has nothing to do with the chocolate family. In 2013, it was thought that US actor Bill Murray ‘came out’ as a chocoholic! He tweeted: “Chocolate comes from cocoa, which is a tree. That makes it a plant. Chocolate is salad.” Unfortunately, it wasn’t his tweet –…

Patience is a virtue IN AG (25 May 2019), John Negus answered a question by James Beeson, who was wondering why his echium was not flowering. I kept thinking that about mine, as it’s waited until its third year before repaying me for all the devotion I had given to it and now the bees are adoring it as much as me. I have seedlings on the go that will hopefully replace it when it gives up and dies after flowering, which will be sad, as it gives everyone who sees it so much pleasure. It is surprising what can be grown in a pot. Sylvia Monk, Hayling Island, Hants Wendy says: Echiums are so dramatic. In pots, they need diligent watering and a gritty compost to prevent waterlogging.…

HERE is a shot of Protea cynaroides, flowering in our greenhouse. It started to flower in early May and is still not fully open. This king protea has been the national flower of South Africa since 1976. Proteas require a position in full sun and a well-drained compost, because if the roots become waterlogged they will die. They also cannot tolerate phosphate in compost or feeds; however, specialised feeds for proteas are available. Follow these simple rules, and you will be rewarded with flowers like mine. Mike Clifford, Poole, Dorset…

I’M really excited about this week’s free seeds because they are for one of the most reliable and exquisite shrubby perennials I have ever grown. Chinese lanterns (Physalis alkekengi) produce creamy white flowers in late spring and early summer, followed by glowing orange, lantern-like seedcases in autumn. These slowly rot away, becoming attractively skeletal just in time for Hallowe’en, before releasing their seed. One word of warning: mature plants will spread fast through your borders via their robust root system. Luckily, they grow well in containers, too, which may be your best option. 1 For best results, sow thinly under cover onto trays of fresh seed compost that has been dampened with fresh tap water. Cover with a scattering of compost or vermiculite. 2 Add a lid and germinate somewhere…

THE contrast between this summer and the last really count not be more marked. In 2018, gardeners were worried about water shortages and wilting plants. This year, waterlogging and gale damage have been the concerns. Last month’s torrential rain would have left many gardens saturated and damaged. Lawns often fare worst in these conditions and can quickly turn into a quagmire, especially if there are children and pets in the house. Keep everyone off any area of grass with standing water and, once it has soaked in, plunge a garden fork 3in (7cm) deep into the lawn all over the saturated area. This helps drainage and boosts airflow around the grass roots. Heavy rain and winds can also damage trees and plants, shredding leaves and petals and breaking branches and…

CLEMATIS wilt is also a disease caused by a fungus Calophoma clematidina and is more likely to affect large-flowered varieties. It can survive in soil and spreads when spores are splashed onto plants by rain or watering. Symptoms include blackening leaf stalks followed rapidly by wilting of the stem. The roots are rarely affected and plants can regenerate from below the ground. However, C. clematidina isn’t the sole cause of wilt, and if spores are not present you may need to take environmental problems such as root stress and poor planting into consideration when it occurs (especially in resistant breeds). Unfortunately, there is no chemical control available, so careful planting and good husbandry can help protect plants from wilt. Keep the roots happy by planting deeply and mulching well. Keep…

“I would never go back to having a closely shorn lawn all over my garden” LIKE many a grandmother, I’ve worn a route between my house and my grandchildren’s home, and along the way I pass the Rollright Stones, near the village of Long Compton on the Oxfordshire/ Warwickshire border. I’ve been travelling along this road for more than 40 years, in all weathers, and locals will know what I mean when I say that it’s brutal up there along that part of the old Jurassic Way. For many years the lanes nearby had a really good form of red campion ( Silene dioica ). This bright pink-red flower stretched round the Warwickshire lanes for miles and it was a wonderful thing to behold. Sometimes this pretty campion clung to…

There’s a right way to water: apply a slow, steady rate that doesn’t run off the surface. Instal seep hoses attached to automated systems if you don’t plan to visit your plot at key times. Increase the spacings between crops when planting out in summer, to provide extra rooting room. Keep plots weed-free; these nuisance plants will quickly exploit free space, competing for moisture. Add water-retaining granules to tubs, baskets and pots to help lock onto moisture when you do irrigate. Sink water reservoirs around thirsty plants’ bases, such as courgettes and squashes.…

I CAN never bring myself to harvest true ‘wet’ garlic – it needs to be done some time in April, just as the individual cloves within each garlic head begin to form but before they develop their papery husks. To me, pulling up the precious plants at this point, when they’re due to deliver a much more sizeable harvest in early July, is sacrilege. So instead, I’ve learnt to pull a few heads up now, just before the plant matures ready for drying. Why bother doing any of this at all? In one word: flavour. I’m sure that wet garlic is even milder than my July pullings, but harvesting garlic now and not drying the plants at all gives an altogether different eating experience. Cloves ooze with juice as you…

YOU might not realise it but you’re probably growing a delicious flower in your garden: hemerocallis. Commonly known as daylilies due to their short-lived blooms, these hardy, sun-loving perennials become adorned with showy, colourful flowers in summer. Open flowers are edible – especially the base, which houses sweet nectaries. Dried blooms (sold as ‘golden needles’ in Asian supermarkets) are frequently used in China to thicken soups due to the mucilaginous nature of the rehydrated flowers. If you can bear to pick a handful of the blooms while they’re still in bud, I encourage you to indulge yourself. Lightly seasoned and fried in butter, they have a texture that’s reminiscent of French beans.…

HARDY perennial foxgloves can be planted from pots at almost any time except high summer, when the heat will be stressful for them. Most are adaptable and tolerant of a range of conditions. They are, however, relatively short-lived, and carefully lifting and dividing the plants every two or three years is necessary. Digitalis lutea (with its small, yellow flowers) and ‘Glory of Roundway’ (apricot) tend to live the longest.…

THIS tribe of herbaceous perennials, commonly known as sneezeweeds, were the border flowers of my childhood, along with daisy-flowered pyrethrums (now known as tanacetum), achillea, monarda and sugar-pink sidalcea. Nobody knew their variety names, but we loved the rich-toned yellow, orange or red daisies with their prominent central cones, and would swap plants at dividing time. Our heleniums were tall and required staking – otherwise, they would be flattened by a summer storm or sleeping cats. Back then, we were a parochial bunch and rarely gave a thought to the origins of our garden plants. We had yet to marvel at Beth Chatto’s ecological approach to garden design, had never heard of the ‘Chelsea Chop’, and had little concept of the helenium as a prairie perennial. Bright and bold The…

Hot favourite If you have the space and really want to impress, take a leaf out of the great plantsman Christopher Lloyd’s book and dial up the drama by teaming crimson dahlias with towering cannas, Melianthus major and spiky yuccas. Cutting crew With a generous vase life, dahlias make great cut flowers, so opt for planting partners that will work well in arrangements and borders. Boldly coloured cosmos, zinnias, chrysanths and perennial sunflowers are all strong contenders. Fire and air You can’t go wrong with the classic pairing of dahlias and Verbena bonariensis – airy verbena flowers help break up the bolder dahlia blooms. Choose any dahlia; just ensure you plant a minimum of three of each variety for impact. Box clever For a neat and tidy way to grow…

Iris ‘Katharine Hodgkin’ AGM A miniature beauty that will melt your winter heart when it blooms in January and February, this reticulata iris needs very well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade. H: 5in (13cm). Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ AGM A dwarf conifer that forms a spiky mound of grey-blue evergreen foliage – great for injecting colour into winter borders. Grow in well-drained soil, in sun or semi-shade. HxS: 1x3ft (30x90cm). Hebe pinguifolia ‘Pagei’ AGM Year-round blue-grey leaves and white flowers in May and June make for a useful little shrub. Grow in well-drained, neutral-to-alkaline soil, in sun or semi-shade. HxS: 16inx3ft (41x90cm). Scilla mischtschenkoana AGM Producing its polar white-blue flowers from January to March, this eager squill is great for well-drained windowboxes or borders…

How can I cheer up a sickly hydrangea? Q My Hydrangea paniculata is in a large pot with good compost, but the leaves seem to be dying. There are no signs of pests or disease, and it looks like it will soon flower. What is going on? T Burridge, Wellington, Somerset AI suspect that the problem lies in the growing conditions. Hydrangea paniculata does best in a spot that is shaded from the sun for part of the day. These plants are not fussy about the pH of their soil, but the soil does need to be fertile, well fed and slow to dry out. The best potting compost for shrubby plants is one with a high proportion of loam, such as John Innes No3. Even the best multi-purpose composts…

GARDEN watering has become a contentious environmental issue in recent years as it’s considered a waste of a precious resource. However, long periods of dry weather are increasingly common. No one wants to see their garden ravaged by drought, but wasting water is expensive so we need to apply the most efficient watering methods. Check what you’re allowed to use Before buying any watering system, contact your local water supplier and ask what you are allowed to use, and any conditions that apply. By law you are obliged to tell the company before you instal a garden watering system. Seep or soaker hoses Seep or soaker hoses ‘sweat’ beads of water along their length, and drip hoses fitted with valves that drip water slowly are the most efficient. They have…

1 Weed the bed thoroughly, breaking up the surface to improve water penetration. Work some compost into the surface. 2 Lay a seep hose or drip hose around the bed, running it close to the base of plants, with the hose connector at the edge of the bed. 3 Clip garden hose to the seep hose connector and turn on the water. Check connectors along the length of the hose, deal with leaks. 4 Check water penetration after half an hour. Note length of time for water to reach 6in (15cm) deep, and use as watering time in future.…

ERICACEOUS plants add beautiful, vibrant colour to any outdoor space, but need special conditions to thrive. To ensure that your flowers flourish, Miracle-Gro is giving AG readers the chance to win a bundle perfect for acid-loving plants, which includes Miracle-Gro Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron Continuous Release Plant Food and Miracle-Gro Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron Soluble Plant Food. Miracle-Gro Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron Continuous Release and Soluble Plant Food is ideal for ericaceous plants including heathers, hydrangeas and magnolias whether in pots and containers, hanging baskets, beds or borders. We have three bundles to give away, each worth £12. How to enter Send your name and address on the back of a postcard to Miracle-Gro Ericaceous Draw (6 July), Amateur Gardening, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7BF. Or you…

HAVING moved into a cottage in March, I have been busy in the garden and, as you can see, decorating the house! I love having my own garden and thought I’d share my ideas to bring it into the house. Laura Baldry, via email AFTER a particularly stressful day at work, I sat glumly in the car park awaiting my taxi home. As I stared at my feet, the sunshine illuminated a clump of daisies. The sight of these simple, cheery blooms immediately lifted my spirits, so I took a photo and did a watercolour of them. It just goes to show that plants, no matter how simple, are good for mind and soul. Louise Cichy, Ipswich, Suffolk I’M really enjoying AG’s 135-year celebrations, especially the beautiful botanical paintings you…