Innholdsfortegnelse for 14-Sep-2019 i Amateur Gardening

“The debate about TV coverage of gardening shows continues (see News , page 7), but I have to confess that my recent call for more in-depth content from BBC Gardeners’ World was clumsily written and as a consequence misconstrued. I felt that the programme is aimed at the more general viewing public than AG readers, but some of you ( Letters , page 50) took it to mean that those who enjoy the programme are not serious gardeners. That was not what I was trying to get across at all, so I apologise for not being clear. Healthy debate is the cornerstone of a free society and I am delighted so many of you joined the conversation. We may not always agree, but we all want the very best for…

UNLESS you are the sort of gardener who delights in painstakingly creating a lawn of bowling-green perfection, mowing the grass is one of those jobs that always seems to take more time than is strictly necessary. This means that while you are pushing your mower around the lawn, your mind is scrolling through a list of other urgent jobs: roses to prune, crops to harvest, containers to water. But what if you could steal back time by never mowing again? Not by tarmacking your sward, but by investing in a robotic mower. I have always regarded such mowers with extreme prejudice, partly because we leave a large area of lawn as a wild meadow and partly out of fear that it might run amok. But this summer we tested one…

CONSERVATIONISTS have reacted with dismay to a reversal of the ban of metaldehyde slug pellets. Earlier this year, former environment secretary Michael Gove announced the ban, which was scheduled to come into force in 2020. But it was overturned following a High Court challenge by leading slug pellet manufacturer Chiltern Farm Chemicals. Metaldehyde pellets have been used by arable farmers and gardeners for decades. They work by causing fatal dehydration in the molluscs that eat them. Concerns were raised about the molluscicide when tests showed that its levels in the UK’s drinking water sources, such as the River Stour, were more than 100 times higher than EU guidelines. There are also fears that they could be harmful if ingested in large enough numbers by children and household pets. The chemical…

I REGULARLY meet people who are specialists in their field and their depth of knowledge reminds me repeatedly how little I know – a ‘jack of all trades, master of none!’ Recently I spent several hours with Alan Sparkes of Takii Seeds reviewing the Fleuroselect Nasturtium Trial at the RHS Garden Hyde Hall. “Stripy red and cream are caused by a jumping gene” This trial has more than 70 different cultivars from around the world, and without a sideways glance at labels Alan could name pretty well every one and without hesitation deliver their history and appraise the plants growing in front of us. First the names – all are Tropaeolum, with T. minus being compact and mound-forming while T. majus are trailing and creeping kinds, sometimes called climbing. Often,…

1 Remove weeds, self-sown plants, muck and debris from drainage channels to prevent blockages during winter storms. 2 Blast algae and rotting leaves off decking. If left, they will rot down, spreading diseases and becoming dangerously slippery. 3 Remove algae and moss on woodwork before it spreads and causes untreated wood to weaken and rot. 4 Protect metalwork by removing cracked and flaking paint and repainting it with weather-resistant Hammerite.…

14-15: Cyclamen Society Show: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org. uk/gardens/rosemoor 14-15: Houseplant Weekend: RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall 15: Pippa Greenwood, Plant Fairs Roadshow and Garden Sculpture: Borde Hill Garden, Borde Hill Lane, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1XP. ✆ 01444 450326, bordehill.co.uk 16: RHS Members Gardening Advice: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr 17: Autumn/Winter Bedding: Brimsmore Garden Centre, Tintinhull Road, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 3NU. ✆ 01935 411000, thegardeneronline.co.uk 17: Garden Tours with the Friends of Harlow Carr: RHS Harlow Carr 18: Autumn/Winter Bedding: Poundbury Garden Centre, Peverell Avenue, Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 3RT. ✆ 01305 257250; thegardeneronline.co.uk 18:…

ABEEKEEPER who lives near me was part of a team called out to tackle the first Asian hornet’s nest found in England in 2016. It was 55ft (17m) up a mature tree in, or near, Tetbury in Gloucestershire, and the team destroyed the nest using pesticides. Although I’m not in favour of pesticides, as you might imagine, in this case it was justified as the Asian hornet preys on honeybees. Beekeepers, who have already been plagued by the Varroa mite, are understandably concerned that this alien hornet will cause them even more trouble. “Don’t interfere with an Asian hornet’s nest” There were 1,000 reported sightings in the UK in 2016, but fortunately most proved not to be Asian hornets. Since 2016 there have been 14 confirmed sightings. The first Asian…

1 Leek moth: Creamy-white caterpillars feed on outer leek foliage then tunnel into the shank. Initially a pest in the south of the UK, but moving north. Grow leeks under insect-proof mesh and rotate crops. 2 Rust: This fungus can build up to nuisance levels on leeks if plants are repeatedly grown (on an allotment), if planted too close together, or if the weather is damp. Grow resistant varieties such as ‘Porbella’ and ‘Neptune’. 3 Allium leaf miner: Maggots bore into the centre of the leek plants, while the larvae are shiny brown and about the size of a grain of rice. Grow leeks under insect-proof mesh and rotate crops.…

THE peanut or groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) doesn’t just come in foil packets – you can grow your own! In September plants (roughly 1ft/30cm tall) will be forming underground pods and seeds (known as geocarpy), but how do you get to that stage? Buy a bag of raw nuts, de-shell, then sow each seed 1in (3cm) deep in potting compost during March. Being tender, you’ll need a heated propagator set at 18°C for germination and, for maximum yield, an undercover area or warm, sunny spot outside to grow them on Tiny yellow flowers appear in autumn, then stems bend over to form seedpods within the soil. In the UK, do all you can to extend warm conditions for the best yields. A polytunnel or greenhouse on your Christmas list is a…

‘Scrumptious’ Self-fertile early cropper with juicy fruits with an attractive red skin. A modern variety offering a generous crop and good disease resistance. ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’ A self-fertile variety with a sweet flavour. Apples ripen in late September. Can also be used to make juices and chutneys. Stores for about three weeks. ‘Beauty of Bath’ An early season apple with a sharp flavour. The apples are quite small. If you can’t wait until autumn, then this will tempt you. This tree needs a pollinator. ‘Laxton’s Epicure’ An early variety with sweet and juicy fruits. Partly self-fertile, but produces a heavier crop when grown with near a suitable partner such as ‘Beauty of Bath’. ‘Discovery’ An early season apple with a red skin and white flesh. Very crispy and tasty, but…

ONCE you’ve planted your bulbs, it makes financial sense to encourage them to increase. The secret to success is to first do your prep, and then look after them properly. Choose the right situation, in full sun or partial shade. Before planting, fork over the base of the planting hole and add a little weed-free compost or organic soil improver if the soil is very gravelly or sticky with clay. Work in a little slow-release fertiliser, too. All this will provide good conditions for root growth and the take-up of plant foods. Deadheading is important to conserve plant resources, as is regular lifting, dividing and replanting in freshly improved soil. If you allow clumps to get overcrowded, the bulbs will become smaller and, as a result, subsequent flowering will be…

Plant spring-flowering crocus in September or October into any well-drained soil that usually dries out somewhat in summer. Random spacings look natural. Crocus prefer open sites where sun will coax flowers fully open. Yet they also grow happily under the branches of deciduous trees and shrubs. Whether in soil, potting compost or turf, plant corms 2in (5cm) deep so they are covered by twice their own size. Where planted in grass, leave mowing until the leaves have died back naturally. Species like C. tommasinianus spread by seed, so mow after they have shed. Move or divide clumps of corms in late summer.…

Primula ‘Sue Jervis’ This darling little double primrose was reputedly found growing in the wild in the UK – with its lax, subtle-pink flowers it certainly has the look of a wild primrose. Easy to propagate by division. Flowers: Mar/Apr. H: 2-4in (5-10cm). Primula vulgaris AGM Our native woodland primrose would, if not so common, be held in much higher regard. An important source of early nectar for pollinators, it has primrose-yellow blooms – of course! Flowers: Feb-Apr. H: 6in (15cm). Primula ‘Blue Sapphire’ A lovely old favourite that produces masses of true-blue double flowers, each one packed with petals. It needs a damp, rich soil in partial shade and is also good for containers. Flowers: Mar-May. H: 4-6in (10-15cm). Primula florindae…

The smaller, early primulas go well with spring-flowering bulbs such as hyacinths and daffodils. Later types, including the Candelabras, look good with hardy geraniums and geums. Primroses and polyanthus are good partners for alpine strawberries and nasturtiums: the strawberry growth takes off as the primulas slow down, while twining nasturtiums cover polyanthus when they are looking untidy, but are killed off by the first frosts, letting light through again.…

Q How can we introduce attractive seedheads of perennials and grasses to enjoy their structural beauty and as food and shelter for wildlife? Andrea Purcell, Rugby, Warwickshire A True plant lovers are thrilled by the entire life cycle of their plants, including setting seed and dying back. For many years herbaceous borders were routinely cut down and ‘put to bed’ for winter, but the trend now is to leave dead stems in place. Seedheads make interesting contours, light up with hoar frost, protect the crowns of plants and create cover, homes and food for wildlife. When we hear of declines, whether in flying insects, birds, amphibians or hedgehogs, loss of habitat is cited again and again as a cause. Many gardeners are now looking to ‘rewild’ their plots in an…

‘W’ clip: A sprung ‘W’-shaped wire clip for fixing glazing to greenhouse frame. ‘Z’ clip: ‘Z’-shaped double-ended hook. Top hook goes over top edge of the lower pane of glass, and then the lower edge of the pane above sits in the lower hook. Horticultural glass: Single thickness of low-grade glass, which is cheap but may be imperfect. Acrylic and polycarbonate glazing: Plastic sheeting used in place of glass. It’s easy to handle and doesn’t shatter, but it is light, which makes the structure susceptible to strong winds.…

TO gardeners and non-gardeners alike, chrysanthemums need no introduction. They are recognisable a mile off. Like other showy autumn flowers, they have an in-built means of detecting that the hours of daylight are getting shorter, and it is this that stimulates them to flower. In the garden they are valued for their autumn displays; as conservatory and house plants they are valued as spots of welcome colour; and as cut flowers they have been bred to last and last. Chrysanthemums have probably been in cultivation in China since before 500BC, though they are now associated more strongly with Japan. Let’s look at some of the stories surrounding them. The name game GARDENERS could be forgiven for being confused about the chrysanthemum name. In the 1980s botanists changed the name to…

FIVE years before AG was launched, the news and satirical magazine Punch published a cartoon depicting the disturbance caused by gardeners with their noisy lawnmowers. In itself, it is not a particularly important ‘event’, But it did highlight the fact that, by then, the lawnmower had become such an essential piece of new technology. Such mowing machines were comparatively expensive, so were not used much by ordinary home gardeners. Home lawns at the time were rough, and usually cut with scythes. The new machinery, from such companies as Ferrabees and Ransomes, were more in the domain of the middle and upper classes who could afford them.…

WHEN the single forms first became recognised they were comparatively small of flower, rounded in shape, with just a single ring of rays or florets. A dwarf branching habit of growth was aimed at in the plants, and the type has its uses now in providing excellent decorative pot plants, also light material for employment in a cut state. A taste, however, has grown for something of nobler appearance for exhibition as well as for house decoration, and in the first instance the singles are only less popular than the Japanese for show purposes. Really the modern single is a part of that remarkable section which has ousted all other classes or types, once more or less favoured. A single chrysanthemum to please need not be too formal of flower,…

AFTER a summer of use, hot weather and – this year – torrential rain, our lawns may not be looking their best, which makes autumn the ideal time to do some serious repair work. The soil is still warm enough for some growth and rain will help regenerate any brown and bare patches. I usually start by scarifying the grass by running a rake over the surface to remove the thatch of dead grass and moss that can stop moisture, food and oxygen penetrating down to the grass roots. If you have large areas of moss on your lawn, consider using a moss killer a few weeks before scarifying. This gives it time to work and means you can remove more moss before re-sowing the grass. “Use a moss killer…

Miimo 310: Will mow an area up to 1,500 sq m and costs £1,799. Miimo 520: Will mow an area up to 3,000 sq m and costs £2,399. Miimo 3000: Will mow an area up to 4,000 sq m, costs £2,599 and can even be controlled via an app downloaded on to your smartphone. The mowers are installed by trained Honda staff and their only requirement is an electricity supply for charging accessible from their docking station. They come with a comprehensive owner’s handbook and are easy to set up – you programme in your preferred mowing days and times and blade height at the press of a button. For full details and local dealerships visit Honda.co.uk or call ✆ 0345 200 8000.…

BROGDALE Collections in Kent, which is home to the National Fruit Collection, has launched its own wildlife garden that was officially opened by Emma Lansdell from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. With a variety of different habitats, including a pond, bee hotels and features, it is a great environment for wildlife visitors. The garden has been designed as an outdoor classroom, learning environment and educational resource for schools and visitors both young and old to learn about wildlife. It contains different habitats, including a pond, bog area, flower meadow and rockery, so the public can discover just how many wild and wonderful visitors their garden can support. A lovely addition to Brogdale Emma Lansdell, project manager of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, said: “The garden is a lovely addition to Brogdale, and…

1 Nasturtiums can be overwintered in a frost-free greenhouse. When straggly and full of seed they can be cut back to make them flower again. 2 Cherry-rose is the most popular colour, as in T. majus ‘Cherry Rose’ (Mr Fothergill’s and T&M). Very dark flowered T.m. ‘Black Velvet’ (pictured) is also popular. 3 New introduction T. minus ‘Baby Rose’ (Mr Fothergill’s) is a dark-leaved and compact cultivar with great promise for pots and containers. 4 T. majus Orchid Series (T&M), with its unique flower shape and colourings, is kept true by micro propagation of mother seeds, and as a result the seed costs more.…

Garden walls come under immense pressure in winter thanks to driving rain and prolonged freezing temperatures. Help keep them strong by clearing away plants climbing up their surfaces, in particular ivy and campanula. Their roots take moisture from the mortar, causing it to crumble, so weakening the walls. Ivy is easy to remove as its roots go relatively shallow, but campanula is fast growing, needs regular clearance and possible treatment with herbicide. Make sure coping stones at the top of walls are secure as they divert water away from the side of walls and help keep the structure intact by weighing down the courses.…

WHY do we harden-off plants? Well, we stand them outdoors during the day and bring them in at night so they ‘get used’ to the somewhat bleaker, but also brighter, conditions. Plants grown under glass or plastic are in more warmth for sure, and less wind. It’s less cold at night – but also it’s reduced light. One effect is that leaves on plants growing under cover tend to be bigger and softer, whereas those on plants outdoors tend to be smaller and harder. You notice similar on plants with forms that prefer sun or shade; the former have smaller leaves, and the latter have larger ones. “Too many of us skimp on this process” By moving plants from shelter to the open during the day, we give them a…

LEEKS are often in the ground for ten months, are an essential part of any winter plot and don’t require any technical growing kit – just soil. It’s no wonder gardeners can’t get enough of this allium! So, how do you guarantee successful harvests? With careful selection, you can harvest leeks from August until April. Early varieties such as ‘Zermatt’ tend to have long, slender stems or ‘shanks’ and can be harvested as baby veg in late summer. As you move towards winter, varieties become stockier and hardier with darker green leaves (called ‘flags’) – sowings of ‘Neptune’ and ‘Below Zero’ will yield well into the spring. While some leeks are open pollinated (such as ‘Musselburgh’), which can lead to variability of quality, the 1990s saw the introduction of F1…

1 harvest your sweetcorn cobs at the perfect point of ripeness, pick over blocks of plants every day and check cobs with tassels that have browned. 2 If your courgette plants have exhausted themselves, giving miserly yields, ditch them. Viruses and powdery mildew often thwart them come autumn. 3 If you were quick off the blocks with your Brussels sprout sowings, buttons may be ready to pick now , especially on early types such as ‘Maximus’. 4 Good news! Crops grown in pots won’t need so much watering as cooler autumn conditions approach, so you can relax your irrigation duties. 5 With bare patches of earth appearing on the plot, squeeze in a last-minute sowing or two of quick -to-mature summer radish or mustard?…

WHEN you have room for only one apple tree in your garden, which one should you grow? Choosing the right dessert apple for your plot and your palate isn’t easy. I liken picking an apple tree to selecting a bottle of wine. Will you go for a crisp, earthy or juicy taste? The difference is that once your bottle is empty, you can move on to another type. Choose an apple tree and hopefully it will be with you for life. Plant a tree this year and it will take about six years before it is cropping generously. Plan before you plant There is plenty to consider when choosing your tree, and just to add to the confusion there’s a generous number of dessert apples to pick from. I’m only…

DAFFODILS are our most popular spring bulbs, and our continuing enthusiasm for them has a number of strands. Varieties in wild colours and with weird flower shapes always attract attention when they appear in garden centres and in catalogues. But traditional trumpet daffodils – those with flowers in the same shape as the legendary ‘King Alfred’ – remain a hugely popular choice with gardeners of all ages. To be geeky for a moment, specifically, these are varieties with a single flower on each stem and with the trumpet longer than the length of the petals behind it. Size doesn’t matter. Plants can be tall or short; flowers can be large or small – it’s the long trumpet that counts. It’s also what gives these daffodils an old-fashioned, back-in-time sort of…

If spring weather is dry, water generously to prevent flowers aborting and to encourage bulbs to increase. As flowers fade, deadhead by pinching off just behind the fattening seed pods. At the same time, feed clumps with a liquid feed every two weeks until the leaves die down. Almost any feed is better than none – I use tomato food. In containers, start feeding while the plants are still in bud. Clear away the old leaves when they turn brown; in grass, delay mowing until the leaves have died off.…

Crocus ‘Flower Record’ This bold large-flowered or Dutch crocus bears rich, glossy-purple flowers opening to reveal contrasting orange stamens. C. ‘Romance’ The buttery colours of this floriferous early-blooming crocus are thanks to yellow inside petals and creamy-apricot outer shading. C. angustifolius Known as ‘cloth of gold’, the flowers of this Crimean species are bright golden-yellow with attractive bronze markings. Leaves are grey-green. C. biflorus ‘Blue Pearl’ Fragrant, medium-sized goblets are the softest lavender-blue, fading to white inside with a yellow throat.…

Primrose and polyanthus cultivars may be planted from now onwards, or in early spring when available. They prefer a good, rich soil and a position in partial shade. Divide and replant every two or three years to retain their vigour. Moisture-loving (or bog) primulas need a damp soil, enriched with well-rotted compost or leafmould. If planted in full sun, water the ground regularly throughout the year, whenever needed. Pests are few, but watch out for vine weevil grubs that feed on roots.…

Siberians ‘Cambridge’ AGM The light-blue flowers have slightly paler upper petals, plus prettily waved lower petals that are pale-yellow and speckled in the throat. Lovely with pink or white astrantias or apricot geums. H: 3ft (90cm). ‘Flight of Butterflies’ AGM Opening from inky buds, flowers are heavily patterned, with upright petals in a purplish-blue, the lower white ones veined in blue like a butterfly’s wing. The overall effect is exquisite. H: 3ft (90cm). ‘Ruffled Velvet’ AGM Unusually large, elegantly ruffled flowers are purplish-blue, the lower petals darker than the upper ones, with prettily striped yellow and white throats. Shorter than many I. sibirica varieties. H: 2ft (60cm). Species iris I. foetidissima AGM Long, slender, dark-green, pungent foliage supports demure spring flowers followed by bursting pods of red berries.…

Why do sweet Williams keep flowering? QI grew lots of sweet Williams in spring and they are now flowering for a second time. Will they bloom again next spring too or should I pull them out and compost them? Mr G Chandler, Woodbridge, Suffolk A The flowering of plants in their ‘season’ is generally a response to environmental conditions, including temperature and light levels. Some plants need a cold snap to stimulate flowering, others a hot spell. Some need increasing light levels and/or numbers of daylight hours, while others respond to the opposite. Plants flowering out of season can mean they ‘think’ they have been subjected to the conditions that stimulate flowering. Not all plants behave in this way so there must be other factors involved too, including growing conditions…

Allium christophii Plant bulbs in autumn for umbels to 8in (20cm) across of starry pinkish-purple flowers on stems to 2ft (60cm) high next June. These mature slowly to parchment seedheads. Agastache foeniculum Easy to raise from seed, the tactile, aniseed-scented flower spikes are loved by bees. These reach to 3ft (1m) and die gracefully, leaving behind strong upright seedheads. Hylotelephium ‘Matrona’ In common with other border perennial stonecrops, the structure of flowerheads are retained on strong stems through to spring. Nigella damascene The flowers of love-in-a-mist leave behind structural capsules each perched within a collar of finely divided leaves. This annual is easily raised from September or spring-sown seed.…

Do ✓ Measure the space for replacement carefully . If possible compare measurements to an identical pane glass , of elsewhere in the greenhouse ✓ Make sure you have enough ‘ . W’ clips (four per pane) and ‘Z’ clips (two per pane), and replacement seals if necessary – all contribute to holding the glass securely in place. ✓ Clean frame edges thoroughly before fitting new glass – it’s a lot harder once the glass is in place Don’t ✗ Put off repairing brok en glass. S trong winds get in through any opening and increase pressure inside the structure ✗ Handle glass carelessly as it shatters easily if dropped, . ✗ Secure knocked panes or forced by fixing in any two way ‘W . ’ Wear clips gloves on…

THE small ‘Charm’ chrysanths make excellent pot plants. They are best propagated from cuttings. Rooted cuttings can be obtained from specialist chrysanthemum nurseries, but if roots of plants at home have been overwintered, take cuttings from them in January or February and root them under heat. Once potted on a few times, from late April they can be put outside, but protected (such as in a coldframe). Plants should be ‘stopped’ (pinching out the growing point) when they reach 6in (15cm) tall. After the last frost they can be placed on a standing ground, and fed weekly with a tomato fertiliser. Pot on again until they are in 10in (25cm) pots, and by September they will have attained the perfect size for flowering.…

On 9 September each year, Japan celebrates the Festival of Happiness, also known as National Chrysanthemum Day, when flowers are displayed in houses, shops, streets and temples (see picture, right). Since the 14th century, the chrysanthemum has been the National Flower of Japan (despite probably originating in China). The Supreme Imperial Order of the Chrysanthemum, awarded for ‘meritorious service to the Japanese nation’, is Japan’s highest honour. It was founded in 1876 by Emperor Meiji. The chrysanth is a symbol of autumn, and the ‘flower of the ninth moon’. During the Han dynasty (206BC-220AD), people even drank wine from chrysanths, on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, in order to prolong their lives. When Chinese chrysanthemum breeder T’ao Yuan Ming died, way back in the fifth century, the…

WITH the headline: “The Full Monty Behind Britain’s Best-loved Garden”, the Daily Mail (10 Aug) produced a double page spread about Monty Don’s garden. Apparently an online poll by Origin decreed that Longmeadow is more popular than any other British garden. How can this be, when it is not open to the public so no one visits it, so how can one assess its qualities? What about the gardens of Amateur Gardening’s own columnist Tamsin Westhorpe’s Stockton Bury and other renowned gardens? They are visited by thousands of people each year and are highly acclaimed, giving hours of pleasure to their visitors. Do these count for nothing? Glenda Woods, Banbury, Oxon Gardeners’ World Live is THE show HOW I agree with Peter Seabrook on his article about the Chelsea Flower…

GEORGE Clooney has good genes… years come and go, but still he stays youthful and slender. I, on the other hand, only have to help myself to a second helping of cake and a deep-fried Mars bar to put on weight. Where is the justice? My garden for the most part is also going to seed, and as anyone who forgets to harvest their runner beans knows, once plants produce seedpods, they stop flowering and turn their attention to parenthood. But there are exceptions. Diascia personata is an amazingly floriferous upright 3ft (90cm) perennial that’s part of the candyfloss-coloured ‘spur flower’ clan. Like all diascias in its native South Africa, it’s pollinated by long-legged bees that reach inside the deep wells or spurs on the petals to harvest its oily…

HYBRID heleniums and erysimums flower so profusely, they become exhausted and die out. To keep heleniums fresh and flowering, lift and divide every two years. This stimulates new roots and allows you to create larger and more dramatic drifts. Take tip cuttings from the nonflowering shoots of erysimums now and overwinter on a windowsill or in a cold greenhouse. Or lift the plants in spring and replant more deeply into the same hole, and there’s a good chance the buried shoots will re-root and grow into fresh plants.…

Rake up deciduous leaves as soon as they start falling on your lawn. If left, they keep sun off the grass turning it pale and also can harbour pests and disease. Gather them up to make leafmould, which is an excellent soil conditioner and can be mixed with compost for sowing and potting on. Add leaves to the compost heap, store in mesh bins or collect in black bin liners. If you do the latter, damp the leaves first and make holes in the bags. Tie the tops and store. It can take up to two years for the leaves to break down and they may need more water and turning over to ensure consistent decomposition.…

1 The perimeter cables are buried just below the surface of the lawn so they are invisible and not a safety hazard. The two ends are then connected to the docking mat that has a waterproof terminal. 2 The docking mat is where the Miimo returns to recharge after each mow. It can be placed somewhere unobtrusive, but needs to be within easy reach of a power point. 3 Once in place it is easy to programme the days and times you wish the mower to operate using an intuitive, user-friendly keypad. You can change the times to suit your days (and holidays).…

1 An interior layer of bubblewrap that doesn’t cover drainage holes helps insulate plant roots in winter. Stop using water-retaining gel as plants should now be getting enough water naturally. 2 Copper tape can prevent slugs and snails crawling up and attacking plants. Standing pots on feet boosts water drainage and helps stop pests. 3 Fleece or bubblewrap protects plants from the coldest weather and an additional layer of compost or bark chippings on the surface is excellent insulation for tender plants. 4 At the end of the season, empty summer bedding pots and spread the compost on borders as a soil conditioner. Wash out pots so they are ready for use next year. Top Tip Shelter pots and baskets from storms against a wall or in a greenhouse or…

IT isn’t just plants that need our attention as the weather turns for the worse; the surfaces and structures giving shape to the garden also require maintaining. Without the framework created by patios, walls, fences and sheds, our gardens would be shapeless and one-dimensional, so looking after them is important. Flat surfaces – paths, patios and decking – need regular sweeping in autumn to remove fallen leaves that, if left, would quickly rot down and become treacherously slippery. The area around patio containers also often accumulates algae thanks to regular watering and feeding. Gutters on your house, shed, garage and greenhouse need clearing to allow rain to flow into water butts, and any drainage channels on the edges of patios and drives should be freed of collected debris. With the…

THIS week’s free seeds are a timely reminder that September is traditionally the month to sow your sweet peas. ‘Air Warden’ is an old-fashioned, frill-petalled Spencer variety with a stunning scarlet colour and a wonderful scent. As with all sweet peas they provide long-lasting colour in the garden, with blooms that also last well as cut flowers indoors. Sown now, these hardy annuals will germinate and sit through the winter months if kept somewhere sheltered, then start into growth again next spring. They can also be sown directly in borders, but may fall foul of cold, wet soil and hungry birds and rodents. I prefer to sow my sweet peas now, then overwinter them in a coldframe or greenhouse. Make sure their roots have plenty of room to run as…

1 Wrap coarse cloth or corrugated cardboard bands around fruit tree trunks to trap pests looking for homes in rough bark. 2 Use sheets and blankets to cover pumpkin, squash and sweet potato plants, tender bedding and citrus on cold nights. 3 Sow bare soil with easy-to-clear winter-cover green manures, such as Limnanthes douglassi, miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) and lamb’s lettuce (Valerianella locusta). 4 Beware: rodents move into sheds, greenhouses, cellars, garages and attics as the nights cool, so block holes and set suitable precautions.…

Know variety: For the best yields, grow an F1 hybrid leek variety rather than open-pollinated types. Sowing sense: Sow in early to late March under glass (early varieties) or April into early May for outdoor sowings. Watering: Regularly irrigate your leeks in the first eight weeks after transplanting, to establish a strong root system. Hoeing: Narrow foliage makes leeks poor weed suppressors, so this is one crop that needs regular hoeing. Feeding: Leeks appreciate good nutrition – dig a high-nitrogen fertiliser into the soil prior to planting in June. Soil smarts: Check and adjust soil pH at planting time – aim for neutral (pH 7) as strongly acidic or alkaline reduces yields.…

1 Most blackberries, tayberries, loganberries, Japanese wineberries and the like crop on last year’s canes. These can now be cut out to the base using sharp secateurs. 2 If the cropped stems are in long, thorny sections (which is often the case) remove them carefully by cutting them into manageable lengths. Yanking out long stems can damage new ones. 3 Finally, with all last year’s canes removed, this year’s new growth can be tied in. Arching or spiralling the stems helps maximise flower and fruit numbers, and looks rather beautiful, too.…

If you have room for only one tree and don’t have many neighbouring trees, choose a self-fertile variety. What size and shape of tree do you want? Rootstocks: M27 – very dwarfing; M9 dwarf; M26 semi-dwarfing; MM106 – semi-vigorous M25 – vigorous. Are you looking for an early cropper or do you prefer your apples to ripen in October or November? Don’t discount apples that offer a more mature, intense flavour in favour of sweet. Try them all. Look for a variety that has good disease resistance.…

Early to mid-autumn is planting time for daffodils, so check catalogues and websites or head down to the garden centre before the best varieties sell out. Plant in sun or partial shade, in clumps of 10-12 bulbs. Allow spacing of two or three times the diameter of the bulb between each, and plant at twice their own depth. Choice (and expensive) varieties can be planted in fives or even threes, then lifted and replanted after a year of bulking up. Plant up containers more tightly to create an intense display. Alternatively, go for a natural look by planting individually and in twos or threes more informally.…

P. vialii AGM Plant the orchid primula for startling late-spring spikes of bright-red and lilac. The buds are crimson, but the lowest ones open out to lilac blooms, giving a purple/red colour combination that is truly striking. Flowers: May-Jul. H: Up to 16in (40cm). Primula Gold-laced Group The flowers of this polyanthus-type are curious. Each petal is either dark-red or chocolate-brown, but beautifully edged in gold. Deadhead assiduously and plants will produce blooms for longer. Flowers: Feb-Apr. H: 6-9in (15-23cm). P. sikkimensis AGM A smaller version of the Himalayan cowslip, featuring soft, sulphur-yellow flowers. Highly variable – you may find that some plants grow taller or shorter than the norm, or produce flowers that are larger, or paler. Flowers: May/Jun. H: 16in (40cm). P.…

Polyanthus ‘Crescendo Mixed’ Viewed as the original winter-hardy polyanthus, with uniform clusters of flowers in a wide range of colours, all on tall, central stems. Plant outdoors Sept-Nov. Good resistance to disease. Flowers: Feb-May. H: 6in (15cm). Primrose ‘Candy Mixed’ Single blooms in dusky, deep-pastel shades of mainly blue, pink and cream. Plant outdoors during Sept/Oct. Bred for weather tolerance, this strain will sail through the harshest of winters. Flowers: Mar-Jun. H: 6in (15cm).…

Plant bulbs of Reticulata, Dutch and snake’s head irises this month or next; check the packets for planting depths and distances. Perennials including Siberian irises, I. foetidissima and I. pseudacorus can be planted now; or wait until spring. Be sure to choose the right type of iris for the soil and situation. With all irises, deadheading will help prolong flowering. The only exception to this is I. foetidissima, the flowers of which should be left to develop into colourful autumn-to-winter berries. Divide perennial types every three or four years as the clumps become crowded.…

Q What is this plant? Ian Mitchell, via email A This is a British wildflower with hooked seeds called Geum rivale, also known as water avens. Romping in moist soil, its appealing cup-shaped pink blooms enchant us in summer. Q Please can you ID this shrub? Janet Drinkwater, via email A This is Leycesteria formosa, also called heasant berry or Himalayan honeysuckle. It is a hardy, vigorous, non-evergreen shrub that is easy to grow. It is at its best in partial shade. It produces berries in autumn, which are loved by birds, and self-seeds easily. Q What is this beetle on my runner beans? Catherine Cosgrove, London A The ‘exotic’ creature exploring your runner beans is a southern green shield bug nymph. Ultimately, after several moults and metamorphoses, it turns…

ANYONE who owns a greenhouse will tell you how brilliant they are for prolonging your growing time. Some will also tell you Wizard of Oz-like stories of greenhouses snatched by high winds and dashed to pieces. Most of us know to shut greenhouse doors and windows securely if high winds are forecast, but you can’t keep the wind out if a glass or clear plastic pane is broken or missing. If the wind does get in, such an opening the whole structure can ‘blow’. Measuring up Fixing missing or broken glazing panels is easy. Most are secured using ‘W’ clips, whether they’re glass or plastic. Also, each panel overlaps the one below, so if you’re replacing a pane in the middle or bottom row you’ll need to remove the ones…

Step by step 1 Remove overlapping panes above broken one. Pull top leg of ‘W’ clip out of frame groove with pliers while pressing centre loop. Remove clips in opposite pairs. 2 Remove ‘W’ clips around broken pane, and any glass. Clean frame edges, check seals, replace if necessary. Set two ‘Z’ clips on edge of frame below, unless it’s at base. 3 Seat new pane on ‘Z’ clips on pane below (or base of frame). Fix with ‘W’ clips. With centre loop pressing on pane edge, hook top leg into frame groove, then lower leg. 4 Repeat on each corner, so the pane is held in place securely by four ‘W’ clips. Fit in opposite pairs, left, right, left, right, to avoid pane being pushed to one side’.…

WEEDS can creep into even the most well-maintained gardens and can be a nuisance to remove. To help you reclaim your garden from pesky weeds, Roundup is giving AG readers the chance to win a Roundup Telescopic Wand, plus Total and Path gels. The Roundup Gel Wand extends up to 86cm (34in), meaning you can get to weeds no matter where they are, leaving your garden beautifully weed-free. Using just one hand, and at the click of a button, you can release the precise amount of gel needed to target the weeds without risk to other nearby plants. We have one bundle to give away, worth £32.50. How to enter Send your name and address on the back of a postcard to Roundup Draw (14 September), Amateur Gardening, Pinehurst 2,…