Innholdsfortegnelse for 19-Oct-2019 i Amateur Gardening

HERE in the South of England we were lucky enough to enjoy an Indian summer that helped prolong the real thing by several weeks. However, now autumn is truly upon us, with shorter chillier days when evening’s dews take longer to shift and the garden seems to have a constant cloak of dampness. This isn’t so bad on breezy days because moving air helps to dry things out a little, but on still days the moisture lingers from sunrise to sunset, even when the temperatures are mild. Problems can develop in the warmth and wet, because they create perfect conditions for fungal diseases and loitering slugs and snails. You can help thwart these problems by improving ventilation around your garden – removing weeds and dead annuals and pruning once plants…

1 Cut away the scruffy long grass at the edge of beds. It’s an instant way of smartening up the garden and gets rid of lurking pests. 2 Although we always say leave some spent perennials standing to leave seeds and shelter for birds and insects, cut off rotting and damaged ones. 3 Removing dead summer annuals allows a healthier airflow around perennial and winter plants, and removes a hideaway for pests and diseases. 4 Keep on weeding, as weeds will keep growing through winter, especially if it’s mild.…

Check any semi-ripe and softwood cuttings taken this summer. Opening the propagator lid or bag they were sealed in lets in air, improving ventilation and helping to reduce the likelihood mould developing. If there are signs of grey, fluffy mould, or cuttings have died, either remove the entire cutting or pinch off affected leaves. Check the compost is still damp, and water lightly if necessary. Some of my pelargonium cuttings have started to mould, not helped by the wooden sticks used to hold their plastic bag away from the leaves. I removed the infected plants and also the posts, replacing them with metal labels that should stay clean.…

1 Start by removing residual rust, sap and soil by carefully scouring with wire wool or a stiff brush. 2 Remove sticky plant residues and disease spores by cleaning blades with detergent or a sterilising agent such as Jeyes Fluid. 3 Hone secateur blades so they cut easily and cleanly, reducing the risk of splintering wood and damaging plants. 4 Keep secateurs moving freely by oiling the moving parts. Wipe off any excess with a clean cloth and use it to rust-proof the blades.…

1 Always buy potting composts by volume, never by weight – the latter just indicates water content. 2 Black plastic pots will last much longer for reuse in the garden, being resistant to ultraviolet light breakdown. 3 Check out seasonal summer bedding plants still in flower and note them down to aid choice next spring. Calliope geraniums are proving very long- and free-flowering. 4 Long-flowering bedding plants will need more feeding to keep the blooms coming.…

POPPIES are some of the most evocative garden flowers, whether you’re thinking about blowsy perennial Papaver orientale varieties, the blood-red blooms commemorating those killed in conflict, or cheeky little Iceland poppies that produce flowers in sunset shades. This week’s free seeds are of Papaver rhoeas, also known as the common poppy – although there is very little common about this striking variety. ‘Dawn Chorus’, a hardy annual that flowers in late spring, produces delightful pastel blooms on upright 2ft (60cm) stems. Popular with pollinators, the ruffled petals unfurl in shades of reds, purples and pinks, and are charmingly reminiscent of delicate tissue paper or a ballerina’s tutu. Start them now and they will bloom next year, a little earlier than if you sow the seeds next spring. They do best…

WHAT are our most productive garden crops? In terms of calories per acre, the starchy carbohydrate potatoes produce is the winner. Cereals are close behind, though seldom grown by gardeners; sweetcorn can give good returns; and for vitamins or bulk, carrots and cabbages are excellent. However, if it’s fats and proteins you need, then plants are generally not as valuable as animal products. “If you want more protein, nuts are the answer” In the modern world, few of us are willing to grow our own bunnies or chickens for the table (and I’ll probably be trolled for just mentioning this). So if you want more of your own fats and proteins, where can you turn? Well, nuts are the answer. Full of goodness, nuts have the advantage of growing on…

REGULAR readers of my column will know how much I enthuse about herbs – carefully used, their unique flavours will really elevate a dish from distinctly average to mind-blowing signature – isn’t it brilliant how a plant can do that? “Even hardy perennials can be forced into growth” But what can you do with your herbs during their dormant months? Well, first of all, understand that they don’t need to be dormant! Evergreens such as thyme, rosemary, sage and bay will deliver flavour-packed leaves all year round, and even the hardy perennial herbs that would normally die back down for winter (such as oregano and mint) can be forced into growth indoors (see my projects on page 20). Propagation, too, can be addressed during the winter months: division, layers and…

FANCY growing a little evergreen shrub that rewards you with blueberry-sized fruits that taste of minty strawberries? Well then, Ugni molinae is the plant for you! Native to Chile (as the name implies), this little plant looks a lot like a lax, open box bush. Come spring, however, it bears numerous white, fragrant, bell-shaped flowers. Being self-fertile, only one plant is needed to obtain fruit and these ripen in late summer and early autumn, which fills the fresh berry gap nicely when many other bush fruits have long since been harvested. If you have free-draining soil or live in a mild area, plant the shrub in the ground in a sheltered, sunny spot (this month is the ideal time to do it). For any of you with heavy soil or…

With the exception of waterlogged soil, Japanese anemones are tolerant of most growing conditions, but they prefer a moisture-retentive yet free-draining, reasonably fertile, chalky growing medium. In good soil many of the robust species and cultivars will spread quickly by underground stolons to form sizeable clumps. As a general rule, plant in partial shade. However several, including A. hupehensis and its cultivars, are equally happy in full sun, as long as they are moist at the roots. Plant while dormant (Oct-Mar); they may take a year to reach their potential. They are best left undisturbed and require little attention except to cut back old flower stems. You can propagate Japanese anemones by division in spring, but plants tend to suffer a check in growth. For new plants it’s better to…

Allium ‘Eros’ Bred from the dainty A. unifolium , this recent introduction produces its small umbels of star-shaped, lilac flowers in early summer. Short for an allium, it works well planted among low-growing, spreading perennials like hardy cranesbills. H: 1ft (30cm). Camassia leichtlinii ‘Semi-plena’ A rarely grown semi-double form of camassia, with classy creamy-white double-petalled blooms that stud the tall, upright flower spikes. Flowers in June and, unusually for a bulb, requires moist soil to thrive. H: 3ft (90cm). Dichelostemma ida-maia Also known as the firecracker, this striking bulb is native to California, where it is pollinated by hummingbirds. In June umbels of tube-like red flowers, their reflexed tips in lime green/cream, nod above grassy foliage. H: 11/2ft (45cm). Fritillaria imperialis (Rascal Series) New…

Dig a square hole to help the roots spread out into the surrounding soil. Sprinkle mycorrhizal fungi (Rootgrow) in the planting hole and on the root ball to assist root development. For containers use John Innes No. 3 rather than multipurpose compost – it will release nutrients and moisture more slowly and is heavier, providing more stability in windy weather. Scrape away the top 2in (5cm) of compost in containers in spring, replacing it with fresh.…

Why are my cuttings mouldy? Q I have just been to look at my rosemary cuttings, which are in pots under polythene bags. The top surface of compost is going mouldy. What should I do now? They have only been in the garage under the bags for just two days now. Judy Case, via email A I suspect that the mould forming around your rosemary cuttings indicates that the garage is too cold. Ideally, move them to warm, south-facing windowsill indoors and use a stick to disturb the mould and discourage its growth. Then sprinkle grit over the compost to stop mould reforming. Have you enclosed the cuttings in a clear plastic bag or consigned them to a propagator? Both help to retain moisture around shoots and speed rooting. When…

TULIP bulbs are for sale everywhere now. As well as bulb and plant catalogues, you can buy them in garden centres, plant shops, food shops, outdoor markets, supermarkets and even the petrol station. I’ve previously looked at tulips in general, but this subject is vast and, as now is planting time, it’s a convenient moment to examine the world of the more unusual types. These include, but are not confined to, the fringed, parrot (right), lily-flowered and species tulips. Spring bulbs are generally planted from August-November, but tulips are best planted from October-Christmas. If planted early, there is an increased risk of fungal disease, and/or frost and slug damage. Shaped tulips THERE are 15 tulip Divisions. The ‘normal’ types, you might say, are the Darwin hybrids, with their conventional egg…

IN their search for new colours, tulip breeders have been known to expose bulbs to Röntgen rays (a variant of X-rays). It is a process referred to as mutation induction, and the dosage is very small. The popular parrot tulip ‘Estella Rijnveld’ (white, overlaid with irregular streaks of flaming red, pictured) is a result of this process. ‘Professor Röntgen’ is a beautiful orange parrot tulip, with red and green markings on the petals. It is named after Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen who, in 1895, discovered X-rays and later developed Röntgen rays.…

AFTER the last russet leaf has fallen to the ground, gardeners can look forward to a winter of bold evergreens, shy winter flowers, and colour from stem and bark. Among the best for showy wands of growth are those shrubs belonging to the cornus or dogwood tribe. Because the richest tones are delivered by stems made in the current season, most of these are pruned almost to the ground every spring, a process known as ‘stooling’. Energy is directed into strong new shoots growing almost vertically during summer, ready to brighten our plots after leaf fall. Yet should a more branching and natural shape be required, plants are thinned by a third instead and will then put on a show of modest flowers in late spring, followed by porcelain berries.…

MANY gardeners, away at work all day, only see their gardens at evenings and weekends. In this case, flowers that close or droop by late afternoon fail to give good value, such as gazanias (above left), helianthemums and linums. On the other hand, some flowers look their best at dusk, including Bartonia aurea [Mentzelia lindleyi], flowers June-August, scented nicotianas such as N. Alata (above centre) and N. suaveolens, and oenotheras. In the south, on a very sheltered wall, or in a greenhouse anywhere, the convolvulus-like white flowers of the climbing moonflower (above right) Calonyction aculeatum [Ipomoea alba] open at night. Late-summer-flowering buddleia, 7-8ft (2.1-2.4m) tall, include ‘Empire Blue’ (violet-blue), ‘Royal Red’ (red-purple) and ‘Peace’ (white). The views, information and opinions expressed during this series of extracts from past issues of…

Do ✓ Track down for seeds paper bags collecting . My local greengrocer sells me a few . ✓ Dry seeds thoroughly ’ . If you ve been using the oven for cooking, wait until it has cooled down and is comfortable to touch and just warm – not hot! P op the seeds in with the door ajar for an hour ✓ If you have a seed-storage bo ’ x that s not air and moisture tight, put opened seed pack - ets in plastic bags and seal the tops. Keep a sachet of silica gel in the bo x to absorb moisture. Don’t ✗ Tie a over the head of plastic bag plants when saving seeds as this will seal in moisture . ✗Leave and beans for too…

Keep pond water free of excess debris and algae-forming nutrients by cutting back fading plants. Leave the plants pond-side so any beasties can escape back to the water, then compost them. Scoop out fallen autumn leaves or place a net above the water to catch them. Lift tender aquatic plants and overwinter them in trays of deep mud or damp sand – even a bucket of water will help see them through. Remove, clean and store filters and lights, and test your water to check that the nutrient balance is correct.…

WINTER can be damaging for lawns, but prompt work in autumn can help them through the worst. Toadstools may erupt if, as happened to us, there are the roots of a dead or felled tree underneath. Although unsightly, they soon die back and will stop appearing once the woody matter is eaten up. This is your last chance to scarify the lawn (rake up thatch and dead grass to let more air down to the roots) and it is too late to sow new grass in all but the mildest areas. Mow on mild, dry days with the blades raised. Don’t tread on worm casts. Let them dry and brush them away with a broom or the back of a rake.…

1 Fill a 5in (12cm) pot with seed and cutting compost, mix it with vermiculite and dampen thoroughly. 2 Remove 6in (15cm) lengths of this year’s healthy growth, cutting just above a bud. 3 Remove side shoots and pinch out top growth and any remaining leaves. 4 Insert the cut ends into hormone rooting compound to help the formation of a robust root system. 5 Insert the cuttings into the dampened compost mix, around the edge of the pot, and gently firm them in.…

IN 1957, Prime Minister Harold Macmillan said at a rally that most Britons “have never had it so good”. That statement is just as relevant today when you consider the dazzling choice of plants we now have available to make our gardens gorgeous. And yet the producers continue to develop and refine the varieties to try to make them more colourful or longer-lasting. In late summer, I visited a seed trial at Mr Fothergill’s trial grounds in Suffolk to see what new offerings they had on show to entice us in 2020. It is incredible how much effort goes into creating new and improved varieties of plants, and these trials are the final stage in a long process to determine how these new varieties will fare in ‘the field’. It…

YOU would like to think that after a summer spent battling pests in the garden (or letting predatory wildlife do the job for you) there would be some let-up in autumn. Sadly not, for this is the season to protect your fruit trees from certain moths and their voracious caterpillars. The culprits are winter moth caterpillars and their grubs, which attack apple, plum, pear and cherry trees. The little grubs munch holes in leaves, blossom and developing fruitlets, and can severely damage and weaken a tree, affecting cropping. The umbrella name ‘winter moths’ covers a range of species that emerge from pupae in the soil and lay eggs on the trees between November and May. The wingless females crawl up the trunks to lay their eggs on the tree branches…

20: Conifer Show: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 21: Free Gardening Advice for RHS Members: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr 21: Success With House Plants: RHS Wisley 25: Hedging Your Bets: RHS Wisley 25: Tree Selection and Planting: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org. uk/gardens/rosemoor 25: Free Gardening Advice for RHS Members: RHS Harlow Carr 26-27: Pumpkin Carving: RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall 28: Free Gardening Advice for RHS Members: RHS Harlow Carr 31: Wisley After Dark: RHS Wisley November 1: Free Gardening Advice for RHS Members: RHS Harlow Carr 3: Creative…

1 The longest-keeping apples will hang until now, but they need picking and storing before hard frosts or birds damage them. 2 Cover carrots with shredded paper or straw and a plastic sheet, so you can dig them when the ground is frozen. 3 Buy some point-of-lay pullets (not older birds) as these will start to produce eggs once they have settled down. 4 An Indian summer is getting unlikely, so put away garden furniture after wiping down, waxing or oiling where appropriate.…

Indoors: Grow some herbs on a well-lit kitchen windowsill. This allows you to sow annuals, and it stops perennials dying back for winter. Sow seeds of basil, shiso, coriander, rocket, dill and chervil – a small pinch per pot – and harvest sprigs of the resulting seedlings all winter. Move small pots of parsley, oregano, mint and chives into warmth indoors. This will ensure you get bursts of lush, green growth for months. Outdoors: Smaller hardier herbs such as sage, rosemary and thyme will thrive in a long trough, ready for harvests through the winter. Choose a windowbox that has ample drainage holes (herbs dislike winter wet). Buy a small bag of John Innes No3 and some grit. Lay a blend of grit and compost in the base of your…

THE knee-jerk response to autumn-sowing these two crops is often ‘no’ – but I advise you to firmly hold that knee down! The advantage of sowing now instead of spring is earlier maturity, plus a sizeable root system that gives impressive yields. I often pull up my overwintered peas and beans in late May/early June once they’re spent, ready with tender sweetcorn and squash transplants to jump into their grave – talk about using your plot’s bed space to the max! Use hardy varieties and avoid winter waterlogging. The go-to autumn-sowing broad bean has always been ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ (try newer ‘De Monica’ and ‘Luz de Otono’, too). For peas, opt for round-seeded varieties (these are hardier) such as ‘Douce Provence’ and ‘Meteor’. On sandy soils, you can sow direct (cover…

THIS aniseed-flavoured crop adds versatility to your vegetable garden. There’s no other veg with such a punchy, recognisable flavour and, provided you know how to use it in the kitchen, it will soon become a summer and autumn staple. I like to quarter and then braise mine, or dice finely as a base for seafood risottos. I’ve also had fun fermenting it as a pickle for salads and sandwiches. The key to sizeable ‘bulbs’ (which are actually swollen leaf bases) is a steady, prolonged supply of moisture and, if you’ve been supplying that, you should now be gazing upon plump harvests topped with a froth of fern-like greenery. I’ve found this crop relatively hardy – although eating quality is compromised by a harsh frost, with outer leaf bases becoming scarred.…

WE are fast approaching the time when big decisions need to be made. Will you cut back your perennials now or wait until spring? It is neither right nor wrong to choose autumn or spring to rid your perennials of their dead stems. However, the debate runs and runs between gardeners as to what time of year you should set to work. As I have a four-acre open garden to put to bed I need to get cracking now, otherwise I’ll never get it done before spring! By setting to work so quickly I miss out on seasonal interest. There is no denying that a mixed bed of perennials displaying empty seedheads and decorated with cobwebs is a sight to behold on an autumn morning. This is argument enough to…

Narcissus ‘Peach Cobbler’ A striking daffodil with double flowers made up of three or more layers of creamy-white outer petals and, rather than a trumpet, a central cluster of shorter petals in peachy tones. Flowers: Mar-Apr. H: 16in (40cm). Narcissus ‘Exotic Mystery’ This particularly unusual cultivar has a flattened central cup that’s deeply divided, forming what looks like a second set of petals. Unfurling from April to May, flowers start off pale green and mature to a soft yellow. H: 14in (36cm). Narcissus ‘Mother Duck’ A cyclamineus type daffodil featuring dainty flower heads and swept-back petals in a pale yellow with darker edges, giving a striped effect. Forms neat clumps that are perfect for the front of a border. Flowers: Mar-Apr. H: 10in (25cm).…

Plant deeply – three times the depth of the bulb. Shallow planting results in a dwindling number of flowers each year. Most bulbs need good drainage, so add grit when planting. If squirrels eat your tulip bulbs, plant them in aquatic plant pots, cover the tops with chicken wire and sink the pots into the ground at the correct depth for the bulbs. Remove seed pods when the flowers fade, and allow foliage to die back naturally.…

Kolkwitzia amabilis ‘Pink Cloud’ AGM A graceful deciduous shrub, also known as the beauty bush, that is covered in masses of small, trumpet-like pink flowers with yellow throats. It blooms from May to June and is unfussy about soil as long as it’s well-drained. HxS: 10x13ft (3x4m). Rhododendron luteum This sweetly-scented shrub has yellow, funnel-shaped blooms from May to June, a light, airy structure and, in autumn, fiery autumnal leaf colour. It needs moist but well-drained acid soil and is happiest grown in partial shade. H&S: 13ft (4m). Enkianthus campanulatus AGM Attractive, but rarely grown, Enkianthus campanulatus thrives in acid-neutral soil, in a cool, lightly shaded spot. Clusters of delicate, bell-shaped, creamy-pink blooms emerge in May, while the fabulously colourful foliage adds autumn appeal. H&S: 111/2ft…

How should I overwinter pelargoniums? Q What is the best way to overwinter geranium/pelargonium plants? I have successfully overwintered plants in the greenhouse in their window boxes, but not dry rooted from the garden. Geoffrey Gauntlet, via email A After lifting your geraniums (pelargoniums) now, or when frosts threaten, shorten them to 4in (10cm) from the base and set them in pots. If they are too large for conveniently sized pots, use a sharp knife to divide them into chunky, well-rooted portions and overwinter them in a frost-free greenhouse or well-lit spare room. Keep the compost dryish to avoid grey mould attacking leaves and stems. If the shoots grow too long, reduce them by half. Alternatively, wrap them, foliage and all, in sheets of newspaper and consign them to a…

Why is my olive tree not fruiting? Q My potted olive produced flowers this year, though they mysteriously disappeared. Is there any chance it can fruit and what can I do to help it along? Gemma Welbeck, Chester A While walking along the seafront in Worthing last month, I noticed green olive fruits on a young plant poking tall stems beyond a wall. This vision tells us a lot. Olives prefer a mild climate, and while they need two months of temperatures below 50ºF (10ºC) to set fruit, prolonged periods below 45ºF (7ºC) can put them off. Temperatures below 14ºF (-10ºC) can cause bark to split and rot to set in, so in colder areas, olives are usually grown in containers to bring under glass or are given a protective…

TULIP break virus (known as TBV) is one of five viruses that cause dramatic effects in the flower colours of tulips. TBV was, in part, the cause of the popularity of tulips during the 17th century Dutch period known as Tulipmania. One of the other viruses is the ‘Rembrandt tulip break virus’ (ReTBV), which has caused a whole division of tulips to be banned from commercial production, for fear of spread. Rembrandt tulips (Division 9) were subjects popular for painting by the Dutch Old Masters, but because scientists eventually realised that the colour breaks were due to a virus, these tulips may now only be kept by private collectors to keep them from becoming extinct.…

THE Black Tulip is a historical romance by Alexandre Dumas (of The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Muskateers fame). It centres on the Dutch city of Haarlem, where a reward is offered to the first person who can produce a truly black tulip. Actually, but both true blue and jet black have so far been impossible to achieve. As far as black is concerned, ‘The Queen of the Night’ is the variety that is as close to black as a flower can get, yet really it is a very dark maroon-purple.…

Choose an open, sunny bed for the best stem colours, though partial shade is tolerated well. Dogwoods grown for stems are tough and unfussy compared with those forming decorative bracts. They do love moist but well-drained soils, yet they will grow almost anywhere. To plant, make sure roots are well-moistened and teased from a constricted shape. In groups, set individuals 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m) apart. With small plants, it is especially important to keep them well weeded and watered during droughts for the first year. Prune all stems to the base, within a short spur of older wood in March, or thin by one third for a branching shape. Propagate by hardwood cuttings taken in autumn.…

Car Mini Countryman Triumph Herald Ford Cortina Rolls-Royce Approx car length 10-11ft (3-3.4m) 13ft (4m) 14ft (4.3m) 17-20ft (5-6m) Turning circle 28ft (8½m) 25ft (7½m) 30ft (9m) 38-49ft (11½-15m)…

THERE’S a thrill to saving seeds from flowers in your garden or crops on your vegetable plot, and growing a new batch of plants from them the following year. They don’t always come up ‘true’ or exactly the same as the parent plants because they are open pollinated by any passing bee or bug, but it’s still fun. Although many hardy annuals and perennials will self-seed and pop up unexpectedly in the flowerbed along with the weeds in spring, they don’t always grow where you want them to, so why not save the seed and you can decide where they grow. How to collect seed Advice for saving most flower seeds is generally the same. Wait until the plant you want to harvest has plump seed pods and the foliage…

1 Pick a plant that has finished flowering, set seeds and is just beginning to turn brown. Pop a paper bag over the seedheads and tie it tight around the stem. 2 Cut the stem off the plant at the base, turn the plant over and hang it in a warm, dry and airy spot for two-three weeks. Then take it down and shake it gently. 3 Untie the bag, reach in and squeeze or shake seed pods to release any seeds left in them, then remove the plant, compost it and tip the seeds onto a plate. 4 Gently blow away chaff, then spread the seeds out on absorbent paper indoors to dry for a week or two. When dry, seal in small plastic bags or jars.…

CROWN imperials thrive in deep soils with a neutral-to-alkaline pH (the same conditions that cabbages like). If your soil is very sandy or a sticky clay, then plant in large tubs containing John Innes No3 compost instead. Ignore the advice on the packs and plant 12in (30cm) deep in a sunny spot. Add plenty of garden compost to the soil before, and apply more as a mulch over the top each winter. They will fail to flower in their second year if too shallow, or if the soil that surrounds them sits wet through winter.…

1 If roses have black spot, collect and burn or bin all fallen leaves and cut back affected stems. Botrytis is another fungal problem that thrives in still, humid conditions, so think of ways you can improve ventilation around plants. 2 Warm and damp conditions are perfect for slugs and snails. Pick them off plants or drown them in slug traps. Welcome hedgehogs that will gobble them up as they fatten up before hibernation. 3 Bird diseases thrive on birdbaths and feeders and are quickly spread by flocks of hungry birds. Refill birdbaths with fresh water each day and wash birdfeeders in a mild disinfectant solution once a week. 4 Houseplants aren’t immune to problems. Check for scale insects, mealybugs and glasshouse red spider mite. Wipe leaves to remove pests…

MOST plants are shutting up shop for winter, which makes the weeks between now and late winter (just before buds start to swell and open) the perfect time for propagating climbers, roses, shrubs, trees and fruit bushes. We do so via hardwood cuttings, a slow but simple way of making more plants. They can be rooted in the ground or in a clay pot of cuttings compost mixed with sharp sand or perlite. With a little care, they should be ready to pot on by next autumn. The cuttings should be grown from healthy lengths of this year’s growth that has had time to mature through summer. If you are rooting cuttings in the soil, dig a trench in a sheltered spot and fork in some well-rotted organic matter. Line…

1 Things get lost, broken and spilt in an untidy shed, so make sure there are enough shelves and plenty of room to hang things off the floor. 2 Look after tools and accessories. Run a spade through oily sand to remove muck and make sure outside taps are well insulated. 3 Be economical and more environmentally friendly by washing and reusing pots. Revitalise crusty gloves with a quick wash. 4 Check that your shed is sound and waterproof. Remove algae before preserving and make sure its metalwork is in good order. Chemical safety: Make sure all your garden chemicals are stored in their original containers and are safely out of the reach of children and pets. Keep them somewhere cool and dry.…

WE learn as much (if not more) from the visitors, as we do from exhibitors at garden and horticultural exhibitions. Two recent trade shows were very well attended, where recycling and sustainability were high on the agenda. Gardeners have always been great recyclers as any allotment visit will clearly illustrate and gardening manufacturers are certainly majoring on their green credentials. Hado black polythene lay flat pots have always been made from recycled materials, as are all H. Smith black plastic containers and cell trays. POSIpot has thick paper pots so plants can be taken out of the plastic at point of sale to allow reuse of rigid containers. “Plants can be taken out of plastic at point of sale” Melcourt is introducing its Bag for Life, so gardeners can get…

Box tree moths lay eggs between April and October, and the caterpillars devastate large areas of box, protecting themselves under dense silken webbing. Treating the caterpillars with a chemical is possible but potentially ineffective as it is hard to penetrate their webs. If you don’t fancy hand-picking caterpillars, pheromone traps that catch the males so they can’t start the next generation are a good control. In 2020 the garden brand Vitax will launch its Box Tree Moth Trap, which lasts for up to 12 weeks and is ideal for organic gardeners. Because the moths are contained in a box and there are no sticky surfaces, the trap is also safe around birds as inquisitive fledglings won’t become stuck to it. The trap will cost £22.99.…

Our old friend the mole has returned and while I don’t want to harm him (or her), I’d rather it created its soily mounds elsewhere. The problem with moles is that they tunnel past plant roots leaving them exposed and vulnerable. Their molehills and the depressions caused by their burrows leave the ground uneven, which can lead to trips and sprained ankles. There are various ways of deterring moles. I use Defenders Mole Repellant Scatter Granules, or you can buy sonic devices that you peg in the lawn. Another alternative is to plant caper spurge – apparently moles detest the smell of its roots. If you do plant this, remember to remove the flowerheads before it sets seed everywhere.…

I HAVE had a letter from Pauline, who is overrun with earwigs. It all began last year when she noticed that earwigs were eating the pollen and eggs in her two bee boxes. The earwigs have now begun to attack the flowerbeds as well. Pauline and her Best Beloved have tried straw-filled pots on top of bamboo canes, “but the little blighters don’t use them”, she writes. Pauline is currently on a nightly hunt with her torch and bucket and so far she’s found 200 earwigs. She’s doing the right thing because earwigs are nocturnal – in the daytime they hide in dark crevices. “Earwig may be a corruption of ear wing” Sometimes, when I’m gardening, I find an earwig on my clothes. I also find them tucked into washing…

1 Division: Try this quick way to bulk up clump-forming herbs such as chives and oregano. Slice congested clumps into sections, discard any old woody pieces, and pot up healthy sections or plant elsewhere on the plot. 2 Root cuttings: This is an excellent way to rejuvenate mints. Gently fork up plump, healthy lengths of root. Lay on a tray of gritty compost, cover with a further 1in (2½cm) layer, water and place in a cold frame until spring. 3 Layers: Many herbs (like thyme and sage) naturally root where their wandering stems lay on the soil surface. Gently scrape away the soil, separate the layer from the main plant using secateurs, pot up and water well.…

1 Autumn-planted crowns (such as that of ‘Guelph Millennium’ above) are sold bare-root in larger garden centres. To avoid desiccation, plant out as soon as possible. Pick a sunny, weed-free site with free-draining soil. 2 Dig a 1ft (30cm)-wide domed row, roughly 5in (8cm) deep at the edges and 2in (5cm) deep in the centre. Sprinkle over a general-purpose granular fertiliser. Carefully spread the crowns out centrally over the dome. 3 Space the crowns at least 18in (45cm) apart, then cover over with earth until you reach soil level, firming gently as you go. Irrigate the row for at least two hours with a sprinkler to settle plants in, then keep weed-free.…

Echinacea purpurea This clump former offers late daisy-like pink summer flowers. Once faded, the seedheads are robust and can cope with harsh weather. Perfect for a sunny spot. Eryngium giganteum The spiny blue/silver summer flowers may fade in colour by the end of summer, but their shape will last most winters. Gorgeous with a dusting of frost. Phlomis russeliana In summer the stems have whorls of pale-yellow flowers. This unusual arrangement of flowers looks stunning when sprinkled with frost. H: 2½ft (80cm). Angelica archangelica A robust plant perfect for the back of a border. The umbels of yellow flowers hold up well in once they have gone to seed. Ideal for a sunny spot. H: 5ft (1½m). Dipsacus fullonum The common teasel might be a biennial weed to some, but…

Triteleia laxa ‘Silver Queen’ Resembling a dainty agapanthus, the umbels of papery white flowers with yellow-green ribs hang at the end of delicate stems. Good for cutting. Plant in a well-drained spot in full sun. Flowers: May-Jun. H: 1½ft (45cm). Bellevalia pycnantha ‘Green Pearl’ Closely related to muscari: they share their lush grass-like foliage and tightly packed flower clusters; but it’s the green blooms that make this a standout bulb. Try with dwarf white narcissi for a cool spring look. H: 1ft (30cm).…

Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’ AGM Most lilacs develop into substantial shrubs – some with treelike proportions. However ‘Palibin’ is a slow-growing cultivar that stays more compact yet produces masses of lilac-pink, scented flowers. A good choice for small spaces – it will even grow in a container. H&S: 5ft (1½m). Philadelphus ‘Belle Étoile’ AGM For late spring/ early summer fragrance the mock orange is hard to beat. This variety has open white flowers with a splash of raspberry in the centres and a strong citrus scent. Once established, remove one third of the woody stems after flowering. HxS: 5x8ft (1½x2½m). Daphne x transatlantica Eternal Fragrance AGM This long-flowering daphne will bloom between April and November, but the main flush comes in…

Q What is the black substance on my plant leaves? Angela Doyle, via email A This is sooty mould, a fungus that breeds on honeydew excreted by sap-sucking pests. Wipe it off and treat the plants with insecticide. Once the mould’s sticky food source has gone, it will disappear. Q What is this pretty flower that’s appeared in the garden? Jerry Tressick, Cornwall A This is apple of Peru or shoo-fly plant (Nicandra physalodes). A native of Peru, it is prized for its white-centred blue flowers and balloon-like seed pods that are excellent for dried arrangements. Once this annual appears in your garden, it disperses lots of seeds that withstand winter and germinate next spring. Q How can I stop birds digging around in freshly laid mulch? Alan Mason, Lincoln…

Select four or five main stems to grow longer and mature, so they can flower and fruit during their second year. Shorter, unwanted stems should be nipped back to push nourishment into the longer stems. Whether potting on or planting out in spring, make sure that the roots are moist and congested roots are teased out. Very low temperatures will put olives in danger – in colder regions, move under glass and/or cover with fleece and insulate pot sides.…

OVER this night a violent extratropical cyclone raged across southern England. Now referred to as the ‘Great Storm’, it caused the deaths of 22 people, and felled an estimated 15 million trees, including many ancient, historic and celebrated specimens. Many of us woke up to scenes of devastation. Of course, we can’t let the then TV weatherman of the time, Michael Fish, off the hook (pun intended). The clip of him saying: “A lady phoned in to the BBC to say that there was a hurricane on the way. Well, there isn’t…” has been shown countless times. Technically he was correct, because it wasn’t a hurricane, but for many it matters not what it was called, just the awfulness of what happened that night.…

Tulips are in the lily family. One of the craziest tulips ever is ‘Green Wave’ (pictured). A sport [genetic mutation] of the viridiflora tulip ‘Groenland’, its distorted petals twist and writhe, displaying green, pink and white markings in equal number. One of the shortest tulips, at just 4in (10cm) high, is the species Tulipa tarda. Known as the ‘late tulip’, its star-shaped flowers comprise clear-yellow petals boldly tipped in pure white. Don’t miss our special tulip issue on 2 November (on sale 29 October).…

Acer x conspicuum ‘Red Flamingo’ This showy snake-bark maple resembles a variegated hibiscus in summer. Leaf fall reveals white-striped bark and pinkish red shoots. Enjoys a sheltered spot and grows slowly to around 20ft (6m). Salix alba var. vitellina ‘Britzensis’ A white willow with brilliant orange-red stems that glow in the landscape. Good for stooling or pollarding, as growth arising from a short trunk is elevated beyond the reach of deer. Rubus cockburnianus The white-stemmed bramble makes a stand of ghostly arching winter stems covered with white bloom, to 10ft (3m tall). ‘Goldenvale’ is shorter at around 6ft (1.8m) with gold summer foliage. Salix x sepulcralis ‘Erythroflexuosa’ This willow makes a small…

Open pollinated Plants pollinated by any passing insect that may be carrying pollen from many different varieties of plant. Closed-pollinated plants are grown in isolation and pollination is controlled so only pollen from plants of the same variety fertilise flowers. Chaff Bits of seed husk and other debris that gets mixed in with seeds. To remove it, put the dry seeds on a large plate while blowing gently over the top. Silica gel A very porous, inert desiccant that absorbs and holds water.…

Nature looks after its own I WAS interested in the ‘A Gardener’s’ Miscellany’ (AG, 7 September) regarding organic gardening. I have argued for years that insects and slugs don’t need to be killed off by artificial means. If you destroy the slugs and snails, you kill off their predators such as the thrushes, hedgehogs and frogs. If you kill off greenfly, you starve the tits, finches and sparrows that take them to feed their chicks. Don’t spray – grow plants that don’t have rust or blackspot. Keep the plants you do have healthy. Grow patches of wildflowers where creatures can stop and feed and spread the pollen. Apart from the beauty of the flowers, you can enjoy the butterflies and bees and look forward to a bountiful harvest. Chose plants…

AS a teenager, I couldn’t afford expensive Eau de Cologne, so my scent of choice was the far more affordable ‘Pagan Man’. I only had the talc, but would dust rather than ‘splash it all over’ like Henry Cooper did in the Brut TV ads. No matter how much I powdered on, it never brought any luck with the ladies – maybe because they didn’t like the industrial lemon aroma… or maybe they just thought I looked like a ghost? Anyway, I was reminded of those happy days while planting the fist-sized bulbs of Fritillaria imperialis, as their scent is similarly cloying, earthy and on the wrong side of over-ripe. They’re commonly known as crown imperials – an apt name, as they smell like a Tudor Monarch that never washed,…