Innholdsfortegnelse for 4-Jan-2020 i Amateur Gardening

ANOTHER year is underway and, as is tradition, this is the time we wonder what the next 12 months may hold and vow to do our best to become kinder/healthier/richer (delete as appropriate). We can do the same with gardening too, standing by those vows to keep on top of essential jobs and tackle areas that need more care but somehow keep being sidelined by other, more rewarding jobs. One of my resolutions (as I think it was last year too…) is to tackle our rockery, which is in a state of disarray. Many of the key issues and concerns that took centre stage globally in 2019 – plastic overuse, climate change, financial worries, concerns raised in the State of Nature report – can all be translated to the way…

It goes without saying that you can’t garden with tools that aren’t fit for the job – so keep them clean and properly stored. Obviously it will save you money, because cared-for equipment lasts so much longer. The blades of secateurs, shears, saws and loppers are not only less keen when they are dirty and sticky with sap and wood shavings, and can also spread diseases if now cleaned after removing sickly growth. Clean and sharpen them after every use, keep your hoe sharp too so it can cut through weeds with ease. Dip spades buckets of oily sand to remove dirt and keep them sharp.…

THE greenhouse, mini greenhouse and coldframe are chocka with plants, seedlings and cuttings, as are several windowsills indoors. None of the plants will grow much for a few weeks, but they need regular checks to make sure they haven’t succumbed to pests, diseases and the cold. I visit the greenhouse every day, opening the door and window and keeping an eye on the plants. This is especially important during mild spells when plants may start back into growth, pests become active, and fungal diseases and mould increase in still, warm conditions. The same course of action applies to coldframes and mini greenhouses. Towards the end of winter, some sheltered tender perennials may put out flower buds. Pinch these out because the baby buds steal energy from the parent plant that…

IT’S been a pretty wet and miserable winter so far here in the south, but that’s no excuse for continually ignoring those nagging jobs that keep being postponed. We have a narrow border that contains two roses, a climber and a shrub. They are slightly misplaced, with the shrub being closer to a trellis than the climber, and switching them around has been on my to-do list for months. However, roses are prone to replant disease, a debilitating and potentially fatal condition thought to be caused by a build-up of soil pests and pathogens when the same variety of plant is continually grown in the same spot. So I want to ‘rest’ and replenish the soil before getting my roses back in. I lifted the roses and they are now…

EVERY year at this time, I have a go at forecasting the future for gardening, and have to tell you that the expression ‘Gardening is good for you’ will feature widely. You and I have known this for ages, but at last the world is waking up to the facts that being out in the fresh air absorbing vitamin A, exercising by gardening and growing your own healthy food are good for physical and mental well-being. Expect to see a decline in the number of big garden exhibits at national shows, including the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show. There will be fewer specialist nursery exhibitors in floral pavilions. The reason is quite simple: sufficient support has not been given to them in recent years, and increasingly they trade…

The last couple of years have taught us that we can’t rely on weather being ‘traditional’ any more. It would help if we could know what was going to happen – however, it’s the sheer randomness and, worse, the extremes that make planning difficult. We can’t do much about issues such as floods, but we can store more water in case of more droughts. Get some more butts now, and they’ll fill for free. Likewise, we can apply thicker mulches wherever practical, as this helps our plants do better come wet or dry. But in general, as we do not know what sort of coming spring and summer our gardens are about to experience, it’s best to spread the risks. The easiest way – with just a little more effort…

‘Nicola’: A second-early potato with yellow, waxy flesh. If left to mature, it makes a great salad potato. High yields, with good resistance to eelworm and scab. Tastes just as good cold as it does straight from the pan. ‘Sharpe’s Express’: A first-early, so likely to crop sooner than others I’ve mentioned here. Introduced at the turn of the 20th century, and still going strong today. White flesh with a floury texture if left to mature. ‘Jazzy’: Another second-early, and a relatively recent UK introduction (2014). The tubers are small but produced in quantity – a very good variety for container production. Sweet, creamy flavour.…

REAPERS, Scorpions, Nagas – if these names are familiar, then you’re officially an aficionado of the world’s hottest chilli peppers. You may have tried the sauces and watched the videos, and may now be the proud owner of some sizzling chilli seeds, so why am I reaching out to you in early January? Because these varieties, along with Habaneros and Scotch bonnets, are all derived from Capsicum chinense, a species that is slow to germinate and mature. Native to central America rather than (as the name suggests) China, the fruits of C. chinense often don’t start developing in the UK until late summer, and germination can take a full month. So sow now to guarantee those all-important fruits (½cm deep, 10 seeds per 9cm/3½in pot). Crucially, once sown, maintain a…

JUST so we’re clear from the start, I’m not suggesting you sow seeds of this plant on your plot. Hairy bittercress, a persistent annual weed, needs no encouragement. But wouldn’t it be satisfying to eat a plate of it, knowing how many gardening hours have been devoted to its removal? Botanically known as Cardamine hirsuta, you’d be doing yourself a favour by developing a taste for its consumption now. During winter, this hardy plant develops slowly, with the troublesome self-exploding seedpods (its method of spread) being few in number. Gather it before spring, and not only will you be harvesting a peppery garnish for salads, you’ll also make a severe dent in its population. Revenge is definitely a dish best served cold.…

Bergenia The contrasting glossy, leathery foliage, especially in bronzed forms like ‘Bressingham Ruby’ (left), helps create an appealing summer pairing, while the pink or white flowers sit well alongside blue pulmonarias. Just ensure one does not smother the other. H: 1ft-20in (30-50cm). Ferns Tougher ferns including the male fern, Dryopteris (above) have prettily divided foliage that offers contrast in both shape and colour. Allow the fronds to arch over silvery pulmonarias in a look-after-themselves shade combination. H: 16-32in (40-80cm). Daffodils Upright growth, slender foliage and yellow colouring makes for an ideal companion as the stems push through the pulmonaria leaves. Choose strong, dwarf-to-medium height varieties like ‘February Gold’ (above), and plant in clumps of half a dozen. H: 50cm-1ft (20-30cm). Hellebores Colourful, nodding, bowl-shaped flowers look lovely hanging down over…

Reduce the need for expensive pesticides by gardening organically and growing nectar-rich plants to attract wildlife such as ladybirds, which will act as your pest patrol. Keeping soil healthy (ideally by mulching with your own organic compost) obviates the need to buy fertilisers, and ensures plants live as long as possible. Plant a hazel tree from which you can harvest support sticks; and grow comfrey to use as fertiliser, compost activator and slug deterrent.…

Q How do I overwinter my Venus flytrap? Evelyn Fordyce, via email A Site it in good light in a warm place and keep the compost moist with rainwater. Provided you keep it at a temperature that doesn’t fall below 160C (610F) it should prosper. Additionally, to prolong its life, remove emerging flower stems and faded ‘traps’. Q What is this plant that’s self-seeded in the garden? Ann Marie  Tucker, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset A This is teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), a handsome British wildflower. A biennial that forms a rosette in its first year, then blooms and dies in its second, its pinkish-purple blooms are followed by seeds that goldfinches will adore. It will probably produce seedlings that, if they are in shade, can be transplanted to a more favourable sunny position.…

1 Acer campestre: Often found as part of a hedgerow, yet unclipped and allowed to grow tall, it makes lovely small trees with corky bark, shapely leaves and autumn tints. 2 Arbutus unedo: An evergreen known as the strawberry tree for the red fruits that set from small, bell-shaped flowers. This European native makes a large shrub or small tree capable of reaching 20ft (6m). 3 Ilex ‘Camelliifolia’: All hollies make stalwart windproof evergreens. This female clone has few spines and sets plentiful fruits. Our variegated I. x a. ‘Lawsoniana’ grows through an oak, filtering wind. 4 Pittosporum tenuifolium: This evergreen grows quickly into a wind-filtering shrub, sheltering plants on the leeside. Easy to prune by thinning out longer stems in spring. Can reach 12-20ft (4-6m).…

Begonia ‘Bonfire’ This lovely flame-flowered beauty is derived from the Bolivian begonia ( B. boliviensis ). You can expect a cascade of stems bearing toothed and tapering leaves, lit by brilliant single orange-red flowers. Begonia (Pendula Group) ‘Red Giant’ Large double blooms open from lax stems, almost hiding the shapely foliage. With good care in the watering and feeding department, a top display lasts from June to autumn. Begonia (Pendula Group) ‘White Giant’ There is something classy and soothing about white-flowered begonias on deep green foliage. The dangling double white blooms will shine out from shady nooks. Begonia sutherlandii Dainty trailing species from South Africa with stems of bright green foliage lit by many small, single, light orange flowers. The plant trails to 18in (45cm). Great for greenhouse displays.…

EVERY year new roses are launched that bear the names of famous people. When choosing new varieties for your garden, why not go for those named after your favourite celebrities? Here are three to consider: Rosa Barbra Streisand: a hybrid tea with lavender-pink petals with deep pink edges. From C&K Jones ✆ 01829 740663 jonestherose.co.uk. Rosa Dame Judi Dench: English shrub rose with apricot-orange blooms, filled with many ruffled petals. From David Austin Roses ✆ 0800 111 4699 davidaustinroses.co.uk. Rosa Darcey Bussell: English shrub rose with red-crimson blooms that turn mauve. From Jacksons Nurseries ✆ 01782 502741 jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.…

ACTRESS Felicity Kendal is most famous for her role as Barbara Good in the 1970s sitcom The Good Life, in which she and her husband gave up the rat-race to become self-sufficient. They turned their garden in leafy Surbiton into an allotment. Felicity has had several plants named after her, including a light-pink fuchsia, a red sweet pea and an orange hybrid tea rose. I met her in 1985, when she launched the rose at Chelsea Flower Show (see above). Sadly, only the fuchsia is still available today. From 2003-07, Felicity starred as ‘gardening detective’ Rosemary Boxer in the ITV series Rosemary & Thyme.…

1 Site the coldframe against a south or west-facing house wall for warmth and light. Clean all glass/plastic thoroughly. 2 Cut back plants in pots, and stand them on pot feet, a tray of gravel or similar in the frame to keep them off the cold ground. 3 Cover plants with fleece, and cover the frame at night in cold snaps. Add a bottle full of hot water for extra protection. 4 Remove the frame cover each morning, and fleece on warmer days. Ventilate the frame regularly and wipe condensation off glass.…

I AM still so chuffed about my runner bean lady being published in your magazine and winning me a prize... I don’t like her to stand idle and she has done us proud with the runner beans, but now she is best dressed as my Christmas tree lady. Just thought you’d like to see her in her new outfit. Many thanks again for my gardening gloves… they came in very handy for the making of this. Helen Cutting, Thetford, Norfolk…

A CLUSTER of pearly snowdrops or Dutch crocus goblets that are toasting the January sun can bring a whole border to life, but there’s another midwinter herald that can be the ruin of a whole garden. Moles: those subterranean terrors can transform a manicured lawn into a building site in just a few weeks. During the summer you wouldn’t know they were there, as not only are their burrows deep, but they are also on their best behaviour, neatly compacting their spoil into the walls of their tunnels as they dig. In winter, there’s a change. Rain floods the lower tunnels, driving the worms and grubs that the moles eat to the drier ground near the surface. The hungry mammalian-miners follow and soon forget their manners, littering the soil above…

GARDENING can be expensive, but there are countless ways you can save pennies this year and still create a gorgeous garden. Start by buying the right plants for your situation and soil and giving plants enough space to grow to their full potential without being cramped and crowded. Don’t spurn ‘bargain bin’ plants that will rejuvenate with some TLC. Install waterbutts to collect rainwater and reduce your water bill (rainwater is better for plants than anything that comes from a tap).…

WHATEVER Bing Crosby sang about snow at Christmas, the reality is that most of us have to wait until January or February to see the first sprinklings of white stuff. These days, with climate change making extreme weather patterns the norm rather than the exception, when snow comes it really comes – even where we live in the southwest. The last two winters have seen more extreme weather conditions across the UK, and while most tender plants will already be under cover or insulated against the bitter cold, they can be damaged by the weight of snow. Brush any settled snow from stems and thin branches before they tear and break. Strong-stemmed early perennials such as hellebores may look beaten down with a topping of snow, but they will spring…

1 Ventilation is vital for healthy plants so keep windows, doors and vents open when it’s mild enough, closing them at night. 2 Remove any plant material infected with rots and moulds. This lemon tree shoot was infected with botrytis. 3 Check that seedlings are growing well and haven’t become leggy or infested by pests. 4 While most plants are dormant, those that are growing need a little water, so stand them in the rain for a while on milder days.…

Whether your roses are in containers or in the soil, the care they need now is the same. Reduce stems by around one third so they are less likely to be battered, and the roots rocked, by winds and winter storms. Cut them back to a healthy outward-facing bud and remove spindly, crossing or rubbing growth to create an attractively open goblet shape. Cut away and burn or dispose of any growth that shows signs of black spot – dark or yellow lesions on leaves and stems. Do not compost this as the spores will live on and contaminate the garden. Also, clear leaves off the soil and, again, bin or burn them. Mulch the root area with well-rotted manure and let it break down into the soil over winter.…

1 Take time to read the latest seed and plant catalogues. Good new cultivars are being introduced, and it will be worth growing a few of these alongside your old favourites. 2 Watch out for Xerochrysum ‘Granvia Gold’, likely to be a major talking point and a great way to attract butterflies. 3 Pittosporum ‘Bannow Bay’ from Ireland has silver green leaves that turn pink with the winter cold, and it arrives at garden centres this summer. 4 New Strawberry ‘Malling Allure’ (Marshalls) crops 10 to 12 days later than ‘Malling Centenary’, has large fruits of good quality, and will extend the season for June-bearers.…

1 Have a surplus diary from any year? Start your own garden notebook of observations, notes, ideas and when to do what. 2 Grow tufts of cheerful living green indoors: stand crowns from big carrots and roots in saucers of water on warm, light windowsills. 3 Get those seed potatoes (sets) as soon as possible, then chit them. Make sure you stand them rose end up in a cool, light place. 4 Scratch, then paint postcodes in bold letters with white or bright paint on your most valuable gardening tools and lawn mowers.…

1 Place your seed potatoes in an egg box or seed tray. Tradition has it you position them with the ‘rose’ end uppermost (so the curve under each eye smiles rather than frowns at you) but this isn’t essential. 2 Site your box or tray somewhere well lit and frost-free. Good light is important, otherwise growth is leggy and easily damaged. Within a week or so, small shoots or ‘chits’ will appear from the eyes. 3 Your potatoes are now ready for planting! Chitting helps early tubers hit the ground running. If your bags are already warm enough, just plant – don’t chit. But chitting is handy if you’re waiting for things to heat up.…

DON’T you just love these horticultural terms? In this instance, ‘heave’ refers to a problem that can occasionally occur after a period of prolonged and harsh ground frosts. It targets freshly planted stock so, for example, fruit trees, bushes and canes along with rhubarb crowns. Freshly dug-over earth is often loose and fluffy, rather than compacted, allowing moisture and air to penetrate it freely. With heavy autumn and winter rainfall for many parts of the UK, the ground is still quite saturated. The action of this water expanding upon freezing, combined with a freshly dug-over soil that is full of moisture and air, can cause new plants to lift or ‘heave’ out of the ground. The result can be desiccated roots – and with dried roots spelling death for your…

Lonicera periclymenum ‘Graham Thomas’ AGM A deciduous climber with deliciously fragrant white and gold summer flowers. Take hardwood cuttings before the buds open in spring, choosing healthy shoots that grew in 2019. H: 20ft (6m). Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ For winter borders that blaze with gold and coral-red stems. Cut off the soft tip of a stem and trim down to an 8in (20cm) section; cut at an angle just below a bud at the top, and horizontally at the base, below a bud. H: 6½ft (2m). Ribes rubrum ‘Jonkheer van Tets’ AGM A flavoursome early redcurrant. Dip the end of the cutting in hormone rooting powder, then insert, spaced 6in (15cm) apart, into the ground or into a container, with two-thirds of the…

Sheltering an exposed garden Q Two years ago, we moved to a wonderful spot with a neglected, one-acre garden that had 20ft (6m) conifers all around it. We have removed the trees and now have great views, but would like to plant some low-growing, wind-tolerant trees and shrubs. What would you suggest, and is this a good time to do it? Andrea Bowyer, via email A Removing those giant conifers was a brave but positive move. They suck a lot of moisture from the soil, grow ever taller and, of course, block the views that you want to enjoy. I also live in a windy garden, perched on a ridge within view of the sea and open to gales from the southwest as well as cold north winds. The pictures…

I would estimate that the number of plants named after girls and women is around 95% of the total, compared to about 5% for boys and men. Why should this be? My guess is that if a flower breeder wants to bring out a new variety, with no specific thought of a name, they are more likely to choose a girl’s name: the most important consideration is whether the plant will sell well, and maybe girls’ names are just more popular. Also, historically, those men with the money and the wherewithal were more likely to make a ‘gift’ of naming a plant after a girl rather than after a boy. Let’s look at some of the plants, and the girls after which they are named. Next week we look at…

ON this day, Percy Thrower (known for his TV gardening programmes from the late 1950s until his death in 1986), started work as parks superintendent in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. One of the things he felt he needed to do was replace some ancient lime avenues, planted in 1719. Many of the trees were hollow (through decay caused by the slow parasitising of mistletoe), and as a result had become homes to bees and wasps. He met with much opposition from the locals, who wanted the trees to stay. Eventually, independent experts agreed that the trees were in decline, so over the next four years they were replaced. Thirty years later, Percy looked at the new trees, set back from the roads, and spaced out, and knew he had done the right…

OVERWINTERING tender and half-hardy flowering pot plants like pelargoniums and fuchsias can be tricky if you don’t have a heated greenhouse. So, too, is growing-on January or February-sown early seedlings such as annual bedding, onions, chillies and tomatoes germinated on a windowsill indoors. You won’t have space on windowsills through February and March when seedlings are pricked out (I tried and my wife, Kath, was not amused). However, you can get both tender and half-hardy pot plants and seedlings through the winter in a garden frame or greenhouse even if it doesn’t have electric heating, just by using a bit of ingenuity. Overnight is the concern If temperatures dip just below freezing overnight for one or two nights and warm up again in the day, many dormant half-hardy plants will…

IF you use humane traps that catch the moles alive, remember to check twice a day, as without access to a constant supply of food they starve. You’ll also need the permission of the landowner before you release them. It’s worth remembering that vacant tunnel networks are often colonised by moles from next door. After capture, remove the hills (the soil is great for raised beds and for filling out large containers), and tread on and crush the tunnels to make it harder for the next mole that takes a fancy to your lawn.…

Like antibiotics in humans, the unwise and prolific use of chemicals will harm your garden and destroy its natural balance. Reduce or eliminate them, removing small pest colonies by hand and using organic methods to keep them in check. As well as helping the environment, chemical-free gardening also encourages a diversity of insect life into the garden. Natural predators, from ground beetles to lacewing and ladybird larvae, birds and mammals will move in and help keep pest numbers down.…

4 Jan Last day of Glow: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org. uk/gardens/rosemoor 4-31 Winter Sculpture Exhibition: RHS Garden Rosemoor 5 Jan Last day of Enchanted Botanical Christmas in the Glasshouse: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 5 Jan Last day of Glow: RHS Wisley 8 Rose Pruning: RHS Garden Rosemoor 10 Winter Walk and Talk: RHS Wisley 13 Willow Bird Feeders: RHS Wisley 14 What Now: RHS Garden Rosemoor 14 Wisteria Pruning Masterclass: RHS Wisley 15 Wisteria Pruning Masterclass: RHS Wisley 16 Apple Pruning: RHS Garden Rosemoor 25 Close-up Photography: RHS Wisley 25-2 Feb Heralding Spring: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS. ✆ 020 7352 5646, chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk. The…

Cuttings need to be checked to make sure they haven’t succumbed to rot or botrytis grey mould. Some of my cistus cuttings have fallen foul of grey mould, so I’ve removed the contaminated ones. Those that have survived have been left with their bag open for good ventilation and I’ll keep the compost damp but not saturated. The roots were starting to develop on the mouldy cuttings so the healthy ones should be mature enough to be potted on in the next few weeks.…

1 Cut back the rose to tidy up dead flowerheads and spindly stems, and also make it easier to lift. 2 Carefully dig around the roots with a spade and gently rock the plant free, lifting it with soil around the roots. 3 Move the rose into a deep container that holds all the roots. Plant with multi-purpose compost. 4 Stand the pot on feet and then water the rose to hydrate the roots and settle the compost. 5 Go back to the border and remove weeds and fallen rose leaves that may carry black-spot spores. 6 Dig in plenty of well-rotted farmyard manure and leave it to rot down over the winter.…

WHEN I was a gardener in Northamptonshire in the 1980s, it was impossible to garden without coming into contact with a frog or toad. They’d hop into your wellington boots, jump over your hands when you were weeding, lay spawn in your ponds and cheer your soul with the thought that spring was not far away. Frog spawn used to arrive around Valentine’s Day in the form of a globular mass, and ribbon-like toad spawn would appear roughly five weeks later. I took both for granted back then. In early spring, small male toads would travel across the lawn, vying to be first to fertilise the eggs of the larger female as she laid them. They’d grip on, a process called amplexus, and you’d hear low croaking that sounded as…

DID you know that Jersey Royal potatoes are planted outside in January? While we might not share exactly the same climate as this Channel Island, those of us in a sheltered spot, or with a glasshouse, conservatory or porch, can emulate it at home now, giving us new potato harvests in late March. Purists will need to seek out ‘International Kidney’. This is the variety given an EU Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, but only if grown on the steep, sun-drenched banks or ‘côtils’ of Jersey, when it can then be called the more familiar ‘Jersey Royal’. Or why not buck the tradition, choosing some of the other equally delicious early varieties that perform well when planted in the new year (see panel right)? What they need ‘International Kidney’…

1 Are you overwintering tenders such as pomegranate and feijoa outside? Check protective covers for holes or puddles, and remedy . 2 Tender tubers such as sweet potatoes and yacon should store well somewhere frost-free . Pick over them regularly to remove any rots. 3 Bare-root fruit on order , but the plot frozen solid? T emporarily ‘plant’ any arrivals in a pot of moist compost until conditions improve . 4 Jerusalem artichok es keep better in the ground than in storage . Simply lift a few tubers as and when they are needed in the kitchen. 5 Check the ‘Sow Before ’ date on your seed pack ets. If well out of date, throw them away to avoid germination disappointments.…

1 Remove your chicory roots from storage (or ask fellow gardeners if they have any to spare). Trim off any decay, and pot them up into large tubs of compost. Water in lightly, so they’re just moist. 2 Position the tubs in a moderately warm (8-15°C/46-59°F) and – most importantly – dark place. A shed or garage works well; otherwise, cover over the tubs with upturned pots (drainage holes covered). 3 Check on your chicory weekly, watering if very dry. Blanched ‘chicons’ will gradually appear from the root tops. Wait until they’re 4-6in (10-15cm) long, then harvest, disposing of the exhausted roots.…

‘Blue Ensign’ AGM A vigorous, dark-leaved variety whose upright stems carry pink buds that quickly open to large, purplish flowers; these in turn mature to deep blue. One of the most colourful in flower, it does better in sun than many. H: 1ft (30cm). ‘Majesté’ The spectacular broad foliage – silver with a neat green margin and a slender green central vein – is upright at first, before arching attractively. Very striking, it’s matched by pink flowers that mature to blue. H: 10in (25cm). Opal (‘Ocupol’) AGM A beautiful plant, featuring foliage that is spotted in silver evenly across the narrow leaves, and very pale pink buds opening to a soft, silvery blue. Undeniably lovely, it harmonises well with so many other colours. H: 10in (25cm). ‘Redstart’ A vigorous cultivar…

Gaura lindheimeri AGM Planted in well-drained soil in sun, this graceful short-lived perennial will produce white flowers on airy, slender stems during summer and early autumn. Sow under cover in late winter or early spring. H: 4ft (1.2m). Achillea Summer Pastels Flat yellow, amber, lilac and pink flowerheads adorn this pretty yarrow during summer. It will bloom in the first year and makes a great cut flower. Sow under cover in February or spring. H: 2ft (60cm). Verbena hastata A border gem that will form candelabras of small purple flowers when planted in well-drained soil in sun. The blooms attract butterflies during summer and early autumn. Sow under cover in late winter or early spring. H: 4ft (1.2m). Lychnis coronaria AGM Indispensable for borders, the rose…

Trees Lots of garden trees are sold ‘bare root’ in winter. Cheaper than container-grown trees, they offer more for your money, with a more robust tree in less time. Try a spindle (Euonymus europaeus; above), which has colourful autumn fruit. Roses Purchase roses such as Golden Celebration (above) bare root between now and March. As soon as they arrive in the post (or as soon as you get them home) soak the roots in a bucket of water for an hour, then plant in well-forked soil in sun.…

John will reply personally to all your gardening questions every week How do I start a wildflower lawn? QI am thinking of putting a wildflower patch on my lawn this year. How, and when, should I go about it? Daniel Atkinson, Harrogate, N. Yorks A Natural meadows establish on soils of relatively low fertility and where the grasses are not competitive. It is difficult to reduce the fertility of soil, but you can go some way towards it by removing all grass clippings after mowing so they don’t become a source of nutrients. You also have the challenge of strongly growing grasses outcompeting desirable wildflowers. The vigour of these grasses can be reduced by sowing any of a number of parasitic plants, including Rhinanthus species (rattle), Euphrasia species (eyebright) and…

Evergreen elaeagnus, pittosporum, olearia and escallonia are good for mild wind-torn gardens. For colder ones, small tree Crataegus persimilis ‘Prunifolia’ is lovely. A stand of birches set as little as 4-6ft (1.2-1.8m) apart are tall but mostly slender and cast little shade. Holly, yew, mahonia, elder and viburnums, especially the deciduous wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana) are tough.…

Pot tubers into a compost of 50:50 John Innes No2 and a soilless compost. Use a lightweight container plant compost for baskets and wall hangers. Placing polythene inside a hanging basket liner will help hold water. Add a controlled-release fertiliser to compost for easy care. The quality of display relies on regular watering and, if necessary, a top-up of fertiliser or fortnightly high-potash liquid feeds. Move begonias to a lightly shaded, north- or east-facing position if keeping them adequately watered in full sun proves difficult.…

Miracle-Gro is giving AG readers the chance to win two gardening bundles, each worth £16.97, to ensure your garden is fully prepared for spring and summer 2020. This is the perfect bundle for keen gardeners and includes essentials such as the Miracle-Gro Growmore Garden Plant Food, which contains an essential mix of nutrients for all plants, and Miracle-Gro Compost Maker, which speeds up the composting process of kitchen vegetable waste. Eco-friendly gardeners will also love the Miracle-Gro Bone Meal Root Builder, which is a 100% organic fertiliser and naturally releases nutrients to build stronger roots and guarantees greener, healthier trees and shrubs. We have two bundles to give away, each worth £16.97. How to enter Send your name and address on the back of a postcard to Miracle-Gro Draw (4…

Children’s character ‘Winnie the Pooh’ is also the name of a daylily variety (see picture). In the nursery rhyme Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, she is asked how her garden grows? No one knows who Mary was, but it is thought to be either Mary, mother of Jesus, or Mary Queen of Scots, or Queen Mary I of England? No proof has been found that the rhyme was known before the 18th century, yet all of these Marys were around long before this.…

Helping the planet I THOUGHT Ruth’s article, ‘What AG readers can do to help the planet’ was great! ( AG , 19 Nov). There is a lot we can do with a little effort. I loved the idea of making our clothes last longer or buying pre-loved items. I love a root-around in a good charity shop. We’d all actually be a lot better off, too. I never waste anything. I recycle my yogurt pots, my egg boxes and my plastic bread bags, but there’s so much more to do regarding cellophane, etc. The piece ‘Make a haven for nature’ was good, too. Ruth is making people aware that nature has its own rhythm and needs. We need food for frogs, newts, birds, hedgehogs, so leave the greenfly for them…