Innholdsfortegnelse for 15-oct-16 i Amateur Gardening

HOW have your free seeds done this year? I’m ashamed to admit I only sowed one packet – the Morning Glory Choice Mixed (9 April). I plead lack of time due to building a new patio (and very little space in my borders), but I’m really pleased with the morning glory. Good germination was followed by strong growth. I set the young plants out in late May around a 6ft (2m) wigwam of canes just outside the front door. To start with growth was slow, but by late July the twining climbers had completely overwhelmed the wigwam (and several plants alongside). Flowers didn’t appear until August, but they are gorgeous pale pink and pale blue, each with four deeper coloured stripes into the throat of the bloom. As the name…

1 Insulate the container with bubble wrap, cutting it lower than the pot rim and making sure it doesn’t block drainage holes. Add crocks at the base. 2 Fill the pot to an inch below the rim with container compost mixed with John Innes No 3. Plant the central plant at the same depth as its rootball. 3 Carefully add the rest of the plants. Always place them at the same depths as their rootballs, taking care not to damage the roots of other plants. 4 Water the container to settle and firm in the plants and their roots. Add pellets to kill off slugs and snails that can still be a problem through winter.…

THE temperature is dropping surely and steadily, and as wet and windy conditions becoming the norm, so thoughts need to turn to helping tender plants through the winter. Freezing weather, torrential rain, snow, and gales will all take their toll on the garden over the coming months, and early preparation should ensure you don’t get caught out. Take action before the first frosts. Large bananas in containers that are too big to move can be wrapped and left in situ. Move smaller specimens somewhere light and frost-free, wrapped for further protection. Leave cannas outside until top growth is blackened by the first frost, then cut it back to 2in (5cm), lift and pot them up and bring under cover. Move tender container plants somewhere frost free. Tender border plants like…

“They have a perfect globe shape” A LOT of gardens are lacking in flower colour at this time of year. There are however some exceptions worth noting. During a visit to Cheshire last month for example I noticed begonias in many gardens – especially containers of Begonia ‘Sunset Shades’ and/or B. ‘Apricot Shades. What remarkable performers they are, flowering non-stop until the first hard autumn frost. Perennial Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ is one plant I would not want to be without at this point in the season. One planting and it provides massed flower colour every year from late August to October. Even in dry Essex it repays a good watering occasionally in summer, although that is about it. Then, if seed heads are left in place, goldfinches and other seed…

BROAD beans are a reassuringly easy crop to grow, and are delicious to eat hot or cold. Even though they are prone to a number of problems, including blackfly and broad bean rust, these very rarely affect the plants sufficiently to stop them cropping well. The beans can be sowed in spring, but if you start hardy varieties now, they will germinate before the weather gets cold, sit the winter out and grow on in spring. Broad beans prefer a sheltered, sunny site with free-draining soil that has been improved with well-rotted compost or manure. When plants start to germinate, hoe regularly to keep weeds down, and be prepared to stake tall cultivars. Protect plants with horticultural fleece during spells of cold, snowy weather. I sowed a flavour-packed, red-coloured bean…

IF like me, you’re looking at lots of bare soil in your garden, now’s the time to do something about it. I’ll sow green manure on some beds, while others will be dug over and left bare for the winter. Ever heard of no-dig gardening? Well, my aching arms will tell you that we don’t follow that method at East Donyland Hall! I’ll cover the no-dig method another week but for now, I’m grabbing my spade. Digging breaks up any compaction and allows you to remove all traces of weeds. You can add organic matter, fertiliser and lime quickly and thoroughly. It’s quite therapeutic once you get a good rhythm going, so why not have a go? Follow my step-by-step, but don’t rush, just take it easy! Top Tip Light,…

HAVING cleared away a lot of summer crops I’m now left with a decision – do I leave the soil bare or should I protect it in some way? Well, it depends on the situation, For example, I’ve got one bed which is relatively weed-free but which seems riddled with carrot root fly grubs. My plan is to dig it over and leave it bare so frosts can readily penetrate the soil and hopefully kill the pest off. On the other hand, if I leave a weedy bed bare, it will just develop a rash of nuisance seedlings come spring, so a dense, weed-smothering green manure would be a good idea. I’m also conscious of our soil type – sand. Nutrients can quickly wash out of this in wet conditions…

• Stand plants in medium light, as too much causes yellowing and scorching of leaves. Too little and plants stop flowering and growth weakens. • Normal room temperatures suit spathiphyllums (min 55°F/13°C). Avoid draughts. In hot rooms, keep plants away from heat sources and increase humidity by grouping them with other plants, or stand pot on a wide saucer of moist gravel. • Keep a close eye on watering. Dryness causes parts of the plant to splay outwards, spoiling the shape but waterlogged plants turn yellow. • Apply a general purpose liquid feed fortnightly during active growth. • To refresh older plants repot or divide them (pic.) when temperatures rise and light improves in spring/early summer.…

• 15-16 October: Alpine Garden Society Alpine Weekend, RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, Yorks HG3 1QB. 0203 1765 830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr • 15-16 October: Hillcrest, Waunborfa Road, Cefn Forest, Blackwood, Gwent NP12 3LB, open for NGS. A cascade of secluded gardens of distinct character set in 1 1/2 acres. 01443 837029, ngs.org.uk • 15-16 October: Dingle Nurseries & Garden, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 9JD, open for NGS. Colour-themed beds with year-round interest and a large variety of rare and unusual trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. 01938 555145, dinglenurseries.co.uk • 15-16 October: Walton Poor House, Ranmore, Surrey RH5 6SX, open for NGS. Tranquil, almost secretive, mostly wooded 4-acre garden in the North Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Mixture of colourful shrubs and mature trees. 0148 282273, ngs.org.uk • 16 October:…

NOW is the perfect time to plant apple trees, not just because they thrive when planted in autumn but you can go taste-testing to find the right tree for you. My local tree nursery, Frank P Matthews, puts on a wonderful display of apples in their tree shop. Here you can see the size and colour of the fruits. To experience the different tastes, look out for local apple events on or around Apple Day on 21 October. Take the whole family so you can all munch on the fruits in order to find a family favourite. My family love ‘Laxton’s Epicure’ which is a good all-rounder. It’s sweet and juicy and has an attractive colour. When it comes to cookers you may need to ask fellow gardener/cooks which they…

6 Scented Perennials Drop them into gaps in the border or fill a whole new bed with this autumn planting perennial collection. There’s something for every part of the garden in this elegant mix. Supplied as garden ready plug plants. Buy 6 (1 of each variety) for £9.99 (TCB62691) Hydrangea ‘Glam Rock’ Formed by dozens of red florets with blue centres, each petal tipped with an extraordinary shade of lime green. A superb addition to borders or large patio containers. Height and spread: 120cm (48”). Supplied as a 9cm potted plant. Buy 1 for £9.99 (TCB10121C) Allium ‘Big Impact Mixed’ ‘Big Impact Mixed’ will give you a wonderful assortment of flower shapes, sizes and colours that are superb for cut flower displays. Height ranges from: 60 -90cm (24-36”). Spread: 15cm…

Acers Many maples feature brilliant autumn colour, some with pretty dissected foliage and/or purple summer leaves. Smaller types are good in large pots or at the end of a border to create a focal point. A. palmatum ‘Garnet’ has lovely lacy purple foliage. H 4-6ft (1.2-1.8m). Berberis Tough and resilient, deciduous berberis can feature gold, purple or variegated summer foliage and bright autumn colour. They come in many shapes and sizes – ‘Helmond Pillar’, (picture) has a narrowly upright habit. H 4½ft (1.2m). Viburnum Deciduous viburnums are the stars… Tolerant of many situations, white spring and summer flowers are followed by clusters of berries plus yellow, red or purple autumn colour. Viburnum carlesii ‘Aurora’ has burgundy red autumn colour. H 5ft (1.5m). Cornus Some, but not all, of the dogwoods…

Top 4 Autumn flowering perennials 1 Perennial asters are available in a vast variety of heights and colours. Cut back to a third in autumn or spring. 2 Some very hardy chrysanths such as ‘Emperor of China’ flower as late as November. You can plant them now. 3 The brilliant blue Gentiana asclepiadea is long-flowering, and will thrive shaded by a maple. 4 Sedums offer structure as well as autumn colour with their chunky flowerheads and succulent stems. TopTip When arranging plants in a border, use the triangle technique: taller plants at the centre, graduating to smaller plants around the outside, creating a pyramid-like outline.…

All thanks to AG! I STARTED on my allotment plot five years ago and it was in a bit of a state when I took it over. Then someone gave me a copy of AG and said: “Have a read, there are good ideas there that’ll help you when you’ve cleared it.” That was it, I was hooked. At the end of that year I took part in a competition held at Capel Manor College that some friends convinced me to enter. I‘d read about jams, preserves and pickles in the magazine so thought I’d give it a go and walked away with nine prizes, four of them firsts! I’ve now been entering for five years and this picture shows the results, thanks to Amateur Gardening. I look after my…

IF you thought that winter was a time of drab colours, few flowers, and little to interest you in the garden, think again. The diversity of the summer months may not be so readily available, but there are still plenty of plants available if you ‘think outside the box’. Container gardening is simple, versatile and reliable, and lends itself perfectly to winter, so I am using these pages to highlight some of the options. Hardy bedding plants, ornamental grasses, herbs and evergreens can be used in combinations, and as stand-alone pot fillers, to great effect. I planted up a container of mixed bedding (Cyclamen hederifolium and violas), and evergreen perennials (Heuchera ‘Paprika’ and ‘Mocha’ (with spicy red and dark foliage respectively), and a Euphorbia ‘Ascot Rainbow’ that turns from green…

• The care hanging baskets need is similar to that of containers. • Use fresh compost when you plant up, and make sure it is free draining, and nutrient-rich. • Add slug pellets, and water well at planting, and whenever the compost feels dry. • Hang your basket where it gets plenty of sun, but is sheltered from the worst of the weather. • If storms are forecast, take down the basket and store it somewhere dry and frost-free, such as a greenhouse, shed or garage, until the weather improves and it can be hung back outside.…

• Lift bedding pelargoniums, pot them up in John Innes No 1, and keep them in a greenhouse over winter with barely any water. They will go dormant, and can be planted out next spring after the frosts. • Dahlia tubers, and begonia and gladioli corms, can be lifted once frosts have blackened and killed off the foliage. Store tubers in trays of slightly damp sand, soil or compost. • Dry and store corms in a frost-free place. Dust with yellow sulphur to reduce susceptibility to powdery mildew and other fungal diseases.…

A WARM, damp autumn can create perfect conditions for many seasonal pests and diseases. Leave them unattended, and you will be storing up a lot of trouble for yourself in future seasons. Prevention is better than cure, so always clear up fallen leaves, moss washed out of gutters, and soil washed away by rain. This debris quickly collects in the corners of patios and damp drainage runnels, where it provides a sanctuary for pests and fungal spores. Check your lawn for chafer grubs, which eat the roots of the grass. Symptoms include patches of yellow, dying turf, and areas of bare earth where rooks, jays, foxes and badgers have torn up the turf looking for grubs to eat. There are no chemical controls, but you can repair damage by sowing…

• Blackcurrants require annual pruning, as the productivity of older branches falls off through the years. • Each year, remove around a third of the old stems at ground level, as well as any weak or low-growing branches. • Prune gooseberry, and red and white currant, bushes into an open shape, removing dead, diseased and tangled branches back to a new shoot. • Cordon varieties of these should have their side shoots cut back to one or two buds, and the tip cut back by a third.…

PLANTING garlic in the autumn often gives bigger yields and better bulb formation. On our light, sandy plot it works a treat – bulbs planted now will be much more robust. Heavier clay soils are more problematic as rotting can result, so remedy this by starting your cloves off in large modules or pots now in a cold frame, ready for transplanting come spring. There are two types of garlic – hardnecks (said to have a stronger flavour yet poorer storage life) and softnecks (often milder but can be stored for many months after lifting). Both types contain hardier varieties that are better suited to autumn planting (some prefer a spring start so check label details). Set individual cloves 8in (20cm) apart and 2in (5cm) deep in an open, sunny…

I HAVE yet to plant a kiwi fruit in my garden, but at this time of year I always think back to when I worked at RHS Wisley. The fruit garden there had two mature kiwi fruit vines – a male and a female as both are needed to obtain fruit (unless you grow a self-fertile female such as ‘Jenny’). Those vines were brutes! Huge hairy stems would ramble over a sizeable post and wire support system, which was so tall that you could poke your head underneath it. I’d frequently do that in late September and October, to see dozens if not hundreds of fruits hanging there. They need a long season to soften and ripen fully, but picking must be completed before the first frosts. Worth the wait,…

“A flash of daylight is all it takes to trigger germination” MANY will dig their vegetable bed over at this time of year. Or perhaps you might be making a new bed from a piece of ground. In either case you’ll be bringing up huge numbers of buried seeds, which will germinate whenever the soil is warm enough. This is no real problem if you practice regular weed control and hoe every week or so. Indeed there’s an old saying ‘hoe when you can’t see a weed and you’ll not have any weeds’ as hoeing seemingly bare soil kills the minute seedlings as they try to emerge. Or perhaps you’re going to cover the area afterwards with a geotextile, under this the weeds can and will germinate, and then die…

SEED, bulb and young plant supplier Unwins also offer a range of cut flowers for home delivery and, to celebrate Halloween, they have launched a ‘Spooky Glow-in-the-Dark Flower Bouquet’ (below left). The mix has an orange, black and pink colour theme, and features roses, carnations, chrysanths, alstroemeria, and more. However….turn the lights down low, and the chrysanths will start to glow to give the room “a spooky atmosphere!” Ordered soon, they will be delivered just before the day itself. With every order will be a free packet of Unwins pumpkin seeds for sowing next year. Visit: unwins.co.uk. • Luminous flowers may be new, but AG discussed it as long ago as the year 2000. Actually, it was our 1 April issue (left), and the story was a spoof. It tricked…

C. armandii: This Chinese species is the best known of the evergreens. Clusters of vanilla-scented, white flowers in late winter and early spring. Plants reach 10-15ft. (3-5m). C. x cartmanii ‘Joe’: Needs well-drained soil and careful siting. Non-clinging, it reaches 6ft. (2m). Good in an unheated conservatory. White flowers in late winter/early spring. C. cirrhosa var.purpurescens: Flowers from creamy white ‘Jingle Bells’ (very hardy) to speckled ‘Freckles’ and claret ‘Lansdowne Gem. Flowers Nov–Feb. H. 8-10ft. (2.4-3m) C. ‘Fragrant Oberon’: Of New Zealand origin, whose pretty, greenish-white, strongly perfumed flowers open from February, on plants 5ft (1.5m) tall. C. napaulensis: Leaves drop in summer, more grow in autumn and are joined in December by nodding, creamy-white, citrus-scented flowers with long, purple-stamens. H. 10ft. (3m). C. urophylla ‘Winter Beauty’: Of oriental origin,…

Giant Snowdrop The large flowers of Galanthus elwesii are up to 25mm long with a delicate honey fragrance and make an impressive display in spring borders and containers. This giant snowdrop holds an RHS Award Garden Merit. Height: 30cm (12”). Spread: 10cm (4”). Supplied as Bulbs size 4/5cm bulbs. Buy 10 for £5.99 (TCB45543B) Buy 20 for £9.98 – Save £2 (TCB10086B) Narcissus ‘ Yellow’ Cheerfulness’ This new fragrant variety has soft yellow rounded petals which unfurl in late spring. Also excellent as cut flower to make a really pretty posy! Height: 50cm (20”) Supplied as Bulbs size: 10/12cm. Buy 20 for £11.99 (TCB46019BP) Buy 40 for £12 – Double up for 1p (TCB46020BP) Lily ‘Delicate Joy’ A brand new hybrid lily featuring bright yellow petals tipped with rosy red,…

SPEAR & Jackson’s products have become widely recognised for their heritage and high quality. Now the company has teamed up with Kew Gardens to bring you an exclusive range of digging, cultivating and cutting tools. Rigorously tested for performance and quality, they are genuinely ‘used and recommended by Kew’ horticulturists. The Neverbend Carbon range of garden tools feature a hammer-finished epoxy coating for improved resistance to rust, humidity and alkalis in the soil. Harvested from FSC approved, well-managed forests, the weatherproof handles are made from the finest ash. Every Neverbend Carbon product also comes with a 15 year guarantee. This week Amateur Gardening is giving eight lucky AG readers the chance to win the following: • A beautifully boxed three piece tool set from the Kew Gardens Collection (£29rrp) consisting…

Which veg can I grow over winter? Q What veg can I plant now (outside and in my cold greenhouse)? Rowena Pearson (via email) A Much can be grown both in the garden and with the protection of cloches, frames or a cold greenhouse. Sow or plant the following now as they will establish quickly (water well if the autumn is dry). Broad beans planted now will mature a month earlier than those sown in April, and won’t get blackfly. Try ‘Super Aquadulce’ and ‘Aquadulce Claudia. Round seeded ‘Kelvedon Wonder’ peas resist powdery mildew and both this and ‘Meteor’ will crop 3-4 weeks earlier then those sown in spring. Also, the shoots can make a tasty addition to most meals. Garlic planted now should result in good harvests . Go…

MANY deciduous shrubs can be pruned once the leaves have fallen in order to remove less productive, older wood or dead and damaged stems. The blades of bypass secateurs can be forced apart on very hard stems, so anvil secateurs are an essential tool. They have a single sharp blade that cuts down onto a flat edge, like a knife on a chopping board, and are excellent for pruning smaller woody stems of pencil thickness and chunkier green wood. Some brands are advertised as being able to cut up to 3/ 4in (20mm), but this can be a struggle; it’s far better to cut larger diameter stems with a ratchet pruner, loppers or a bow saw. Choice can be bewildering and also very personal. For instance, the weight of the…

‘Roses are prone to ‘replant disease’ and are best not planted where they were grown before’ AFTER a summer of – hopefully – prolonged flowering and healthy growth, roses need some attention to prepare them for the winter, and to help them bloom even better next year. If you haven’t checked them recently, tie unsupported stems of climbers on to their supports before autumn storms sweep in. Also tie back and prune rambling roses, cutting any old, unproductive stems to the ground to give new branches room to grow. Use this week to tidy up bush roses before the onset of winter. Pick up and compost fallen leaves, but bin or burn any that have been affected by black spot. This is a virulent fungal disease that shows itself in…

TREES and shrubs are usually the largest structural forms in a garden, and need proper care to keep them healthy and looking their best. Their dormant period, between now and the first stirrings of spring, is the best time to plant, move and prune most trees and shrubs. Shrubs including Buddleja davidii, Cornus alba and Lavatera that are pruned hard in spring should be cut back by a half now. This allows you to work them into an attractive shape, and protects them against wind rock. Check the soil around trees, and deal with potential drainage problems promptly. Soil that is waterlogged, or so fine it risks being washed or blown away, can cause young or shallow rooted trees to become unstable in high winds and heavy weather. Improve growing…

• Before moving tender container plants into the greenhouse for overwintering, check their leaves for pests including red spider mite, vine weevil and mealybug. • Improve ventilation by keeping greenhouse windows and vents open on warmer days. • There is no need for damping down, as damp flooring and cooler nights will create a perfect breeding ground for botrytis grey mould. • Similarly, don’t wet the leaves of house/indoor plants, as water will linger and breed fungal problems.…

• Last year’s runner beans cropped well, and I am hoping for the same success next year. Before composting the spent plants, I saved some beans to sow next spring. • Pods left on the plants had swollen with large beans which had dried, or were drying, in situ. • I removed them, and spread them out on a warm, light windowsill to finish drying and then split the pods and removed the dried seeds. • I put these in labelled envelopes, and am keeping them in a cool, dark drawer in the shed, where mice can’t get them, until I am ready to sow them next year.…

THE peace lily or white sails is in many ways the ideal house plant. Widespread and affordable, the plants are mass produced by tissue culture (they start life as a mass of cells in a test tube) and are hybrids varying from miniatures to massive statement plants. Most resemble Spathiphyllum wallisii, from the banks of water courses in the damp, tropical rain forests of Colombia. A natural love of warmth and shade means peace lilies are suited to ordinary house rooms, though the missing ingredient is often humidity. They are related to the arum lily and have similar showy white spathes, each surrounding a spadix holding tiny flowers and turning green as they age. The blooms of this and other species are said to be fragrant but I’ve only detected…

AUTUMN is the time for bonfires. Those of us legally permitted to light them are piling up combustible garden rubbish of all sorts. But please, PLEASE, spare a thought for hedgehogs. Just now they’re starting to search for sheltered places to hibernate, and a bonfire pile can look mightily inviting. It’s not such a problem if you build a pile in the morning and light it in the afternoon. But if you have a pile in place for days or weeks before lighting the match, this is when things become deadly for our spiky friends. So, if you have a bonfire already built then I implore you to take it apart and rebuild it having checked there’s nothing in it that will come to harm. The hedgehog is one animal…

THOUSANDS of gardeners talk to their plants, but did you know plants also talk to each other? At least trees do. That’s the claim made in a new book. Author Peter Wohlleben, who manages an ancient beech forest in Germany, says that, despite the fixed nature of trees, they can scream with pain, make friends, feel lonely and even communicate underground via the “woodwide web”. Some trees are brutal to rivals for air, light, and food, while others act more like “loving parents or good neighbours”. He suggests that trees go “ouch” when they have branches pruned or are gnawed by insects. And he talks about “brain-like things” going on in trees that enable them to learn over their long lifetimes; saplings take risks with their drinking and leaf dropping,…

A WASP’S nest 39in (1m) wide has been found in a house attic in Pipewell, Northants (right). It even had a 4½ft (1.4m) long tunnel for the wasps to come and go freely. Luckily there were none present; they probably moved out a year ago. The homeowner discovered the nest, which could have been home to 10,000 wasps, during renovations. The house had been empty for two years. Pest controller Gary Wilkinson was treating the house for woodworm, when the nest was found. He said: “It was colossal. The biggest I’ve ever seen by quite a margin. Wasp nests can get to the size of a large football, but this was something else!”…

THERE’S nothing like gardening first thing in the morning on an autumn day. Cobwebs are draped through the borders, the mist is moody and magical and you can hear the occasional thud on the ground as another apple falls. At the far end of the garden a row of dwarf apple trees is laden with fruits. It’s time to pick the ripe apples and sort those that have fallen. I would recommend eating the almost perfect windfalls first and then storing the ones you pick from the tree as a fall can cause a bruise that may not reveal itself until a few days later. When picking from the tree simply twist and pull– if ripe an apple should pull away easily. Don’t throw the picked apples into a basket,…

A GROUP of Fritillaria meleagris in our spring garden partners our collection of hellebores. This native enjoys the heavy clay soil here but they will grow in most soils in sun or part shade. Now’s a good time to plant the bulbs and for a natural look scatter and plant where they land. I recently bought a packet of fritillaria bulbs and it recommended a planting depth of 2in (5cm). However, I would suggest about 6in (15cm) to prevent mice from sniffing them out. As added protection place a piece of fine wire over a group of bulbs before backfilling with soil. When the flowers arrive in spring don’t deadhead, as they’ll multiply by seeding.…

Wallflower ‘Most Scented’ Mix A wonderful blend of specially selected Erysimum, chosen for their fabulous fragrance. This tough perennial can cope in even the poorest of soils. Height and spread: 30cm (12”). Supplied as plug plants. Buy 36 for £12.99 (TCB10309A) Buy 72 for £17.98 – Save £8 (TCB10310A) Clematis montana ‘Mayleen’ The best scented clematis montana, with delightful satin-pink ruffled blooms. As if that wasn’t enough, it has sparkling bronze foliage too. Height: 10m (33’). Spread: 3m (10’). Supplied as a 7cm potted plant. Buy 1 for £14.99 (TCB10046A) Buy 2 & Get 1 FREE for £29.98 (TCB10047A) Peony ‘Edens Perfume’ Considered the most fragrant peony on Earth, ‘Eden’s Perfumeis an exceptional border peony with huge presence and stature. It deserves pride of place in the garden to enable…

Q I’ve been nurturing this plant under the impression that it is a Canterbury bell. However, the more I look at it the more I think ‘is it a weed?’ Is it? Sherry Jenkins (via email) A The plant is a form of verbena. It is difficult to say which species or variety it is, but it appears to be V. peruviana ‘Alba, a semi-evergreen perennial from South America. If you like it, overwinter it in a frost-free greenhouse or sunny spare room. Plant it out in late May or early June, or when frosts have finished, and enjoy a summer-long display of blossom. Q Please can you identify this blue mushroom found growing in my pumpkins? James Couling, Portsmouth A The fungus growing in your pumpkin patch appears…

Draper Plastic Leaf Rake £7.25 (promo price) 02380 494333 drapertools.com  for stockists Clear up a big area fast with this wide 21 1/2in (55cm) rake. Flat, plastic tines are more resistant to clogging than a traditional wire rake and won’t rust if you accidently leave it outdoors. Has a varnished wood handle. Easiload Green Wheelbarrow £49.96 free delivery 0117 330 2277 wheelbarrows.co.uk A sturdy, general purpose steel painted wheelbarrow with an 85ltr (150kg) load capacity for most shifting jobs around the garden. Large pneumatic tyre is kind to lawns. Made in Britain, it’s built to last – even stored outside. Home assembly is required. Garden incinerator £18.50 0345 077 8888 homebase.co.uk Save on trips to the tip by disposing of garden waste at home.…

“The roots drill down to the subsoil” I’VE been digging up and dividing my herbaceous plants. Not all of them, just the varieties that I want to make more of. By starting this job now they make the most of the still-warm soil, and bulk-up for a bigger show of flowers next summer. I like to examine the roots. As with leaves and flowers, these have distinguishing features. Some are fat, others thin and some are huge and woody. They also reveal a lot about where a plant prefers to grow. Fibrous roots, such as those of a shade-loving heucherella, are adapted to live in a leafmould-rich soil of the type typically found at the edge of deciduous woodland. So when planting, always add garden compost or leafmould to the…