Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2019 i BBC Gardeners' World

Award-winning app Keep up to date while on the move with our digital edition, made for iPhone and iPad. You’ll find extra content plus videos from Monty and the team, and access to the subscriber-only Secret Garden area of our website. Pay from just £3.49 per issue. Go to bit.ly/GW-digital Growing with nature Explore more eco-savvy ways to garden, through our extra online content this month. Discover extra projects and videos, at gardeners world.com/ growing-with-nature Some like it hot! We launch in this issue our June collection of container plants, chosen by magazine editors for readers who love pots with impact. Find out more about the range by turning to p76. Passport to great gardens If you missed our May issue, featuring the legendary 2 for 1 Gardens Entry Card…

Prue Leith is a writer, chef and judge of TV’s Great British Bake Off. Her new book is Prue: My All-time Favourite Recipes (Bluebird £25). See her at this month’s BBC Good Food Show alongside Gardeners’ World Live 13-16 June (see page 24). She gardens in the Cotswolds, where she has lived for over 40 years. What is your earliest gardening memory? Lying on the grass while my father pushed an old hand-driven lawn mower. I remember the clackety sound and the smell of the cut grass. Lovely! How would you describe your garden? Glorious! We don’t have many rare and wonderful treasures, as I tend to grow stuff that wants to stay alive, so the plants are common. But there are lovely old trees, lots of lawn and a…

Anyone who grows edible plants will know just how pretty they can be, whereas others grown primarily for their ornamental value may also have tasty flowers or leaves as a bonus. I’m the patron of King Henry’s Walk Community Garden, where the plot holders have tiny spaces. They may be small yet it always amazes me how beautiful some are – all while producing food to harvest and take home to the kitchen most weeks of the year. My border design demonstrates that in a 1m x 2m space it’s easy to grow a range of edible plants that look good together and enjoy the same conditions. It can easily be scaled up, down or added to, depending on the shape and size of your border, or adapted to fit…

From my first days of working with Geoff Hamilton, I became very aware of wildflowers and their demise in the British countryside. They play a massive part in supporting our wildlife; in fact, they are a lifeline for everything, from insects to birds of prey and other predators. A recent report* states that since the 1930s, England and Wales have lost 97% of their wildflower meadows, which obviously dramatically impacts wildlife, too. Since moving into my Lincolnshire home, I have been busy exploring my local landscape. I am very lucky to be surrounded by a diverse area of countryside, and in particular there is a nature reserve that sits on an old Roman limestone quarry near my house. Over the years, this area has been slowly reclaimed by nature and…

• Go easy on the maintenance Once established, wildflower areas need little care. Their maintenance depends on whether you have real areas of meadow, or are just incorporating wildflowers into a more border-style of planting. • Keep up with watering While your wildflowers are establishing they may need a good soak during hot spells. This is better practice than watering little and often, which leads to roots staying near the surface and being more affected by drought. • Take care when weeding Be careful not to remove your wildflower seedlings. If in doubt, wait until the second year, when plants will be more established and out-of-place weeds easier to spot. • Grow yellow rattle A really useful wildflower if you are having problems with grass overpowering other plants. It is…

Growing Clay soil improver Improve the drainage of clay soil by adding British farmyard manure mixed with bracken. Both are collected as waste products from the UK and together offer a great alternative to peat. £10.99 for 40L dalefootcomposts.co.uk Organic plug plants A range of veg plants sold in modules and as grafted plants. All mail-order plants are grown in peat-free compost and sent in biodegradable packing material. From £2 organicplants.co.uk Root booster Strengthen plants with a fungi powder that supports root growth. Contains naturally occurring mycorrhizal fungi that may be absent in poor soil. 60g, £2.25 rootgrow.co.uk Weed killer Kill weeds with an acid found naturally in pelargoniums, an alternative to products containing chemicals such as glyphosate. 750ml, £5.49 squiresgardencentres.co.uk Seedling starter kit Ditch the plastic and make your…

There’s no better way to get kids excited about gardening than letting them have their own crops to grow and look after. June is the perfect time to get growing as the warm temperatures give quick results. We’ve got two easy projects that are a fun way to get children outdoors. Pre-school children will love getting messy painting cane toppers. Or for primary school age children, try growing your own mini salad box that will crop for weeks on end. Make cane toppers These cane toppers are simple to make, and will help keep little ones safe when they’re running around the garden. The ends of canes can be sharp, so it’s best to cover them with something protective and fun! Kids will love painting their own designs and if…

Watering is an everyday task in summer, but to ensure you use only the water you need, and that it goes just where you want it, a spray gun attached to the end of your hose is an essential piece of kit. You can buy a spray gun for as little as a couple of pounds, but for a range of spray patterns or to adjust the volume of water precisely, you need to spend more. To find out if you get what you pay for, we put 12 guns to the test across a range of situations. We looked at performance and ease of use, but we focused on eco credentials, too. Water is a precious resource and it’s vital that a spray gun doesn’t leak or drip, wasting…

Decide how important the following points are before you make your choice don’t have one. Make sure your gun is compatible so it can be snapped on and off in seconds. • Built to last Cheaper plastic spray guns often break easily, degrade quickly if left outside and need replacing regularly, often every year. If you want to save money in the long run, look for guns made of metal. • Trigger lock A lock to ease your hand when your watering for a long time is essential. Those that can be switched on with a flick of a finger are the easiest to use. • Range of spray patterns If you’re going to be watering in a range of ways, check the gun has the sprays you need, such…

Sow outdoors Sow plenty of fast-growing crops to extend your pickings through the season. Radish, carrot, salad leaves, dwarf beans, spinach, beetroot and turnip can all be sown in short drills every two to three weeks to keep you in fresh produce. This successional sowing is a useful technique for gap filling amongst the slower crops. Keep sowing until late August and towards the end of the summer sow in larger numbers as the growth rate will slow right down by the end of the autumn so the more plants you have, the better. VISIT gardenersworld.com/ fruit-veg for more handy tips and advice FIGS Water figs well if there is no rain. Although fig trees come from the Mediterranean, they need a good supply of water in summer to…

■ Look out for red spider mite infestation. This pest, which causes leaf mottling, is deterred in humid places such as shower rooms ■ Sow seed of winter-flowering houseplants such as cineraria and calceolaria ■ Give houseplants a holiday by leaving them outside in warm weather – they’ll benefit from the natural light and air ■ Avoid placing plants on sunny windowsills. Most houseplants will burn easily and prefer bright, but indirect light WATCH Videos and get tips at gardenersworld.com/ propagating…

3 WAYS TO TRY • Peel and quarter globe artichokes and roast for 20 minutes with sage and lemon, in a little olive oil. Lay chicken breasts on top and roast until the skin is golden. • Lay slices of peeled globe artichokes and unpeeled potato in a shallow dish. Dot with garlic, butter and gently fried onion, cover and bake for 1-1 ½ hours. • Roast globe artichokes with a drizzle of olive oil. Add to pan with cooked chestnuts, fried onion, chicken stock and cream. Bring to the boil, then blend and strain to serve a delicious soup. FIND MORE Ideas for globe artichokes from Olive magazine at bit.ly/artichoke-recipes Nutrition Globe artichokes are a good source of dietary fibre, help detoxify the liver and provide vitamin C and…

Small Space Gardening Make the most of your outside space, whatever the size, with our inspiring 132-page special edition. Full of easy to follow projects and packed with creative ideas and space-saving solutions, this guide will help you conquer the challenges of a small space with clever tricks to help you get the best from your plot. Only £6.99 incl. P&P at magsdirect.co.uk/GWsmallspace18 Your Pruning Year Perfect your pruning technique with this 132-page comprehensive guide to pruning through the year – helping you make the right cuts to get the best from your plants. Includes which plants to prune when, step-by-step guides, troubleshooting, tools and techniques and much more. Only £6.99 incl. P&P at magsdirect.co.uk /gwpruningyr19 Complete Guide to Bulbs Create impact in your garden with Complete Guide to Bulbs.…

SUBSCRIPTIONS – 03330 162123 Including new subscription orders or queries, missing covermount gifts and magazine slipcase orders. Email gardeners.world@buysubscriptions.com Phone line open Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-1pm. GARDENERS’ WORLD OFFERS – 020 7150 5780 Email offers@gardenersworld.com MAGAZINE EDITORIAL – 020 7150 5770 Email magazine@gardenersworld.com or letters for publication to: letters@gardenersworld.com. Phone line open in office hours, Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.30pm.…

Hardy geraniums are one of Britain’s favourite hardy perennials. There’s been a huge increase in the varieties available and the RHS now lists nearly 1,500. Nearly 50 have received the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit and exciting new hybrids appear every year. But what makes them so popular? First, there’s the long flowering season, with some blooms opening from May into autumn – invaluable in a small garden. Hardy geraniums are also easy to grow, many thrive in both sun and shade, and most are easy to propagate by division. They’re tough, they’re mostly manageable in size, and some have lovely foliage as well as attractive flowers. Generally, it’s a very positive story. Perhaps the only factor in the balance is that the flower colour is limited: most come…

In response to the article on Brexit (Brexit: The Impact for Gardeners, May issue), do stop spreading gloom and doom. There’s nothing like fresh fruit and veg from your own garden, allotment or field. You mention that pot plants will just be sitting in lorries, but I’m sure they could be watered. I feel optimistic about Brexit, and we will benefit from not buying rubbish from EU countries that doesn’t last five minutes anyway. Margaret Bevan, by email Brexit will be good for gardens, gardeners and growers. We will have better control of our imports – to avoid nasties such as ash dieback disease; to reduce competition from cheap foreign imports and give our growers a better chance, so gaps will be filled with home-grown plants rather than exotica. Shelagh…

Don’t miss out! 1 EVEN MORE PLANTS Discover more than 100 stands selling a huge range of plants – it’s the biggest plant marquee after the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2 CAROL ON STAGE See Carol Klein on the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre stage, 14 and 15 June. Book online bit.ly/CarolGWL 3 FLOWER PYRAMID Don’t miss the multi-floral pyramid extravaganza. A 4.6m high display of colourful flowers in the marquee 4 EVERY SPACE COUNTS STAGE Magazine editors Lucy and Kevin share the secrets to gorgeous pots and delicious edibles, in the main hall 5 TREE SURGERY Love trees? Visit the Woodland Trust to get advice on choosing the right tree and all your tree problems solved, 15 and 16 June in the hall…

1 Sowing seed in trays Always check the packet to see the recommended sowing instructions. Fill a seed tray with a peat-free multi-purpose compost mixed with perlite. Level the surface with a board and give it a tap to knock out any pockets of air. Tip some seeds into your hand and gently scatter them across the surface. To water your seeds without disturbing them, pop the tray into another tray or sink containing water. This will soak up into the compost but won’t move the seeds. Place the tray in a cool and light spot for the seeds to germinate. And don’t forget to label the seeds. 2 Growing on Prick out your seedlings into small pots and harden off ready to plant out in your chosen area. Lay…

There has never been more awareness around happiness, wellbeing and mental health. And yet, approximately one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year and suicide is the biggest killer of men aged 20-49 years in England and Wales. However, the good news is that the UK came in at 15th, up from 19th in 2018, in the latest World Happiness Report, produced each year by the UN’s sustainable development solutions network. Happiness may seem, on the surface, to be like an elusive concept, heavily dependent on a person’s predisposition and life circumstances at a given moment. Yet there are measures we can take to be happier in our everyday lives. Gardening is one hobby that has been shown to have multiple physical, social…

Define edges A sharp edge on a lawn really defines it and keeps the garden looking smart. Regular clipping with edging shears will maintain this, but if the turf edges are ill-defined, use a half-moon spade to recut a clean line. Metal edging will also help to keep the edges neat. Get lusher growth Historically, most lawn feeds were chemical but there is now a range of organic options on the market. A high-nitrogen feed will quickly make the lawn greener and more lush, and can be applied in spring and summer, the growing season, while fertilisers with higher levels of phosphate will help improve root growth and are ideal for autumn use. Alternatively, a spring application of blood, fish and bone meal will slowly strengthen the lawn. Mow well…

Best Budget Sprayer Xhose 8 Speed Spray Nozzle Light and comfortable. Eight spray patterns were easy to change, no leaks and one-year warranty – all for £10. Best Mid-Range Sprayer Draper 7 Pattern Aluminium Spray Gun Easy to use and excellent pressure. Good range of sprays for different plants. Durable. Best Premium Sprayer Gardena Comfort Multi Spray Easy and smooth to use. Large spray head with good range of sprays. Long warranty. Best Eco Sprayer Hozelock Multi Spray Pro II Sturdy construction that’s built to last. Water-saving aerated flow and good adjustable flow, no leaks.…

Growing pelargoniums indoors all year round means it can be tricky to know when to prune them. But with growth now well under way it is worth giving them a thorough prune. Cuts will dry and heal, and new shoots grow quickly to produce flowers later in the summer. It must be done this month or the plants will be too advanced in their growth. Aim to create an open centre, cutting back evenly to form a balanced plant. Step by step 1 CUT the longest woody shoots back to just above an outward-facing leaf joint, low down on the plant. 2 REMOVE any dead shoots that haven’t sprouted into growth, cutting them flush to healthy stems. 3 PULL off any remaining spent flowers, dead leaves and flaking tissues on…

Encourage ‘good’ insects Attract a host of creatures to the garden that will pollinate your flowers and help to keep plant pests under control. Encourage aphid eaters like hoverflies, ladybirds and lacewings by growing flowering plants, particularly yarrow and dandelion. Get to know what the pupae look like, as this is the main feeding stage. Ground beetles feed on slugs at night and need some cover in the day. Provide plenty of different habitats for all of them with hedges, abundant flowers, some longer grass, log piles and bunches of twigs. Tend hanging baskets Give your hanging baskets some extra attention. They should be fresh and in full glorious flower now but you want to keep them strong right through the summer season. It will make life easier if you…

It’s time for harvesting strawberries, red and white currants, gooseberries and blackcurrants. The first of the raspberries and blueberries will also be ripening now. Pick strawberries, gooseberries and raspberries individually. Hold the fruit gently to avoid bruising and discard any that are showing signs of rot. Pulling currants off the sprigs crushes the fruit so snip off the whole sprig then pick through them back in the kitchen ready for eating, cooking, bottling or freezing.…

STEP BY STEP Lawn mowing A healthy lawn is not only a good background to the rest of the garden, it can also be a feature on its own and mowing keeps it in good condition. Clip the edges, too, to stop grass invading borders. For the best results, adapt your mowing routine to weather conditions. 1 Set the mower blade height close for much of summer but if grass is stressed by a dry spell, adjust the blade for a higher cut. This protects the basal buds in the grass and allows it to flourish. 2 Mow regularly to strengthen the grass and help it to compete with broad-leaved weeds and moss. 3 Use a cylinder mowers for the best stripes. Walk back and forth at an even pace…

There are Inspired Villages in Warwickshire, Hampshire, West Sussex, Exeter and Cheshire, plus one in development in Kent, and each offers a choice of comfortable homes that will allow you to live independently and can be adapted to your needs. The level of care and support you receive is tailored to you, and there is always help on-hand should you require it, thanks to Assistive Technology in your home and on-site wellness navigators* who can offer you assistance, support and peace of mind when you need it. *Assistive technology and wellness navigators are currently available at selected villages only. Visit the website to find out more.…

When I started growing veg to feed my family, salads were the first thing I could cross off my supermarket shopping list. It’s so easy to grow your own supply, even when space is limited. Just one square metre of earth is enough for you to be picking crunchy lettuces, fragrant annual herbs and peppery Oriental leaves to feed a family through to the end of the year. You can sow salads almost year-round and you can start right away! Using this clever metre-square growing system will help you get maximum harvests out of your space. Join me over the coming months for more ways to make the most of your veg plot. Next month, I’ll show you how clever growing can keep your garden bursting with produce to pick…

When I was 10, I had a Brownie 127, which took eight black-and-white photographs. Then, in my teens, I had a Kodak Instamatic. Oh, state-of-the-art it was. When I became a horticultural student in my 20s, I bought a single-lens-reflex camera that took transparencies with which I could bore my unsuspecting parents into submission. “Shall we have the beef sandwiches now or afterwards?” asked my mother. I also used transparencies when asked to give talks to gardening groups. Mind you, I did get my comeuppance. Having put together a talk about famous gardeners and their letters (of which I have collected a few over the years), I felt emboldened to accept the invitation of the Royal Horticultural Society to deliver a lecture on the subject. It was in Norwich, as…

Does anything signal summer more than the drowsy thrum of a bee foraging through your borders or the skittish flutter of a butterfly? Our gardens can be a pleasure ground for wildlife, as well as us, if we provide them with the right ingredients – and June is the perfect month to lay out a summer feast. But of course it’s not as easy as that. Our islands’ 23 million gardens are part of a bigger picture – national and global – that paints the loss of vital species, of weather patterns disrupted, wasted natural resources and habitats, not to mention plastic... So how should gardeners respond? To address this, we’re taking on the really chewy issue of how we garden now and in the future, in our Growing with…

At the beginning of April I made a brief trip to Keukenhof Gardens in Holland. I was the guest of a travel company and sang for my supper by giving a talk about tulips to others on the trip. They were surprised when I announced that this was my first trip to Keukenhof. For those unfamiliar with it, Keukenhof is a garden in the small town of Lisse, some 30 miles south west of Amsterdam, famous for its spring display of bulbs. I am underselling it. It is one of the most extraordinary, huge and stupendous floral performances in the world. For about eight weeks in April and May, spring bulbs and, above all, tulips, flower in astonishing abundance across its 79 acres. It opens to the public for just…

Get your card You can buy your 2 for 1 Entry Card & Guide, or extra copies for your friends and family to use, at magsdirect.co.uk/GWMay19 for £6.25 each (subscribers: see p28 for your £1 discount code) 1 Tanglewood Wild Garden Newbridge, Penzance, Cornwall TR20 8PL SAVE £5 Wildlife flourishes in this tranquil nine-acre wild garden, which is kept as natural as possible. Native trees and plants, as well as the odd exotic variety, grow alongside brambles, nettles and thistles, creating a wide range of habitats and food sources for birds, insects and other creatures. It’s the ideal place for a slow meandering walk, through the idyllic woodlands and around the ponds. Bring a picnic and spend the day exploring and relaxing, surrounded by birdsong and natural beauty. Open 19…

It’s June – hurrah for the summer solstice! Light-filled, long days that blur into evening means we can spend more time in the garden. If your borders are already packed, why not plant a large pot so you can squeeze in more of your favourites? Using a large container not only lets you fit in more plants, the larger volume of compost will also dry out less quickly. This month I’ve chosen plants for wildlife. The aquilegia and scabious will attract bees, moths and other beneficial insects. Achillea is great for pollinating hoverflies and provides seeds for birds, and the hesperis is a caterpillar food plant, key for boosting the population of adult butterflies. The pastel tones of this display complement the white and contrast with the dark aquilegia, but…

1. Leucanthemum vulgare (ox-eye daisy) A much-loved wildflower found all over the country. Easy to grow and will reliably self-seed. Flowers from late spring to autumn. Height x spread 90cm x 60cm 2. Achillea millefolium (common yarrow) Yarrow flowers are useful in a wildflower planting as they will still be blooming well into autumn. H x S90cm x 90cm 3. Briza media (quaking grass) A pretty little semi-evergreen grass with delicate stems of shimmering flowers. Prefers chalk or limestone areas on poor soil. H x S90cm x 30cm 4. Primula veris (cowslip) Cowslips always bring a smile to my face. They are loved by insects, especially because they flower early in the year. H…

Join our Sow-Along (see opposite) as we get ahead with flowers for next year. We will be growing foxgloves from seed now, ready to plant out in autumn with the aim of creating a wildlife corridor of flowers across the country. Great for pollinators, these statuesque plants suit even shady spots and self-seed, producing even more flowers. Foxgloves are biennial, flowering every other year, but by sowing half the packet this year and the rest next, you will have blooms every year. Share your successes with us and help inspire others to grow bee-friendly plants. Why foxgloves matter Their tubular-shaped blooms are vital in supporting beneficial creatures including long-tongued bees. If we all sow our seeds, we can make a nationwide impact. Step by step Sowing foxgloves indoors Sowing indoors…

GETTING OUTSIDE Go out and REALLY look at what’s in the garden – take notice of the trees, plants and wildlife. There’s evidence that seasonal changes in the colour of vegetation have an impact on mood, says Professor Gross. Just being outside and noting what’s going on around you can boost happiness. CONNECTING WITH OTHERS Use gardening as a way to connect with others. Swap cuttings, share heavy tasks, give someone who needs it an extra hand and ask older gardeners for advice and tips – sharing brings everyone happiness. SOWING SEEDS Sow seeds to focus the mind – the foxgloves free with this issue are a great start. This will provide a distraction from daily stresses and everyday problems, boosting happiness as a result. GETTING YOUR HANDS DIRTY Contact…

A luscious lawn sets off a garden, defines its form and leads your eye around the plot. But don’t worry if your lawn is currently lacklustre. With just a few simple steps, you can turn the most feral of patches into deep-pile carpets of green. In a small garden, it can be tempting to replace the lawn with gravel, paving or fake grass, but lawns stay cooler in hot summer weather, they trap carbon, clean the air, reduce flooding by absorbing water and support a host of wildlife.…

The golden rules Prepare, prepare, prepare. You need to take your time getting the ground really level. Rake the soil to a fine crumb, removing bumps and filling in divots as you go. Go for turf if you need to use the lawn within a few weeks, as a seed-sown lawn won’t be usable for four weeks or more. An old hand saw or kitchen knife are the best tools to cut turf to the shapes and sizes you want. Choose turf or seed suited to the levels of light your garden receives and the amount of wear the lawn will get. Keep on top of watering during the establishment and germination stages of turf or seed, respectively. Mistakes to avoid Shuffle your feet across the whole area due to…

GRAPEVINES Thin forming bunches that are too close together, and any weak stems and shoots, cutting them back to main branches. CHELSEA CHOP Extend displays of mid- to late-summer flowering perennials and revive those that have flowered by cutting back. FLOWERING CURRANT Cut out up to a third of the oldest flowered stems, close to the ground to make space for strong new shoots. DEADHEAD BEDDING Snip out open and spent flowers on new summer bedding so plants use their energy to get well established.…

I have always loved pelargoniums, partly for sentimental reasons, as they were the stock-in-trade of the nursery where I served my apprenticeship – and partly because, given decent growing conditions and a sunny spot, they flower for most of the year. Bedding, whether in beds, borders or pots, gives a boost to summer, reminding us that colour lifts our spirits. Pelargonium cuttings taken now will root rapidly, as long as they are given good drainage and kept in bright light. They are an easy and economical way to increase your stock of plants. A small propagator is helpful but not essential – even a windowsill can be used to raise new plants. Within a couple of months they will be ready to pot on and overwinter for flowers next year.…

Our box hedges and topiary are clipped back to springy foliage toward the end of June – cooler temperatures up here often mean gardening a month behind more southerly climes. Thankfully, box blight is yet to appear here, but to help our good fortune we provide extra care. Box are not a priority to feed each year, but bronzing is a sign they may be under stress from lack of water and/or nutrients, so providing these will help reverse symptoms. Watering with liquid seaweed through the season keeps leaves healthy and green, particularly if discoloured by sun and wind exposure (see more on p134).…

Matt Biggs Matt trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and has been gardening professionally for over 30 years. Pippa Greenwood Pippa is one of the foremost experts on pests and diseases. She gardens using organic methods. Christine Walkden Garden writer Christine appears on BBC1’s The One Show. She is also a lecturer and tour leader. Q How can I have an anti-allergy garden with lots of bright flowers? Scott O Neal, by email A CHRISTINE SAYS Restrict time spent outdoors when general pollen levels are high and only use plants that are known to produce low levels of pollen. Avoid wind-pollinated plants with hanging catkins or inconspicuous flowers, which many trees have. If you want trees, consider plums, magnolias or the small Amelanchier lamarckii, which has white flowers followed…