Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2019 i BBC Gardeners' World

Our award-winning app Keep up to date while on the move with our digital edition, made for iPhone and iPad. Get extra content plus videos from Monty and the team, and access to our subscriber-only, online Secret Garden. Pay from £3.49 an issue in iTunes or go to bit.ly/GW-digital Have your say Share your views in a BBC survey of this magazine and you could win a £250 Amazon voucher – see p19. And join our Insiders panel for monthly prize surveys, at immediateinsiders.com Easy ways to mow If you love grass but hate the maintenance, explore our extensive test of robotic mowers in this issue – and watch video guides and extended reviews at gardeners world.com/reviews Your best-ever year! Never miss a sowing or planting date again, with our…

Get rid of excess growth Late summer and early autumn are ideal times to clear out a pond. Start by removing algae, such as blanketweed, with a net or a bamboo cane. Next, assess marginal plants. Those that have outgrown their allotted space can be reduced in size simply by splitting the rootball with a bread knife and replanting the division in aquatic baskets. Then, move on to the oxygenators, removing excess growth and aiming to leave 50 per cent of the water surface covered. Leave the plant material you remove around the edges of the pool for at least 24 hours, so creatures caught up in the foliage and roots can escape back into the pond. Remove dead foliage Keep on top of pond plants as they shed leaves.…

I’ve always had pets, largely a lifelong selection of delightful rescue cats and I can’t imagine life without them. Houseplants and flowers, too, are something I can’t be without. So far, touch wood, we’ve managed to avoid catastrophes (if you’ll excuse the pun) but, with the recent addition of an extremely lively kitten, who knows what might lie ahead? Pets and plants are so important, but a surprising number of houseplants and common cut flowers are toxic to both cats and dogs. If you have pets, it is worth considering the risks posed by houseplants, but please use this as a general guide – the plants and flowers mentioned are just a selection that can cause harm or even death, so it is important not to assume that anything not…

If your cat or dog has nibbled, chewed or eaten a toxic houseplant or cut flower, the symptoms shown and the susceptibility will vary enormously. Factors such as age, body weight and general health may have a substantial influence, as will the quantity of plant(s) ingested or chewed – and you might not even know how much was involved. It may be clear that something is very wrong (for example swelling or skin irritation around the mouth) but it is not always obvious (such as heart problems or dizziness). If you are in any doubt, consult your vet without delay. Some symptoms will not appear rapidly, and it is best to err on the side of caution.…

Garlic has a home in everyone’s kitchen, no matter what sort of food you like to cook. If you haven’t grown it before, now’s the time to give it a try. There are many different varieties out there – all with subtle flavour differences – giving you lots more choice than you’ll find in the supermarket. Whether you’re looking for something really zingy or you want a more subtle, sweeter taste, there’s a variety for you – see p86. October-November is the time to plant garlic, and the great thing is, it’s simple to grow. You don’t need a huge veg patch – garlic takes up so little room that it can be grown in a flower border or a pot. Over the years I have read about various ways…

Our mowers were set up in several gardens over six weeks; the models for medium lawns were installed by dealers, the smaller installed by ourselves. As we programmed each mower, we found that, while the instructions were almost always complicated, using the keypad was mostly fairly straightforward. Models with connectivity could be programmed using an app on a smart phone or tablet. Ease of cutting height adjustment varied considerably between mowers. Then we sat back and watched the mowers at work as the weeks progressed, checking for uniformity of cut, how close they mowed to the edge, noise levels and how much manual trimming still had to be done. When we needed to interrupt mowing, it was useful to see how easy it was to send the mower ‘home’. Marks…

STEP BY STEP Plant amaryllis bulbs Pot an amaryllis bulb now for flowers in about eight weeks’ time. Choose a decorative pot to make it a centrepiece, or grow it in a plain container that can be dropped into an arrangement later. Place it somewhere light and warm to grow, and turn the pot as the flower stalk develops to stop it leaning towards the light. 1 FILL a pot slightly larger than the bulb with gritty John Innes No.2 Compost and place the bulb base down in the centre. 2 ADD more compost around the bulb to hold it firmly, but with two thirds of the bulb exposed above the compost surface. 3 SOAK bulb and compost, and place in a warm greenhouse, conservatory or windowsill with as even…

STEP BY STEP Sow tree seeds Sowing fresh seeds of hardy trees and shrubs is a good way to mass up plants for hedging or, if you have space, plant your own copse. Given a winter cold period, they germinate when the days get longer in the spring. Protect the pots from mice with wire mesh. 1 MIX loam-based seed compost with a small amount of general potting compost and coarse grit. Soak the compost, then sow on to the surface. 2 SPREAD a layer of sharp sand over the seed, working fast as the presoaked compost soon wets the sand and makes it difficult to get it even. 3 WRITE a label with the date, seed source and name of the seed, then press it down into the side…

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Many of our gardens have a strip of soil at the base of a sunny wall where most plants fail to thrive. We improve the soil with organic matter, and I’ve even seen seep hose watering installed. But wait – why not plant something that actually enjoys those hot and dry conditions? Step forward nerines. Nerines are bulbs from South Africa that flower about now. The stems are topped by clusters of up to a couple of dozen wavy-edged, lily-like flowers opening in succession. These are followed by long, slender leaves that sail through winter undamaged. Pink is the predominant colour, and there’s no getting away from the fact that the colour range is limited. But they cover just about every shade of pink and there are some beautiful pure…

I felt very sad when I read Allen Clamp’s comments about wildlife gardens (Have your say, September issue). The key, as with most things, is to compromise or strike a balance. I love our garden – not because it’s perfect with everything in the right place, but because it’s a relaxing space shared between us and the visiting wildlife. If you don’t want caterpillars in your garden, you can’t expect to have butterflies. If you get rid of all the snails and slugs, you won’t have song thrushes visiting it. You can’t have it both ways. Michelle Martin, North Yorkshire I agree wholeheartedly with Allen Clamp on the current obsession of many gardening experts with wildlife gardening. A garden does not have to be a weed patch in order to…

October is the best month to prune climbing roses and trim back shrub roses. The latter do not really need ‘pruning’ in a solemn, grown-up way. It is enough to trim them back with shears, removing straggly growth and establishing a good shape to them. Then, in spring, anything crossing or damaged can be removed. But climbers (as opposed to ramblers, which should be pruned immediately after flowering) need a hard prune. This can be done at any time between October and March, but doing so in autumn reduces the risk of storm damage and looks much better. Start by removing all the current season’s side shoots back to one or two buds. This will involve cutting back a lot of material, but what remains will be the starting point…

The golden rules Choose a location for the pond in partial shade to prevent excess algae growth. Get the levels perfect – water has that annoying habit of sitting exactly level and revealing discrepancies in your levelling. Ensure the excavation is free of stones and roots, then line it with sand and/or old carpet before putting in the butyl liner. This should help extend the life of the liner. Let the water sit for at least 24 hours to allow the pH to drop before introducing plants/fish to the pond. Aim for a broad mix of leafy marginals, grassy marginals, floating plants, oxygenators and water lilies to support the widest diversity of wildlife. Use a wildlife-friendly inert dark pond dye, to slightly tint the water. This simple technique hugely reduces…

Cyclamen All parts may be toxic to cats and dogs, but the corm is the most hazardous, perhaps making dogs more likely to be harmed. Devil s ivy (Epipremnum spp, including E. aureum) All parts of the plant are toxic to cats and dogs. Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) All parts may be toxic to pets, with the leaves and stems a common cause of problems. Aloe vera Although known for its healing and therapeutic properties to humans, aloe vera may be strongly toxic to cats and dogs. Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) All parts, especially the bulbs, are mildly to moderately toxic to cats and dogs. Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina and other Ficus) All parts of this plant may be mildly toxic to cats and dogs. Flaming Katy or Christmas kalanchoe (Kalanchoe…

Lilies (Lilium) All parts, especially the pollen, are toxic to cats and dogs, but cats in particular. Even the vase water can be toxic. Monkshood (Aconitum napellus) All parts of this plant may be toxic or fatal to cats and dogs. Carnations, sweet Williams and pinks (Dianthus) All parts may be toxic to cats and dogs. Chrysanthemums All parts from most species may be toxic to cats and dogs, but specifically Chrysanthemum spp and Dendranthema spp. Asparagus fern or Sprenger’s fern All parts may be toxic to cats and dogs, but this mainly comes from A. densiflorus and A.setaceus.…

MEET ALAN AND HAMLIN Four years ago, Alan was paired with his assistance dog Hamlin by Purina’s partner charity Canine Partners, who do excellent work training dogs to better the lives of those with physical difficulties. Living with Parkinson’s means Alan can sometimes experience panic attacks, but Hamlin always knows what to do: “He’ll come and rest his chin on my leg to calm me down, so I’ve forever got wet patches on my knees. Nowadays he even gives me a hug as well, which Canine Partners don’t even teach them to do. That’s purely down to the bond we have. We’re such a great team.” Go to caninepartners.org.uk to find out more. MEET ELLIE AND EVIE Ellie got miniature dachshund Evie as a puppy, and the two have been…

1 Quarter-fill a container with multi-purpose compost and grit. Ensure there are several drainage holes – most bulbs hate being waterlogged. 2 Space bulbs 2-3cm apart. Deeper pots can take an extra layer or two of bulbs, but space them out more to give those below room to push up. 3 Cover with compost and, if desired, plant evergreen perennials such as heuchera above for extended interest. 4 Fill up with compost and firm gently. Water thoroughly, especially in spring when in full growth and bud.…

Next year’s garden can look brilliant with minimal spend, as just a few pounds can be made to stretch an incredibly long way with some canny 8 Check out car boot sales for plants from local gardeners and suppliers at budget prices. It’s worth also visiting open gardens (visit ngs.org.uk), or keep an eye out for your local village or school fete and flower show – they are a great source of cheap home-grown plants. 9 End of season sales at nurseries and garden centres can yield good-value plants. Pot-bound plants usually recover so long as roots are teased out before planting and you might get plants in need of serious TLC for free. 10 Spring bulbs bought now as dormant bulbs are best value by far. And buying in…

Delegating the mowing to a machine has become a reality with robotic mowers, already popular in Europe and now catching on here in a big way. They appeal to many users: busy professionals, second-home owners, hotels and businesses wanting quiet, non-intrusive mowing, older people who need to reduce maintenance, keen gardeners who want to free up time and, of course, gadget lovers – these mowers are great fun to watch and a real talking point. Working within the confines of a hidden boundary wire, these quiet, battery-operated, emission-free machines cut little and often so the lawn always looks neat. Clippings are mulched down into the grass (feeding the lawn), so there are no piles to deal with. Powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, robots are fully automatic, park themselves to recharge,…

Weed borders Spend time clearing flowerbeds to reduce the weed problem next year. Many weeds still grow and go to seed through the winter, so this way you’ll have fewer of them around in the spring. Perennial weed is weakened considerably if you get the roots out now, while they’re busy storing food to energise next year’s growth. Use a trowel and lift out as much as you can. Weeding is much easier after some rain when the soil is loose. VISIT gardenersworld.com/ propagation to discover how to make more plants Put in new rose bushes Soak bare-root or potted roses first before planting. Dig a hole wider and deeper than the root spread. Add rotted manure and bonemeal to the soil at the base of the hole. Tease…

Sowing broad bean seed Sow a row of broad beans for an early harvest next year. Choose one of the autumn-sown varieties, which can withstand low winter temperatures, such as ‘Aquadulce Claudia’, ‘Super Aquadulce’ and ‘The Sutton’. Sown now, they’ll germinate in a few weeks and the pods will be ready for picking a good two to three weeks before the February-sown varieties. If there’s a prolonged cold snap, put fleece over them to protect the leaves from scorching. The roots will survive and will reshoot if the plants get damaged. Put in supporting canes and string as the crop emerges to prevent the stems from being pulled to the ground when the pods swell. Water the seed along the row after sowing, but after that, only water if it’s…

■ Leave flowers on hydrangeas to provide winter protection ■ Use a small spade to slice into grass and plant snowdrop bulbs, about five bulbs per hole ■ Wrap up tree ferns, to insulate and protect crown from getting wet ■ Move wooden garden furniture indoors or protect with tarpaulin ■ Mulch meconopsis with leaf mould or well-rotted horse manure ■ Gather leaves in a chicken-wire cage to rot down into leafmould, which is a great soil conditioner or potting-compost ingredient ■ Lay turf to make a new brand-new lawn ■ Neaten up privet hedges wth a last trim ■ Finish clearing out the pond and stop leaves entering with netting ■ Prune late-flowering climbing roses after they finish flowering…

• If squashes sound hollow when you knock them, they’re fully ripe. Cut them away with 5cm of stalk and bring them in to a sunny greenhouse or windowsill to ‘cure‘ (harden) the skins. • Tomatoes won’t ripen now, so pick fruits, even if green, to turn into chutney. • Clear spent greenhouse plants and pull out supports to store somewhere dry. • Leeks are ready to pull once the shanks are about 3cm wide; leave smaller ones in the ground to grow on. • When asparagus foliage turns straw yellow, cut it back to 5cm above soil level. • Plant out pre-sown winter salads in greenhouse borders to follow the tomatoes, or in a sheltered garden spot. • Harvest the last courgettes and compost spent plants (even if they’ve…

Christine Walkden Garden writer Christine appears on BBC1’s The One Show. She is also a lecturer and tour leader. Matt Biggs Matt trained at Kew and has been gardening professionally for more than 30 years. Pippa Greenwood Pippa is one of the foremost experts on pests and diseases. She gardens using organic methods. Q What can I do about my flood-prone front garden? Sophie, Cornwall A MATT SAYS There are a couple of options. You could counter the threat of flooding by having your drains cleaned more often, then grow traditional cottage garden plants like aquilegia, herbaceous geraniums, delphiniums and phlox. Or use the flooding to your advantage. Turn the guttering from your house outwards to water the soil with natural rainwater, then plant accordingly. Use moisture-loving plants like Ligularia…

If you have a gardening problem, email the details (and your location) to Q&A@gardenersworld.com or write to Emma Crawforth at Gardeners’ World Magazine, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London W6 7BT. We regret that we cannot offer a personal advisory service or guarantee a reply. You’ll also find lots of pest and disease advice, along with creative and problem-solving projects, at gardenersworld.com/how-to Gardening on the radio Gardeners’ Question Time Enjoy a fascinating crop of listeners’ questions and answers from the experts every week, on BBC Radio 4, Fridays at 3pm, repeated Sundays at 2pm. Missed it? Listen online within seven days at bbc.co.uk/ radio4…

✔ Awards special – we reveal our nationwide finalists ✔ Discover ideas to steal for your own garden ✔ Cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award ✔ Glean advice from our expert judges including Alan Titchmarsh Container style Create winter impact with our simple recipe ON TEST We put battery-powered multi-tools through their paces to reveal our best buys Expert advice Alan on why now is the perfect time to start home-grown fruit Adam shows you how to get results from a small greenhouse Discover the value of leafmould with Monty’s practical guide A large garden needn’t break the bank with Carol’s thrifty tips 10 WAYS TO HELP WILDLIFE THIS WINTER Follow our tips to make your garden wildlife friendly PLUS • frost protection • bonfires – for…

Can there be a gardener out there who doesn’t have the nosy gene? I see it as a healthy curiosity, borne not of envy but wonder at how fellow gardeners achieve such variety using just the same tools and techniques. It’s what makes gardening so addictive and universal – no barriers to entry, no limits to creativity and no taste but your own to please. So, when Alan offered us an exclusive peek over his garden wall, not just once, but for a whole year, we couldn’t resist! This private garden, forged away from the unblinking lens of the cameras, has been his pleasure and refuge for 17 years. It’s also been a melting pot for his ideas, formed over decades of working among plants and nature, creating not only…

“Gardeners are the minority almost everywhere other than Britain” I am two-thirds of the way through making a new series about American gardens. It is fascinating, exhausting and delightfully surprising. Having done a lot of research ahead, I set out to find the evidence that fitted my pre-formed theories – but within a day or two the facts on the ground challenged every preconception. I think of it like a jigsaw where I am gathering individual pieces in the hope that, at some point, all the pieces of the puzzle will fit together to make a coherent picture. But America is complex. The picture has many components, some of which, so far at least, hardly seem to fit together at all. I still have a long trip to make to…

Unlike any other garden feature, a body of water is beautiful and multi-functional. Ponds quickly evolve complex ecosystems that support everything from microorganisms and pond critters to the birds and amphibians that feed on them. From the tiniest pond in a barrel, to a sprawling lake, there is a style to suit every garden, and they’ll all increase diversity and counter the trend of natural and man-made ponds sliding into decline. Why this works This attractive pond works on many fronts: the decked area allows people to get up close and personal with the water, while the planting surrounding the area makes it feel intimate and private. Plants around the pool blend beautifully into the marginal pond species, making a seamless transition between earth and water. The softened edges of…

• Make sure you know exactly which houseplants you have in your home – get any unknown ones identified. • Consider giving any that you know to be potentially toxic to a friend or neighbour who does not have pets. • Be extra cautious if you have a kitten or a young cat or puppy. • Bored pets are more likely to come to harm, so ensure they have plenty of walks, outdoor time and/or toys as appropriate. • In some cases it may be possible to put a potentially dangerous houseplant out of the reach of your cat or dog, but never underestimate their determination or ability to jump or climb. • If you are given a bunch of lilies, or a bouquet that includes them, I would suggest…

What to clear away… Leaves Gather the dead leaves from the lawn and around sensitive plants and make leafmould. Some leaves such as oak can take a long time to break down, so shred them to accelerate the process. Tender plants Wet and cold weather can be disastrous for tender plants. Lift and bring those that are less hardy into a well-ventilated and frost-free place, ready to grow bigger and better next year. Weeds Annual and perennial weeds can harbour garden pests and scatter their seed throughout your beds and borders – ‘A year’s seed, seven years’ weed’, as they say. You have been warned! Leaves in ponds Decaying foliage is not good for garden ponds as it rots and then sinks to the bottom, compromising water quality and the…

Displaying plants in containers is an ideal way to jazz up the garden seasonally, and planting them up always feels like a mix of gardening and flower arranging. Here, I’ve gone for a combination of colourful stems, berries, and a mix of deciduous and evergreen foliage to capture the essence of autumn in a pot. This container will look good from day one and will keep going right through the winter. Only the cornus will lose its leaves, but it will still have its lovely colourful stems. The container will do well in sun or semi-shade, but the plants won’t thrive long term as some are boisterous. Come spring, however, they can all be planted out into the garden, either keeping the same combination, or individually dotting into any gaps…

Planting up a border or garden can be a bit daunting when there’s little in the way of spare cash around, especially if you’ve recently moved home or have a large garden to fill. Even if you’re looking to freshen up pots or give beds a seasonal spruce, few of us can afford to spend lavishly on our gardens. But there’s no need to feel deprived – it can be easier than you think to create a gorgeous garden with very little outlay. The answer lies in using all the savvy gardener’s shortcuts to making beautiful borders on a budget – and when you do spend, buying wisely to make your cash stretch as far as possible. Autumn is the perfect time to sow, grow, propagate, buy and plant all…

Buying hardy plants at this time of year means your money can stretch a lot further. Shops are keen to make space for Christmas stock, so there’s likely to be bargains 15 For patio containers, plant evergreens like ivy, phormium and gaultheria – they’ll last for many years and look good in every season. 16 Buy younger bare-root fruit trees as one-year-old ‘maidens’ instead of trained fan, espalier or bush, and invest time rather than money: £18 from ashridgetrees.co.uk, £17 from talatonplants.co.uk. Bare-rooted raspberries are great value, too. You can get six for £10.99 (marshalls-seeds.co.uk) or 15 for £15.98 (jparkers.co.uk). 17 Perennials can be bought as bare root and represent great value. Three geranium ‘Brookside’ plants cost just £1.65 each from Gardens4You (gardens4you.co.uk), making it affordable to buy several plants…

Docking station Where the mower charges, with floor plate and mains power supply unit. The clear space needed around this differs between mowers, and can determine where it is placed on the lawn. Hood This will have carry handles and an impact protector (bumper). Control panel and timer Programme mower via a keypad to cut when you wish at any time of day or week. Boundary wire Some models require an extra guide wire to be installed to guide the mower back to the docking station when it has finished mowing. Collision sensors Mower changes direction if an obstacle is encountered. Tilt sensor Stops the blades immediately the mower is lifted or falls over. Lithium battery Rechargeable. Run and charge time varies depending on capacity. All are quiet, between 58…

Looking after birds They are the garden’s most prominent entertainers, adept at helping to control insect pests and a vital part of our daily lives, so it makes sense to cherish our garden birds, especially with winter approaching. Watching them at the bird table or on suspended feeders can brighten the dullest day, and providing them with a healthy diet that they will enjoy is the responsibility of anyone who aspires to be a wildlife gardener. With summer coming to an end, birds are fattening themselves up, and looking for sites to roost and shelter. Seedheads and berries are great for nourishment, but these will run out. By providing other food sources we can help them survive the winter. The smaller the bird, the shorter its life – a robin…

Pest control Go on a pest hunt. During the autumn, pests find safe places to overwinter ready for next year’s breeding cycles. You’ll find snails hiding along raised bed walls and behind climbers. Disturb the ground to give birds a chance to find pest larvae and feed on slug eggs. Put greasebands on the base of your fruit trees to stop winter moth caterpillars from climbing up the trunk to nest in the tree. Install some bug boxes or position bunches of twigs to encourage aphid predators like ladybirds and lacewings. Keep the garden birds fit by feeding them through the winter. They’ll stay near, nest nearby and keep the bugs at bay next spring. Harvest root vegetables Dig up carrots, parsnips and beetroot as you need them. They’ll keep…

The sun hangs low and your winter coat is back on its hook by the door: we’re coming to the end of another season. This is our final visit to the family veg plot in this series, too, but it’s perhaps the most important as you’ll be laying the foundations for next year’s crops. In fact, late autumn isn’t really an ending. The family can tuck into hearty winter warmers, from kale to parsnips, and you’re getting ahead on next year’s sowing. Every moment spent gardening now pays dividends in spring, so wrap up warm and get going! Why start now? Winter-proofing your plot before the cold weather hits is like a down payment on next year’s crops. Soil protected from rain, frost and wind is ready to bounce back…

“The wider the gene pool, we possess, the more likely that disease-resistant strains can be found” Do you have the collecting bug? Perhaps it is something you are born with – or not. I’d like to think I was unaffected, but the amount of books on my shelves would testify otherwise. And plants? Yes, I suppose I collect them as well, in a general rather than a specific way. But the gardeners who are really making a difference and ensuring that botanical riches are preserved are those who are particularly passionate about one group of plants and insist on growing as many species and varieties of that one genus as they possibly can. Some would call them obsessives; I call them saints. These are the men and women who preside…