Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2024 i Garden Answers

Increasingly, we gardeners are all doing more each year to help wildlife. As numbers of insects dwindle dramatically, we can all make a worthwhile difference in the way we garden. Using fewer chemicals and providing habitats are vital, but the best thing about helping pollinators is in the planting! In this issue (starting on page 14), we look at some of the best plants for bees and butterflies – and of course other pollinating insects – and there are so many to choose from. What’s more, we have advice on which ones are best at different times of the year. Hopefully you’ll be inspired to try a few and provide a year-round haven for nature in your garden. In a similar vein, our wildlife expert Adrian Thomas looks at how…

Fuchsia ‘Dancing Flame’ This fiery trailing fuchsia will lavish your baskets with a blaze of orange and red until October. An RHS AGM. H: 15cm, S: 20cm; £8.99 for six plug plants. jparkers.co.uk Echinacea ‘Skipper Orange’ The coneflower is fantastic for attracting pollinators, particularly this hybrid with its beautiful burnt orange petals. An excellent cut flower, it will bloom into autumn. H&S: 50cm; £9.99 for a 2L pot. jacksonsnurseries.co.uk ‘Summer Song’ shrub rose The unusual, reddish-orange of this shrub rose isn’t its only selling point. It carries a heady scent of bananas and tea. H&S: 1.25m; £23 for bareroot. davidaustinroses.co.uk Crocosmia masonorum The molten red of this crocosmia with its elegant arching stems will add the wow factor when planted in clumps through borders. H: 1.2m, S: 80cm; £3.99 for…

Your questions answered Inside 80 Trees & shrubs 81 Orchids 81 Bulb IDs 83 Bulbs  85 Fruit & vegetables 87 Pests & disorders 88 Garden Rescue Our experts GEOFF STEBBINGS gives expert answers to all your gardening problems. Geoff is an author and gardening writer and was head gardener at Myddelton House, north London. GEOFF HODGE is a horticultural author, radio broadcaster and speaker, and former online editor for the RHS. IAN HODGSON casts an expert eye over unruly borders, providing advice on how to revamp them. Ian is the author of Great Gardens, in association with the Society of Garden Designers. Solution of the month Q Can we move a piece of my peony to my daughter’s garden? I’ve heard they can be tricky... I t’s something of amyth…

QWhy are tulip leaves drooping in my sunny container with lots of spring rain? EMMA JONES, BY EMAIL AI suspect that the wet, windy spring weather caused your tulip leaves to flop. It may also be exaggerated because the bulbs weren’t planted deeply enough. There aren’t many flowers either, which suggests that these weren’t new bulbs planted last autumn. Now that they’ve died down, lift the bulbs and sort them, keeping the largest for replanting in autumn and discarding the smallest. QHow did this bulb arrive in my garden? PHILLIP ADAMS, BY EMAIL AScilla peruviana (possibly to be renamed Oncostema peruviana) is a lovely, distinctive plant that needs well-drained soil and full sun. I doubt that it escaped from a garden and selfseeded. Instead, because the foliage is similar to…

QWill box hedge recover untreated? DOUG RICH, BY EMAIL AI suspect that your hedge is suffering from box blight, the fungal disease that can devastate box hedges. It’s usually worse in wet seasons and on dense and mature hedges with less air circulation around the leaves. If you severely prune the hedge it may regrow from the base and be free from the disease for a few seasons. You can spray with fungicide to help reduce the impact of the disease but this is rarely completely effective. In the long term it may be best to remove the hedge and there are alternatives, though few are so forgiving of site and soil and can be clipped so precisely. In a shady spot, sarcococcas make a nice, low hedge with the…

Water is an essential resource for us gardeners. It can also be an expensive resource if you have a lot of watering to do and your household is on a water meter. As water companies charge us more for our water and hotter, drier summers are on the cards thanks to climate change, it pays to have a water butt or two – or more – to make use of any rain that falls. This water will also be essential for lime-hating plants if you have hard, limey tap water. So, it makes sense to collect and make as much use of rainwater as you can. Installing a water butt for every roof downpipe – or more than one connected together – is a quick, easy and fairly inexpensive option.…

REFRESH YOUR ROSES Roses are one of the key plants flowering this month. They benefit from extra attention now to provide plentiful blooms in the weeks to come. Regular deadheading will encourage new flowerbuds, so snip off spent blooms when you spot them. Simply snap off the faded bloom with its developing seedpod with thumb and forefinger or use secateurs. Roses are hungry plants and need plenty of nutrients to flower well. Sprinkle a granular feed around the base, or water on a liquid rose feed (left) to top up the nutrient levels in the soil. Make sure ties on climbers and ramblers are secure and check plants for pests and diseases. Control pests by rubbing them off by hand or use an organic rose spray. TOP UP WATER FEATURES…

Gardens can be designed for more than beauty – they can be created to play a part in helping our native bees and other pollinators, whose populations have been in freefall with habitat loss and pesticide use. This spectacular border was part of a garden designed by Joe Swift, not as a traditional RHS Chelsea show garden, but rather as an educational exhibit supported by both the RHS and BBC to inspire people to pack their spaces with flowering plants that are rich in nectar and pollen. The sweep of colour includes plants with serious floral stamina, such as salvia and nepeta to bring months of interest, while the cirsium and allium in particular will be loaded with insect visitors. If you can avoid being too tidy in autumn, the…

● Olga Grieves has gone from complete novice to social media gardening personality on her 600m sq allotment in Devon. Each month Olga will be sharing her successes, and her failures, to inspire your own efforts! Follow Olga on Instagram @lovely_plot Beautiful sunsets, glorious sunrises, and those long days with balmy evenings filled with the symphony of crickets. And let’s not forget those sweetly-scented, starry nights and, even though the summer solstice might be bitter-sweet, the summer is just starting! As I gather the first harvests into my basket, I reminisce about the soggy and muddy days of February and March. I can’t help but feel grateful for persevering with those plot preparations. However, June is not just about soaking up the sun, it’s also a fantastic time to start…

QCan I still grow purple broccoli? RICHARD MOORE, BRIGHTON APurple, traditional ‘sprouting broccoli’ is sown in April or May and can be 60cm high and wide by autumn. It then overwinters and produces the purple ‘sprouts’ in March and April. It’s less popular than more compact, quicker-cropping ‘Calabrese’ but it is a useful spring crop. ‘Calabrese’ isn’t hardy and can only be grown for summer and autumn cropping, but it gives a quick turnaround – you can sow from March to June for crops from July to October. Each plant produces one main head and then several smaller heads. QWhy are beetroot roots not growing? EMILY WOODS, BY EMAIL A Overcrowding is the most likely reason for a poor crop of roots. Beet ‘seeds’ are actually clusters of seeds and…

Patio project Swiss chard Basil Purple sage Tomato A FEAST FOR THE SENSES Vegetables and herbs growing in individual pots make for a stunning patio container display. Here we have courgette, tomato, purple sage, Swiss chard, basil and oregano. The contrasting colours and textures come together in a fantastic theatre of joy. Snip some basil for delicious homemade pesto, chard and tomatoes for salads, and sage and courgette for soup. The taste of homegrown herbs and vegetables elevates every dish but this planting combination will make an exquisite arrangement that will brighten up any corner of the garden.…

Patagonia Hammock Chair Swing £274.99 Stylish, functional and perfect for relaxing in with your favourite person. seftonmeadows.co.uk Fire pit s’mores kit £17.95 Melt marshmallows, chocolate and biscuits over the fire pit for a taste sensation. toast-d.co.uk Dragonfly gold outdoor rug £49.99 Brighten up your patio when you have guests with this glamorous rug. rugsdirect.co.uk Rainbow stripe herringbone blanket £82.99 A thick wool, British-made blanket to keep you cosy while toasting the solstice. thebritishblanket company.com Geo fire pit £59.99 A charming fire pit to keep you warm during fun nights outdoors. vonhaus.com Nicola Spring recycled glass jug £19.99 Crafted by skilled Moroccan artisans – simply fill with juice and ice! thoroughlymodern housekeeper.co.uk…

They say patience is a virtue and, as a gardener, you need it in spades. But let’s be honest, you can’t help but wish your favourite plants would get a wriggle on, rather than leisurely take their time while you’re chomping at the bit to see their beautiful blooms. Wouldn’t it be marvellous to sow a seed and it magically spring into life overnight? That’s not going to happen, but there are flowers out there that will bloom in quick-fire time – in horticultural terms – giving you a great showing just a few weeks after seeds are sown. WORDS: ELISE SARGENT. PHOTOS: ALAMY, GAP PHOTOS, SHUTTERSTOCK Sunflowers There are so many varieties of helianthus to choose from, and they are quick off the mark when it comes to germination.…

Trends in gardening come and go, but one that seems to have arrived in recent years and stuck in the public consciousness is the idea of making mini-meadows. All around the country, people are letting parts of their lawns grow long or are creating them from scratch. It is a fun thing to do, can often be much less work than other forms of gardening, and can deliver pretty instant wins for wildlife. But how do you manage them? Is it just a matter of no mowing in May and that’s it? Before we dive into the techniques to use, let’s just ensure we’re on the same page as to what mini-meadows are. They are not (I repeat, not!) beds of annual flowers! The two get conflated frequently but are…

MEET THE HEAD GARDENER Bodnant Garden ● Ned Lomax has been head gardener of the world famous Bodnant Garden in Wales since 2022 Where and when did you do your training? I trained with, and then first worked for, the National Trust at Glendurgan Garden, near Falmouth in Cornwall. I was lucky to work under a very experienced head gardener who taught me a great deal about woodland gardening, so I largely learned my trade on the job, by way of a lot of questions and reading! I moved to North Wales in March 2022 to take up the head gardener role at Bodnant Garden, so I’m now a little over two years in and starting to really understand the garden. Tell us some more about Bodnant Garden... Bodnant Garden…

SUPER KALE Kale is one of the easiest brassicas to grow and one of the most nutrient-rich. It fell out of fashion in favour of cabbage in the Middle Ages and was used only for cattle feed. It became popular again in the 2000s when it was hailed as a superfood by American celebrities who lauded the benefits of it used raw in smoothies. It’s popularity soon crossed over the channel to Europe. It is packed with vitamins A, C, E and K and is full of antioxidants.…

QWould pruning boost non-fruiting apricot? LINDA, BY EMAIL AApricots are a viable crop in all but the coldest parts of the country, but they bloom early in spring and because bees often aren’t flying at this time of year, it can help to hand-pollinate the flowers. Even so, in a cold spring, fruit set can be disappointing. But a good crop is perfectly possible after this mild spring. Try feeding through spring and summer to boost growth and health and keep the soil clear at the base of the trunk. Apricots, like plums and peaches, are prone to diseases such as bacterial canker so prune them as little as possible and only in summer, when in leaf. Don’t prune hard because this will delay fruiting even more, and can lead…

QHow can I screen my garden from the neighbours? Fact file ● BORDER SIZE 6x1m ● SITE Shady setting with lawn, fence and tree ● SOIL Loamy chalk, alkaline ● EXISTING PLANTS Blue lobelia; Hebe pinguifolia ‘Sutherlandii’; cotoneaster; hydrangea; Lonicera nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’; Aucuba japonica; Hebe rakaiensis; Spiraea japonica ‘Goldflame’; Juniperus chinensis Tall plants are a costeffective way to hide the rather bland fences and houses beyond this sunny garden. However, buying mature specimen trees and shrubs can swallow the entire planting budget before you get started, so it pays to invest wisely. The neat little juniper here is an excellent choice for adding year-round privacy, so that can stay, but next I’d focus the budget on placing three handsome pleached specimens on either side of…

Prize photo Peony perfection Peonies are one of my favourite flowers. Here are mine looking absolutely beautiful and thankfully snapped just before the gales! Pamela McNeil, by email WIN PRUNERS WORTH £24.99! Send us a high-res photo of your favourite plants or wildlife with a short description and you could win this Wilkinson Sword Razorcut Pro Straight Pruner. It has a traditional design with two opening positions, medium and large, to suit the user’s hand size. ● Made with extra high-quality Japanese steel blades. ● Strong anodised aluminium handles for added strength and durability. ● Tackles cutting tasks with precision and care.…

Penstemons are incredibly popular and it’s not hard to see why as they have such a long flowering period and are adored by bees and butterflies. Easy to grow and maintain, they will flower from May to October and their strong stems make them excellent for cutting for vases in the home too. Unfussy on soil conditions in sun or part shade and resistant to slugs and other pests. This collection comprises penstemon ‘Alice Hindley’, ‘Apple Blossom’, ‘Laura’, ‘Raven’ and ‘Snow Storm’. Supplied as young plants, delivery in 14 days. • But 5young plants, 1 of each variety, for £16 •Buy 15 young plants, 3of each variety, for £28 – you save £20! SAVE £20 WHEN YOU BUY 15 RHODODENDRON ‘BLOOMBUX MAGENTA’ –SAVE £18 WHEN YOU BUY 3 A wonderful…

● Dan Masoliver is a trained horticulturist and freelance writer from London. He is author of The Earthworm, a newsletter that takes a sideways look at the world of gardens, gardening and horticulture In the past few years, my garden has come under attack from pests. The creatures are large, with downy fur and a penchant for earthworms. In their tireless hunt for their slippery prey, they dig, wildly and indiscriminately, with no concern for the vegetation in their wake. The word ‘pest’ has fallen out of favour. Earlier this year, the RHS even launched acampaign asking us to reconsider the muchmaligned slug, explaining that there are many varieties that actually benefit our gardens, and reminding us that all creatures great and small combine to form a wider ecosystem that…