Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2025 i Garden Answers

There is something heroic about herbs in our gardens – of course they do a wonderful job when it comes to preparing food, but they also fulfil other duties. Many are attractive to pollinating insects, while some offer up wonderful fragrance. And several, such as mint or rosemary, are perfectly hardy so they’ll give interest all year round. So it’s a bit of a mystery why more people don’t grow herbs – they seem to fall somewhere between traditional grow-your-own veg and colourful ornamentals. Well, in this copy of Garden Answers, we aim to put that right! Our allotment queen Olga Grieves is celebrating all that herbs do for us, with ideas on different plants for different spaces, growing tips and ideas for preserving and storing. If there’s one thing…

Geranium himalayense Large, cup-shaped, violet-blue blooms in a big, early summer flush, with a few more blooms through summer. Attractive lobed leaves turn a vibrant red in autumn. H: 30cm, S: 60cm; £10 for 2L pot. shop.barnsdalegardens.co.uk ‘Patricia’ This sterile type has unmissable hot pink, saucer-shaped blooms that add a pop of vibrant colour amid dark green, deeply-cut foliage all summer long. H&S: 60cm; £12.99 for a 9cm pot. waitrosegarden.com ‘Rozanne’ This sterile geranium pumps out its white-eyed, purple-veined flowers all summer long. A vigorous grower, with leaves developing reddish tints in autumn. H: 60cm, S: 80cm; £12.99 for a 9cm pot. crocus.co.uk ‘Kashmir White’ A free-flowering hardy geranium with dainty, intricate blooms that add some understated elegance to the borders through summer. H: 45cm, S: 1.2m; £22.95 for 3…

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We wait with bated breath for their flowers to unfurl and drink in their beauty for those precious few weeks when they are resplendent in their full glory. These are the plants that imbue a garden with excitement; these are the movie stars to the supporting cast of evergreens, ornamental grasses and long-flowering perennials. Among the many spring-blooming plants that provide transient floral displays, tree peonies are perhaps the most glamorous. The opulent flowers that can be as large as dinner plates are made up of ruffled petals that resemble crushed silk, and these surround a cluster of prominent golden stamens. Some comprise a single circle of petals, semi-doubles have a couple of rows of petals, while doubles have multiple overlapping petals, so much so the central stamens can barely…

IN WARM WEATHER plants need extra water to keep the soil moist and maintain healthy growth – especially when they’re young and still developing deep roots. • Always try to water early morning or late evening when it’s cooler, to slow down evaporation. • Soak the soil around the plant roots once or twice a week with a half-strength liquid feed rather than watering little and often every day. Let water seep deeper into the soil so roots will grow down to find it. • Create a shallow ‘bowl’ in the soil around vulnerable plants – this will act as a well. • Apply a mulch of bark, compost or grass clippings to help seal in moisture around trees and shrubs after watering. • Puddle in young plants when planting.…

In David Attenborough’s first blockbuster nature series called Life On Earth, he memorably said: “There are some four million different kinds of animals and plants in the world. Four million different solutions to the problems of staying alive.” In the programmes, David popped up in all manner of amazing habitats around the globe to illustrate this diversity, but didn’t include gardens; they clearly weren’t considered attention-grabbing enough to make prime-time TV. And yet, if you stop and look, you’ll find that gardens are as incredible for wildlife as many wild places. The pioneer who opened people’s eyes to this was a woman called Jennifer Owen, who from 1971 spent over 30 years looking for and identifying everything she could in her suburban garden in Leicester. In that time, she found…

In the hills above Auchtermuchty sits an acre of artful and inspiring garden. It’s a very exposed, windy spot, 600 feet above sea level in north-east Scotland but despite the situation, it still manages to ooze the softness and tranquillity of a garden in early summer. Though formal near the house, Nichola and John Fletcher’s garden spreads to looser, cleverly colour-themed flowing borders flourishing alongside rambling roses that colonise a majestic stone pergola with summer blossom. Wild areas planted with trees allow the garden to flow out beautifully into the glorious views beyond the garden. Wild areas planted with trees allow the garden to flow out beautifully “Nichola is a jewellery maker and she has created the garden like a jewel,” says John. And that perfectly sums it up. Summer…

Q Did repotting cause crispy leaves on my weeping fig? CAROLE SAMPSON, BRAUNTON A Many houseplants suffer after repotting. You should always use a houseplant compost, which is usually quite coarse, and only repot in spring or early summer so the roots have time to fill the new compost and there’s less risk of overwatering. And only pot into a slightly bigger pot. Weeping figs can shed foliage if moved, over- or under-watered, or suffer a chill. I think the roots have been damaged by overwatering, causing leaf drop and small branches to die. Trim off the dead areas and it should recover. Q Why is my potted hydrangea failing? JOANNE SUMMERS, BY EMAIL A Hydrangeas sold as pot plants in spring are varieties that are easy to bring to…

Q I’ve been given some kohlrabi seeds. What are they exactly? CAMERON BROWN, BLYTH A Kohlrabi is a quick-growing brassica that can be sown from spring to mid July. It produces a swollen stem a bit like a turnip on a stalk and the leaves grow from the swollen stem. When young it is like a sweet, baby turnip but if allowed to get old they often split and are then tough. They can be grated and eaten raw or used as crudites, or steamed, boiled or roasted. Eat them young and you will be a fan. Q I don’t have a pond so could I grow land cress as a substitute for water cress? KAREN WRIGHT, HASTINGS A Biennial land cress is a different plant from watercress but has…

CONVOLVULUS CNEORUM Cup-shaped bright white flowers with a yellow centre May–July are held on silver stems amid bushy foliage. Plants prefer full sun and a well-drained gritty soil. H: 60cm, S: 90cm HEBE PINGUIFOLIA ‘SUTHERLANDII’ Evergreen shrub ideal for clipping into mounds of grey-green foliage. Small white flowers May–June. Prefers sun or part shade and tolerates dry conditions. H: 35cm, S: 1m STACHYS BYZANTINA ‘SILVER CARPET’ Semi-evergreen perennial bearing soft grey-silver leaves. Forms a dense mat of foliage in time. Prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Rarely flowers. H: 20cm, S: 45cm THYMUS ‘SILVER POSIE’ Aromatic thyme with white-margined leaves and bright purple to white flowers May-Jun. Cut back hard after flowering to keep mounded shape. Best in full sun and well-drained soil. H: 30cm, S: 45cm LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA ‘ARCTIC SNOW’…

GAS BeefEater Clubman Stainless Steel £1,275 Made from solid stainless steel, this four-burner barbecue has a large cooking area of 4,784 sq cm, produces a heat output of 19.99kW and has two handy side shelves. The trolley has four lockable caster wheels and a removable lower shelf. The folding legs make it versatile and easy to store when not in use. A black powder coat finish is also available. Campingaz 3 Series Classic LS D From £349 A three-burner barbecue that also features a side burner for preparing sauces or other accompaniments and a removable warming rack that can also be used for convection grilling. The cooking area is 2,800sq cm. A folding side table and utensil hooks are ideal for condiments and accessories. Made from painted steel and aluminium,…

Two’s company We recently moved from South Wales to Thurso – ‘The Northernmost Town on the island of Great Britain’. In this extreme Scottish Highlands location, we’re creating a garden and offering lunch for two! Chris & Sharon Bridgeman, Thurso Send us a high-res photo of your favourite plants or wildlife with a short description and you could win this Wilkinson Sword Razorcut Pruner. It has a traditional design with two opening positions, medium or 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.…

CLUES ACROSS 1 - - - - - Horticultural Society – charitable organisation founded in 1804 (5) 3 Berkshire racecourse and Euphorbia martini ‘-- - - - Rainbow’ or Martin’s spurge (5) 6 Tender late-summer genus of which cristata is known as ‘cockscomb’ (7) 7 Botanical name of trees commonly known as firs (5) 9 and 12 Across Legume dried as a butter bean (4,4) 12 See 9 Across 13 Hollyhock genus (5) 16 Sweet violet Viola - - - - - - - (7) 17 Silky smooth material that inspired a common name for Clarkia amoena (5) 18 Aegopodium podagraria, pernicious weed better known as ground - - - - - (5) CLUES DOWN 1 Magenta-flowering succulent Cistanthe grandiflora or - - - - purslane (4) 2 Spring messenger…

Through summer, when the weather is warmer, many plants rely on us for water to keep them healthy and growing. As much of the water we use for the garden comes from the mains, it’s important we don’t waste it, not only to save money but also to preserve it. Ideally, we should collect as much rainwater as possible in water butts, although in periods of warm, dry weather, it’s soon used up. First decide what needs watering. Established plants don’t normally need it, unless it is very hot and dry, or they’re stressed. However, young plants may need water to help them establish properly. Vegetables in the ground often need watering, especially leafy crops that soon start to wilt in dry conditions. And plants of all types growing in…

The Wildlife Trusts’ British Rainforest Garden is to find a permanent home at Bristol Zoo. The garden, designed by Zoe Claymore, is a homage to the wild and wet woodlands that were once typical along the west coast. The garden is inspired by the 100-year mission of The Wildlife Trusts and Aviva to bring rainforest back to the British Isles. Kathryn Brown, director of climate change and evidence at The Wildlife Trusts, said: “How magical to rehome our little rainforest garden in a place already loved by generations of families. Children will love playing among the trees – and as their canopies spread and the moss and lichen green the rocks, it’ll come to feel like Harry Potter’s enchanted forest.”…

Chester & Cooke are giving one lucky reader the chance to win two stunning, UK-designed and handmade pieces from their latest range. The prize includes a stylish seed box (RRP £70) crafted from premium ply and engraved with Sow, Grow, Enjoy – complete with four compartments for herbs, vegetables, flowers, and essentials such as labels and string. You’ll also receive a smart tool rack (RRP £65) that’s uniquely designed so your different shaped handles fit perfectly into the allotted holder, keeping everything tidy and within easy reach. Don’t miss out, enter now for your chance to win this gorgeous garden duo! • To enter, simply visit gardenanswersmagazine.co.uk/freeforyou by midnight on June 17, 2025.…

The Royal Horticultural Society is delaying its plan for all its flower shows to be peat-free by the end of the year. Instead, 40% of the nurseries in its famous floral marquees at shows will be able to sell plants that were raised in plugs that contained peat before being potted into something peat-free, at RHS Flower Shows in 2026. Next year’s shows include two new ones, at Badminton Estate in Gloucestershire, and on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. RHS Director General, Clare Matterson CBE, said: “Whilst some nurseries have excelled at going peat-free, it would be damaging not to support the nurseries still making huge investment in their transition to be peat-free.”…

There are many ways to store and preserve herbs, from freezing to drying and infusing oils, butters, salts, and even sugars. I like to mix freshly chopped parsley and lovage, pack them tightly into ice cube trays, top up with water or oil and freeze. When I need them for soups or stews, I have a ready portion. There is a very good reason for preserving your homegrown, organic herbs too. Did you know that herbs are among the most expensive items in supermarkets? For example, organic parsley costs around £70-£90 per kilo, organic basil costs approximately £80 per kilo, and organic chives can reach up to £120 per kilo! Think about how many packets of herbs are left to wilt at the back of the fridge. That’s a lot…

Plant in autumn or early spring in sun or a little shade and in fertile soil that drains freely. Put supports for tall cultivars in place in advance. After flowering, remove dead stems, unless you want seed heads for arranging. Cut back foliage to the ground, mulch and feed. Propagate from root cuttings taken autumn to midwinter. Excavate the soil from around part of the clump and cut off several strong, healthy pieces of root. Prepare 8–10cm-long cuttings, making a sloping cut at the tip end, to identify which way round to plant. Place vertically around the edges of a large pot of compost mixed with sand or perlite, with the cutting tops just below the surface; water sparingly; then place in a sheltered spot outside. Pot individually the next…

1 FILL TRAYS Fill up seed trays or pots with peat-free, multi-purpose compost and then scatter the seeds on the surface. 2 COVER WITH VERMICULITE Cover with a layer of vermiculite to prevent the compost surface forming a solid cap. 3 GROW ON Label, water and cover with a clear plastic bag or propagator lid to retain moisture. Remove as soon as seedlings emerge. Place in a bright spot out of midday sun in order to prevent seedlings from being scorched.…

A cottage garden wouldn’t be the same without at least a rose or two. Follow these tips for a summer of blooms and fabulous fragrance. • Snip off fading flowers back to a healthy leaf to encourage more blooms, but don’t deadhead species roses (eg Rosa moyesii, R. canina and R. rugosa) and those that won’t repeat flower, because these will form attractive hips. • Prune rambling roses straight after they have flowered in order to control their spread. • Apply a liquid rose fertiliser as a foliar feed to boost plants, watering or spraying it onto leaves. • Remove leaves that show signs of black spot and put in your council green waste bin. Use a fungicide such as Provanto Fungus Fighter Plus (£11.49/1L davidaustinroses.co.uk). • Squish aphids or…

Micro-moths (93 species) You are probably used to seeing large moths clinging to the outside of lit windows on summer evenings, and Jennifer recorded 282 species of these ‘macro moths’. But she also recorded lots of ‘micro-moths’, some of which are very tiny indeed. The caterpillars of each species often eat the leaves or buds or roots of only one type or family of plants, and some are so small that they can live inside a leaf in what is called a leaf-mine. A few even feed underwater in ponds. Bugs (183 species) In common parlance, ‘bugs’ is a word used to mean almost any little creature, but technically it refers to a big group of insects that have piercing and sucking mouthparts. You will probably be familiar with some, such…

1 If the weather is warm and wet, this can be ‘whoomph’ season – time to keep on top of nettles and bindweed. 2 If you have let your lawn grow long but it is on rich soil, you may need to cut it to stop it flopping. Use shears if you can rather than the mower. 3 Monitor the amount of seed in feeders – your birds are likely to need less now, and it is best not to leave food out uneaten. Look out for… • SMALL TORTOISESHELL BUTTERFLIES Once common in gardens, their numbers have fallen, but June is when the midsummer brood is on the wing. • ENJOY BIRDSONG By July, most birds will have fallen silent. • WATCH FOR BATS at dusk and, if you’re…

SHRUBS & CLIMBERS Solitary shoot Q Should my rose ‘Boznatafra’ be sending up just one stem? SANDY STEAD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE A Your rose is one of the pharmaROSA roses, bred for their perfume and edible qualities. They are sold under a bewildering range of names and ‘Boznatafra’ is also sold as ‘Natalija’, ‘Frayla’ and ‘Eveline Wild’. The plant looks young and healthy and has made a strong shoot with seven leaflets. It will probably flower normally and after blooming you can prune the stem back by half to promote growth in some of the lower branches. Q What might have caused sudden leaf drop on potted rhododendron? MARC, BY EMAIL A There are leaf notches caused by vine weevil adults, which aren’t serious, but it’s worth checking that there are no…

Long summer days and outdoor living mean one thing – it’s time for lots of entertaining, al fresco dining and the annual firing up of the barbie. Lovely summer weather means we can stay in the garden for longer and truly put into action what our gardens are meant for – enjoyment. If you really want to cook up a storm, there are lots of great barbecue types and designs to choose from. While your budget, the size of your garden, how many you regularly cook for, and even available storage space, will be major factors in deciding exactly what to go for, another consideration is which fuel you want to use to cook your food. Your budget may actually make your mind up for you, since gas barbecues tend…

WRITE TO US AT Garden Answers, Bauer Media, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA EMAIL gardenanswers@bauermedia.co.uk WEBSITE gardenanswersmagazine.co.uk Clever courtyard After a recent visit to Edinburgh New Town, my partner asked me to make a dead space between our kitchen and conservatory into a courtyard-style garden. I’m really pleased with how it’s coming along. Louise Browne, by email Five star compost We are so pleased with the results of our compost bin this year. We were able to extract two-thirds of the contents, which had rotted down from a mix of veg and fruit peelings, grass mowings, tea leaves (extracted from the tea bag as they don’t rot down well), shredded toilet rolls and egg boxes, egg shells, small twigs from pruned shrubs and many more items. We love…

• 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 I do like a good sporting mishap highlights reel. You know, the ones featuring those ludicrously embarrassing own goals. See the defender, standing on the halfway line, coming under pressure from an opponent; he swivels and strikes the ball, attempting a long range pass back to his goalkeeper. Only by some fabulous fluke, he manages to send the ball soaring over the goalie’s head, and watches, mouth agape, as it dips below the crossbar and nestles into the back of his own net. Hilarious. Unfortunately, however, when it comes to the sport of growing plants for pleasure,…

There’s a magical process that goes on around us that recycles, re-uses and saves gardeners a literal fortune. It’s called composting and the result is a healthy, nutrient-rich soil conditioner that will feed your soil, feed your plants and help restore the overall health of your garden. Composting turns waste into an amazing material that feeds your garden, plants and soil. It’s a natural process powered by all sorts of microbes, organisms, mini beasts and more. And the resulting material is perfect for enveloping plant roots with a healthy environment – after all, nature composts all around us without any assistance, using fallen leaves to boost the soil. Good drainage is essential, so the composter should be placed onto open soil. This allows beneficial organisms to move in and out…

The freshness and generosity of June are summed up in this border, with bold splashes of orange geums, purple astrantia, deep purple salvias and powder blue echinops celebrating one of the most colourful months. But it’s the various shapes and sizes of fresh June foliage that make it all work so well. Soft, ferny fennel, soft new shoots of sage and lavender and billowing cosmos tie everything together to make the perfect scene.…

Do you have a shed and, if so, what colour is it? And is that colour the nation’s favourite? According to The Posh Shed Company, after surveying gardeners, sage green is the top colour. More than a quarter of those surveyed chose it as their favourite colour for a garden shed, with warm grey the second most popular. And the least favourite shade? Pale pink! Jenny Davis from The Posh Shed Company said: “Gone are the days when a quick lick of varnish was the finish of choice for shed owners.”…

BASIL The classic Genovese basil is the most popular but why not try ‘Dark Opal’ or ‘Cinnamon’? You can use all parts of the basil plant – from leaves and stems to flowers. It’s incredibly aromatic, and I cannot be without it, so I always grow plenty of it to use. Over the years I’ve found that the best results come from sowing basil seeds directly into their final container and leaving them undisturbed. They don’t like being moved, love sunshine, and thrive in moist compost. To encourage bushier growth, snip off the tips when they reach about 12-15cm tall. You can even root the cuttings in water to grow more plants! DILL As a Polish person, I cannot imagine life without dill. Ask anyone from Poland, and they’ll tell…

Summer-flowering shrubs are a great investment for any garden, taking up the mantle from spring blossom, choisya and ceanothus, to help fill the June ‘flower gap’. Larger specimens will help create a layered look and can act as an anchor among shorter annuals and perennials, their blousy blooms providing colour, interest and fragrance for months. Garden centres tend to sell plants when they’re in flower, so you should find a wide selection of shrubs in their full glory. Check the plant label for details of their ultimate height and spread and preferred growing conditions. A sun-loving shrub is not going to thrive in a cold shady spot, and ericaceous plants prefer an acidic soil. Prepare the planting hole beforehand and mix in plenty of well-rotted compost. Check that the potted…

Jennifer Owen clearly had a great passion and dedication to her wildlife watching, catching many of the smaller creatures in special traps and then either identifying them herself or turning to experts for help. But you don’t have to display such discipline to make interesting discoveries. Last summer, I challenged myself to find a new creature in my garden every day for a fortnight, and it turned out to be quite easy. By just pausing, ceasing the ‘constant doing’, and observing, it is amazing what you will see. So, try looking closely at flowers; turn over leaves; look under stones. Be curious. You can take photos and then use the power of the internet to help work out what you have found. Many creatures are nervous of big things moving,…

Lyn Short’s garden, with views of the famous Ilkley Moor, is truly a garden like no other. Although the well-known landmark can be viewed from the top of the garden, down below is a hidden paradise of fern-covered terraces, boulders bejewelled in moss and a natural stream, providing a soundtrack to the garden and surrounded by lush planting, coaxed under Lyn’s gentle guidance. “The garden is only a five minute walk from the edge of town but it is hidden so people don’t realise it’s here,” says Lyn. The garden is only a five minute walk from the edge of town but it is hidden so people don’t realise it’s here The stream (known locally as a ‘beck’ and called ‘Spicey Gill’) is set low and runs downhill through the…

Mini-cucumbers are fast-growing plants, provided that you give them a warm, sunny place to grow, with shelter from strong winds. Feed the plants weekly with a general plant food until flowers start to form, then switch to a weekly high potash food. The easiest way is to add it to your watering can, mix it in and water it onto the compost surface. Make sure the compost is slightly damp before watering it on. Once the plant has seven leaves, pinch out the growing tip to encourage more fruiting sideshoots. Outdoor cucumbers will produce fruits on male and female flowers so leave them all intact on the plant.…

Q Each year my potted lilies suffer more and more from lily beetles. Would I be better storing the bulbs dry over winter? CLAIRE BROWN, BEDFORDSHIRE A It may help to repot the lilies in autumn once the stems have died down. You can then pick out the pupae that will be in the compost and among the lily bulbs if some of the summer grubs were allowed to mature. However, lily bulbs won’t survive drying out for prolonged periods, so don’t store them dry but replant them immediately in fresh compost. However, the adults can fly so even if you remove all the grubs you may still have the problem next year if neighbours are not so assiduous in their control methods. Q Why did only one pot of…

THERMOMETER Extremely useful for ensuring the barbecue has reached a working temperature and the food is cooking properly SIZE The cooking area should be large enough for the amount of food and number of people you’re cooking for, but not so big it becomes a nuisance or difficult to store WHEELS Large, sturdy wheels are essential if you need good manoeuverability around the garden LID A close-fitting lid will ensure the barbecue keeps its heat and maintains a steady temperature…

Penstemons are incredibly popular and it’s easy to see why – they’re so easy to grow and have such a long flowering period. From May through to October, bell-shaped blooms in shades of purple and pink appear on strong stems; they are loved by bees and butterflies and make excellent cut flowers. They’re also unfussy on soil conditions in sun or part shade and resistant to slugs and other pests. Supplied as young plants in seven days. • Buy Popsy Penstemon Collection x 3 (1 of each) for £15. • Buy Popsy Penstemon Collection x 9 (3 of each) for £20. • Buy Popsy Penstemon Collection x 15 (5 of each) for £28 – just £1.87 each. MORE GREAT MONEY-SAVING OFFERS SINCERE SALVIA COLLECTION Highly floriferous, these hard-working plants will…

Winter rain and frosts have left our outdoor surfaces in a sorry state, caked with algae and grime. Patios, paths and decking will all benefit from a good clean right now – not only will they look so much better, they will be less slippery and, particularly in the case of decking, will be protected against damage. Get to work with a pressure washer, working along lengths of timber for an even clean. Wooden fence panels cloaked with green algae can also be blasted clean, but allow any timber to dry thoroughly before treating with wood preservative (dry, weathered decks can also be revived using decking oil, which will revitalise timber and prevent water ingress). Make sure you do the same with wooden furniture, while metal tables and chairs need…

Our lawns are often overlooked. They’re a lovely swathe of green in the middle of our gardens, but we prefer the flowers around the edge. Yet in the depths of winter, when those flowers have long since departed, that slab of lovely green is still there. But not everyone has the time to keep their lawn pristine with stripes and manicured edges. Fear not, here’s how to keep a low-maintenance lawn that will still look great – and be diverse and rich in wildlife. One good idea is to keep the blades of your lawnmower a notch or two higher than normal – your lawn will be greener and much more tolerant of dry conditions. There’ll also be no risk of the lawn getting ‘scalped’ by low blades. And if…

The type of pruning known as the ‘Chelsea chop’ is the cutting back of late summer-flowering perennials by up to half in order to encourage stronger growth and stop them getting too ‘leggy’. Some timely spring chopping results in sturdier plants, more flowers, a less urgent need to stake them and, ultimately, a much neater looking border too. The task gets its name from traditionally being done during the week of Chelsea Flower Show, the last full week in May. It can still be done in early June though – you just need to make sure that the plants still have enough time available to put on new growth. The job can be done with a pair of sharp garden shears if you’ve got some big clumps to cut back.…