Innholdsfortegnelse for A Year in the English Garden i The English Garden

Welcome to the third edition of our annual, A Year in the English Garden. We start the year in a garden carpeted with snowdrops and crocuses, The Old Rectory in Kent, then visit beautiful gardens that showcase such delights as hellebores and daffodils, among other spring bulbs. Painterly tulips follow at Furzelea in Essex, with early summer blooms, including roses and lavender, taking over at Knowle Hill Farm. Summer heats up – as do the colours – at Tudor Lodgings and The Salutation, before gardens mellow and the subtle tones of autumn prevail at Oakley House and Hall Farm. By December, at Drummond Castle, winter’s crisp outlines have returned. Along with this selection of the finest gardens for every season, we round up the very best plants to add interest…

Iris unguicularis It’s always a surprise when you spot the Algerian iris, Iris unguicularis in February. For a winter flower it’s quite flamboyant, with blooms that dwarf those of neighbouring snowdrops and crocuses. There are several varieties to grow, including the regular species, which has fragrant violet flowers, its three falls marked with stripes of white and yellow. Alternatively look for cultivars such as ‘Mary Barnard’, pictured above, which bears flowers in intense purple, or ‘Walter Butt’, which is said to have the largest flowers of them all, in a very pale shade of lavender. They make smashing underplanting below winter shrubs, such as red-stemmed dogwoods, or can be grown in shallow pots for displays nearer the house – just make sure they get plenty of sun. Daphne bholua Gardeners…

• February is the month to prune hardy evergreen hedges, such as privet, yew and cherry laurel, prior to mid-spring growth. • Deciduous grasses left intact over winter, such as pennisetum or deschampsia, can be cut back now to clear the way for spring’s new growth. • Sow a batch of sweet peas in a greenhouse or coldframe. • As long as the ground isn’t frozen and you can dig them up, take root cuttings of perennials such as verbascum and phlox. • Sow chilli seed in a heated propagator to give these fiery plants the longest possible growing season. • Some hardy annuals such as snapdragons will benefit from early sowing. They make excellent gap-fillers in a summer border.…

• Tulips are not usually thought of as perennial, but if planted at least 15cm deep, repeat flowering is encouraged for at least one or two more years. • We mulch all the beds with leafmould. It is marvellous for keeping in winter moisture and suppressing weeds before they pop up. • Beech nuts from our large tree in the drive may be impossible to compost, but we use them as a great path covering to allow access to the back of the deepest borders. • Don’t ignore market stalls – they often have desirable plants, such as named salvia varieties, at much cheaper prices than garden centres. • We keep the wire plant supports, made by Roger, in the ground all year round. They not only protect and support…

• When the soil has warmed up, sow the seed of hardy annuals directly where you want them to flower. Try cottage-garden favourites, such as poppies, cornflowers and love-in-a-mist. • Gradually start to increase the amount of water you give to houseplants, since they will respond to warmer temperatures and increased light levels. • As roses come into leaf, scatter a little granular rose fertiliser around their base and work it into the soil. • In a propagator or greenhouse, sow seeds of tender vegetables such as sweetcorn, beans and courgettes. Plant out after the risk of frost has passed. • Divide vigorous waterlilies just as they start to show signs of growth. Always use aquatic compost.…

Viburnum opulus Many of us are familiar with Viburnum opulus, particularly in autumn when it’s easily spotted in hedgerows, its leaves taking on vibrant shades of red and gold, with birds waiting nearby to feast on the translucent scarlet fruits that cover it. In spring, though, it’s gardeners who get to enjoy a visual feast: big balls of white blooms that are the reason for the shrub’s common name of ‘snowball tree’. Any gardener growing cut flowers for the house will want to seek out Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’, which is the variety that produces those clusters of lime green flowers so often seen in bouquets at this time of year. The lime green turns to white as the flowers mature, but because the blooms are sterile, there is no fruit.…

Crocosmia Familiar they may be, but crocosmia are also an incredibly useful border plant, providing a fountain of arching, strappy, green leaves that contrast nicely with other mound-forming perennials around them. The vibrant flowers are the icing on the cake, produced over a long period during summer. In shades of orange, yellow and red, they are a must for anyone planning a ‘hot’ border, but needn’t be limited to fiery schemes. Try rusty-orange cultivar ‘Walberton Bright Eyes’ with blue-flowered agapanthus, for example, or yellow Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora ‘Solfatare’ with mauve Aster x frikartii ‘Mönch’. Achilleas are a good partner, their flat flowers forming a natural contrast with spindly crocosmia. They also work well with the bronze and buff tones of grasses. Buddleja If you want to do your bit for…

Cosmos Of all the annual flowers, surely nothing delivers quite as many blooms over such a long period as cosmos. From one sowing in late spring, planted out once the risk of frost has passed, you can expect a good-sized mound of fine, ferny foliage and a near-constant haze of flowers above it, nodding gently in the breeze. Depending on the variety, these can be white, pale pink, or deeper shades of magenta and crimson, and many of the seed companies sell cosmos in mixed colours that include some of each. While it’s a bit of a fiddle, if you can deadhead the faded flowers you’ll make the plants last even longer. Grow cosmos in a sunny site and in well-drained soil – it needn’t be too rich, since too…

• Divide mature clumps of summer-flowering perennials, unless autumn is very wet – in which case wait until spring. • Get your bulb orders in early to ensure the best selection of spring-flowering beauties, such as daffodils, tulips and alliums. • Gradually reduce the amount of water given to houseplants and cacti, as days shorten and plant growth starts to slow. • Cut down on lawn mowing and start to apply an autumn lawn feed. High in potassium, they toughen up grass so it can withstand winter weather. Apply after scarifying and aerating. • Pick autumn-fruiting raspberries on a dry day before birds feast on the fruit. Eat fresh, freeze or turn into jam.…

Acer palmatum The huge family of Japanese maples all produce a spectacular range of autumn hues. There are cultivars suitable for any size of garden. Acer campestre In contrast to its Japanese cousin, the field maple has been a feature of the English landscape for centuries. In autumn its shovel-shaped leaves turn a gorgeous buttery yellow. Liquidambar styraciflua Introduced from the United States in the 17th century, these elegant trees produce a spectacular display of autumn colour, with the richness of old claret. Cercidiphyllum japonicum Distinctly rounded leaves turn in autumn to shades of brilliant yellow with occasional pink tints. Parrotia persica Often overlooked as an autumn star, the parrotias, which originate from Iran as their name suggests, are described by Hillier’s Manual as ‘one of…

• Clear fallen leaves, especially from lawns where they will turn the grass yellow, and ponds where they can make the water murky. • Put grease bands around the trunks of apple trees to halt the progress of winter moths keen to lay their eggs in the branches. • Protect the crowns of borderline tender penstemons, garden chrysanthemums and verbena with a layer of mulch such as Strulch. • Keep mowing the lawn if temperatures remain mild into autumn and the grass continues to grow, but set the blades higher than in summer (around 4cm is ideal) to keep turf healthy. • November is the best month to plant tulip bulbs, when soil temperatures are lower and there is less risk of tulip fire.…

Skimmia As leaves are shed and flowers become few and far between, it feels good to deny winter a little longer by planting up a few cheerful seasonal containers. One shrub that really lends itself to a winter-interest container is skimmia. Garden centres normally stock young plants at this time of year, specifically for growing in pots; their slow growth makes them ideal, and when the pot display is over they can go out in the garden. Skimmia ‘Rubella’ is a popular choice, its tight buds remaining closed for ages to give a long-lasting display of bobbly pinkish-red flowers, the glossy evergreen leaves providing a handsome backdrop. When they eventually open, they’re white. In contrast, Skimmia japonica var. reevesiana is usually sold covered in small, glossy-red berries. Cornus It couldn’t…

ENSCONCED IN A PATCHWORK OF FIELDS and copses, this is a garden that stirs slowly as the first light penetrates a skirt of woodland and, glade by glade, reveals carpets of frosted snowdrops, golden aconites and silvered crocuses. The winter flowers at the The Old Rectory in Kent, home of Christopher and Karin Proudfoot, create quite a show. “At first, I left well alone,” explains Karin. “It wasn’t until later that I began to see snowdrops as individuals rather than just a wonderful display.” The couple moved here in 1983. “The garden was neglected, with daffodils above tangled grass, overgrown shrubs and hybrid tea roses,” Karin recalls. They were amazed as the winter display unfolded the following February. “Recently, a mini-bus driver brought a group from London and stood rooted…

• Prune old leaves from hellebores so that their nodding blooms are easily visible. • Recycle Christmas trees by shredding their branches and using the results as a mulch around ericaceous plants. • Order seed potatoes from suppliers, ready for chitting in February. • Take advantage of the bare-root planting season over winter to buy and plant new fruit trees and bushes. • January is an ideal time for forcing rhubarb plants by covering the crown with an upturned plant pot or bucket to exclude the light. • Prune apple and pear trees while they are dormant. Cut out dead or dying branches, and about 10-20% of the old wood, and aim to create an open centre.…

FEERINGBURY MANOR IN ESSEX IS THE home of not one, but two experienced plantspeople. Giles Coode-Adams is a former president of the Royal Horticultural Society, and his wife, Sonia, is an experienced and knowledgeable gardener. For more than three decades they have played a key role in the gardening world, serving on horticultural committees and opening their garden to raise money for the National Garden Scheme. Giles is the woody plants expert, planning and planting the trees, particularly in the arboretum, while Sonia develops the perennial and bulb planting. Because of Giles’ penchant for anything arboricultural, the garden has two key seasons – spring for the blossom and autumn for a fiery display of berries and coloured foliage, particularly from malus, sorbus and euonymus. While autumn might be considered the…

• Scatter a few organic slug pellets around emerging bulbs and new shoots to prevent slug and snail damage. • If there’s a dry day with mild weather and the grass is growing, mow the lawn. • Prune shrubs grown for their winter bark colour, such as dogwoods (cornus) and willows (salix), ideally just before their buds burst. Follow up with a handful of fertiliser worked in around their base. • It’s time to prune bush roses. Take out dead or diseased wood and one or two of the oldest stems, then cut the rest back by half, cutting above an outward-facing bud. • Divide tired or congested clumps of perennials, such as daylilies (below), perennial helianthus, hostas and sedum.…

Clematis montana Of all the clematis available to gardeners, Clematis montana is one of the most vigorous. But if you’ve got the space to let it romp, it’s a decision you won’t regret when, every April, it smothers itself in hundreds and thousands of flowers. If there’s an unsightly fence or even a building to hide, or a large tree that needs enlivening, this climber is the answer, easily clambering 12m upwards and 4m across. Plant it where the roots will be cool and shaded and as long as it has something to scramble up or through, it will be off. The species and most cultivars are shades of pink (‘Tetrarose’, is a particularly deep pink), but there is also a white version that looks incredible weaving its way through…

AT FIRST LIGHT, THERE IS A SENSE OF theatre about Jim Buckland’s garden. As shafts of light illuminate an ancient stone column rising above a wildflower mound, they radiate through a leafy canopy to penetrate a collection of labyrinthine paths that converge on this central stage. “I see the garden as a series of scenes, and it feels rather like walking on and off a stage as you pass through the different spaces,” explains Jim from his small, serene and secluded retreat in West Sussex. This is the home of Jim and his wife, Sarah Wain, the head-gardener duo at West Dean Gardens. It was 1991, shortly after the Great Storm had wreaked havoc throughout the historic gardens, when the couple arrived and tirelessly embarked upon an extensive restoration of…

Undoubtedly the largest hard landscaping project undertaken by the Cairns was the creation of an elegantly bricked and paved terrace and ‘lavender walk’ that runs the whole width of the house and is a perfect vantage point from which to take in the mesmerising view. The slopes of the North Downs provide excellent conditions for lavender, and Knowle Hill Farm is awash with it – blue-purple being one of the dominant colours of high summer. By July, the massed lavender is in full glorious sail, swaying under the weight of hundreds of drowsy bees and, given fair weather, filling the air with its scent. Two varieties have been used on the terrace: blue-flowered ‘Abrialis’ and white ‘Edelweiss’. The Cairns are members of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and take a great…

• Keep on top of rapidly emerging annual weeds by running a sharp hoe across the surface of the soil in hot weather: they will shrivel and die. • Some crops might be ready to harvest now, such as quick-growing radishes, salad leaves, broad beans and the first early potatoes. • Carry on hardening off greenhouse-grown or tender plants, and transplant into their permanent outdoor spots when there is no longer any risk of frost. • Put stakes in place around perennial plants before they grow much taller. • Take cuttings of pinks (dianthus). Pull non-flowering shoots from the parent plant, peel off the lower leaves and poke the stems in around the edge of a pot of gritty compost.…

‘BLUE BOY’ This decorative dahlia, with flowers in a bluish shade of mauve, produces its blooms on sturdy 80cm stems. ‘HADRIAN’S SUNLIGHT’ A chance seedling from dahlia specialist Halls of Heddon, with golden single blooms on rich, purple-brown leaves. ‘SHOW ’N’ TELL’ The coral-red petals of this flamboyant fimbriated dahlia are tipped with flashes of yellow for eye-catching flowers. ‘APRIL HEATHER’ A collerette dahlia with a central ruff of yellow petals surrounded by outer petals suffused with an apricot blush. ‘MAGENTA STAR’ This single dahlia has blooms in an iridescent shade of purple, standing out well against the purple-tinted foliage. ‘MARIE SCHNUGG’ Rolled scarlet petals and a central boss of golden orange make up the unusual flowers of this orchid-flowered dahlia. ‘GARDEN FESTIVAL’ Orange-red petals are touched with yellow at…

Cyclamen If snowdrops are the harbinger of spring then Cyclamen hederifolium is the harbinger of autumn – luckily they are so pretty they help stave off any feelings of sadness that summer is on the wane. The flowers start to emerge around September time, their marbled leaves following later. They’re particularly happy in woodland conditions, nestling in the dappled shade and humus-rich soil around the base of trees or shrubs – just remember to brush falling autumn leaves away so they don’t smother the flowers. Although you can buy large corms, these don’t always transplant well, so it can be better to wait until supplies of plants in flower arrive in garden centres in autumn. An annual mulch of leafmould or composted bark will help keep soil rich, and they’ll…

• Start to move tender plants into the shelter of the greenhouse or conservatory. • October is a great time to establish new lawns from turf. At this time of year they won’t need much mowing, so the new grass can be left alone to establish. • Renovate old climbing roses by cutting back all the old woody stems to the base. Keep six or so young, vigorous ones and tie these in. • If you haven’t done so already, give deciduous hedges a final trim to keep them neat over winter. • Plant spring bedding in borders or pots for displays next year. Scented wallflowers, high-performing violas, hazy-blue forget-me-nots and primulas all make charming spring displays and team well with bulbs, too.…

Rosa ‘Geranium’ Say ‘roses’ and thoughts turn immediately to early summer, blowsy blooms and sweet scent. Yet many roses also produce an unrivalled display of autumn fruit – or hips – that add colour to the garden at this time of year, and offer a source of food for garden birds. One of the finest is the Rosa moyesii cultivar ‘Geranium’. Not only does it produce a charming display of single flowers in bright geranium red with golden stamens in the centre in June and July, it also produces spectacular orange-red hips. These elongated beauties resemble miniature gourds in shape. For sprays of small red hips try Rosa glauca; for big, fat, red ones that look like tomatoes, grow Rosa rugosa (a fantastic choice for an informal hedge). Each of…

If you want to go big and fabulous with home décor, there’s no better time to do it than Christmas. Don’t be put off by the scarcity of winter flowers – here, florist Rachel Siegfried of Green & Gorgeous explains how to make a seasonal vase arrangement that will put the Christmas tree to shame. You will need A vase Chicken wire Five woody branches Fresh flowers Dried flowers and grasses Flowering bulbs Method 1 Use a small ball of chicken wire instead of floral foam to anchor the arrangement; it’s easy to handle and eco-friendly. 2 Start with woody branches, such as eucalyptus, sloe or snowberry. Use an odd number and beware of overcrowding – five branches is sufficient. 3 Add your chosen flowers, but take care not to…

Snowdrops In January winter can seem never-ending, so thank heavens for snowdrops. Just the sight of their pointed, green-grey leaves pushing their way through frozen soil, and sometimes even snow, gladdens the heart and reminds us that spring will return. A lot is written about specialist snowdrops, those rare and wonderful varieties coveted and collected by enthusiasts, but you need only the ‘plain’ old species, Galanthus nivalis, for the heart-lifting effect. Best planted in the green rather than as dry bulbs in autumn, you can order G. nivalis by the hundred in spring at reasonable prices, and they quickly form carpets of delicate white blooms. Lift and divide existing clumps after flowering, to spread them out. They’re simple to grow and simply effective. Sarcococca If you grow one winter-flowering shrub,…

Wood anemones A prettier herald of spring would be hard to find. Wood anemones appear as soon as spring hits its stride, producing gentle mounds of ferny foliage and nodding flowers that open wide in spring sunshine. They agreeably fill gaps until other spring flowers, such as hellebores, arrive, and then retreat underground for a summer sleep. There are lots of choice varieties to grow such as ‘Vestal’, a pristine white double with a central ruff of petals, or ‘Robinsoniana’ which is a vigorous variety in pale blue, easily grown and the one to start with. Replicate their natural habitat and grow these woodlanders below deciduous trees and shrubs so they’ll be shaded in summer. They need soil that doesn’t dry out in hot weather, so spread a mulch of…

TULBAGHIA LEUCANTHA An unusual bulb that originates from South Africa and produces scented flowers in May above grass-like leaves. ALLIUM ‘PURPLE SENSATION’ A justly popular cultivar known for its vibrant, deep-purple, globe-shaped flowers, reliably produced in late spring. ANTHRISCUS SYLVESTRIS Cow parsley lends an informal look when it flowers in May and June. Deadhead to prevent rampant self-seeding. IRIS ‘JANE PHILLIPS’ Appearing in May and June, the richly coloured blooms of this iris, held on 85cm-tall stems, have good perfume. GERANIUM SYLVATICUM ‘ALBUM’ This hardy geranium can always be relied upon for flowers that will lighten tricky, dark and shady spots. GERANIUM ‘MAYFLOWER’ Expect masses of violet-blue flowers on this Geranium sylvaticum cultivar, which is perfect for sun or light shade. EUPHORBIA…

• Harvest asparagus once spears reach 15-18cm, cutting 1cm above the soil. Don’t harvest for two years after planting, and in the third harvest from mid-April for six weeks. • If you have strawberry plants in the garden, protect the fruits from rot and ground-dwelling pests by laying straw beneath them. If your garden is popular with birds, protect the fruits by covering your plants with taut netting. • Sow tender vegetables such as French and runner beans, courgettes and squashes and Florence fennel now that the risk of frost is waning. • If the risk of frost has passed in your area, plant summer bedding such as pelargoniums, verbena and nicotiana in borders, pots and hanging baskets.…

Gladiolus Say gladiolus and most people immediately think of the cut flowers, which do tend to divide opinion and are quite tricky to work into a border. But there are other gladioli that are much easier to incorporate, such as the highly desirable magenta Gladiolus byzantinus, pictured above. Grown in well-drained soil so that its corms don’t rot during winter, it’s hardy and will come back year after year – try it with limey euphorbias and purple alliums for a show-stealing display. If you like that gladiolus and it grows well for you, also consider Gladiolus papilio. This swoon-worthy species has cream-coloured flowers painted on the outside with mauve, while the cultivar ‘Ruby’ has the most gorgeous, dusky-crimson flowers on its silvery-green flower spikes. Philadelphus If there’s a philadelphus, or…

• Temperatures can soar in July, so be wary of scorching in your greenhouse. Apply shade paint or lower blinds and open doors and windows to provide ventilation. • Deadhead lupins and delphiniums to encourage more flower spikes to form. • Regularly harvest crops in the vegetable garden, such as runner beans, which are better picked when young and tender, before they become stringy. • If you don’t already have one, consider installing a water butt next to shed or house downpipes to capture rainfall. Use it to water containers and border plants, but not seedlings or edibles. • Sawfly larvae are rife at this time of year. Check leaves for these small green pests and pick off by hand.…

• The secret to success with dahlias is preparing the soil really well before you plant them. We dig in lots of manure in late spring before the dahlias go in, and because we do that we don’t need to feed them as much during the summer and autumn – we’ll give them an occasional foliar feed with liquid seaweed, but that’s it. If you didn’t prepare the soil well, you can give them tomato feed regularly to give them a boost. • By August, you should already have staked your dahlias – if you haven’t, do it as soon as possible or they will be collapsing all over the place. One lesson we learned from bitter experience is to put a stake next to each newly-planted dahlia. Before we…

• Kitchen gardens can quickly dry out during hot spells, so be sure to water vegetable and fruit plants daily. • Potato and tomato blight can strike at this time of year. Dispose of or burn any affected plants to prevent the spores from spreading. • Thin out herbs such as parsley, leaving 25cm between plants to allow their roots to establish before winter. • A wealth of fruit varieties should be ready for picking now, including apricots, cherries, peaches and plums. If you don’t grow your own, head to a local pick-your-own farm and take home tasty fresh fruits. • Tidy lavender after it has finished flowering by shearing back the faded flowerheads, just into the leafy growth but never into the old woodier growth.…

Euonymus There’s no lack of trees and shrubs supplying bright autumn leaf colour at this time of year, but the deciduous euonymus have got to be among the best. What’s more, many of them are compact so they fit easily into smaller gardens, and quite a few of them combine their vibrant leaves with equally vibrant berries for twice the show. Euonymus alatus is one of the brightest, its leaves turning vivid scarlet as the weather cools down. As its name suggests, the cultivar ‘Compactus’ is small, reaching between 50cm and 1m tall. It bears berries, too, but if it’s these you want, look for larger Euonymus europaeus, which produces many dangling, tangerine-coloured fruits in bright pink casings among its fiery falling leaves; they clash, but in a good way.…

BRILLIANT FLASHES OF INTENSE, FLAME- shaded foliage within the cool setting of ancient oak woodland is a beguiling proposition. At the garden of Ramster, hidden away in beautiful countryside on the edge of the Surrey Hills, such scenes have been nurtured by successive generations to produce a woodland garden that reaches an autumnal crescendo almost as dramatic as its flowering peak in May and early June. Autumn garden visits are all about having the time for a relaxing walk, taking in the seasonal changes that are going on around you – always aware that as the days start to grow shorter, time for such enjoyment is limited and precious. The 20 acres of Ramster, with paths winding seemingly at random from one area to another, up and down slopes, from…

• Mulch vegetable gardens with rotted manure and dig them over before Christmas, to allow time for the frost to break up the soil gradually. Don’t try to break it up yourself. • This is a good time for edging lawns. The frost means you’ll get a much cleaner cut. • Keep yew columns in shape by running wires round them a foot apart, taking care to turn stray wires inwards so you don’t clip them with shears. • Cut back herbaceous planting and mulch around perennials and roses. Fork between the plants first for drainage – it opens up the soil and encourages worms to come up and take the mulch back down. • Leave seedheads on lavender for winter protection; don’t deadhead until spring. • To prevent wind…

• Protect tender herbaceous perennials from frost by mulching around their bases with a thick layer of straw. Use wire netting to hold the straw in place. • For natural Christmas decorations, place the shoots of winter-flowering shrubs in water and keep in a cool place indoors. • Cut back ornamental grape vines to two buds before Christmas, to avoid pruning wounds bleeding. • Spray fruit trees, such as apples, cherries and plums, with a winter wash to help control pests. • Rake up the last of the autumn leaves from your lawn to stop them killing the grass. • Bring hyacinth and daffodil bulbs into the warmth to encourage flowering over the Christmas period.…