Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2020 i The English Garden

Joe Perkins Joe has designed and built gardens for over 20 years. A gardening job while he studied English at university kicked off a career in landscape across the UK, France and Spain. He visits Long House Plants on page 40. Clare Coulson A former fashion writer, Clare now reports on gardens for the Financial Times’ How to Spend It magazine and The Daily Telegraph and gardens on the Suffolk coast. She visits By the Crossways on page 48. Juliette Wade Juliette has been photographing gardens for many years while bringing up her children, and particularly enjoys discovering Norfolk gardens. Her photos of Salle Walled Garden feature on page 56.…

Iford Manor Wiltshire A marvellous example of a garden that sits perfectly within its surroundings. Harold Peto incorporated artefacts from Italy in a very clever way, creating an extraordinary sense of place. Tel: 01225 863146; ifordmanor.co.uk Sissinghurst and Great Dixter Kent & East Sussex I’m lucky enough to live near Sissinghurst (below), which I adore for its roses and colour, and Great Dixter, for its love of plants and relaxed atmosphere. nationaltrust.org.uk; greatdixter.co.uk…

• Encourage pollinators as stores of nectar and pollen deplete. Late-flowering perennials, such as sedum, verbena and echinacea are perfect. • Keep deadheading. Focus on container plants, annuals, dahlias and roses to keep the flowers coming for as long as possible. • Take cuttings of half-hardy perennials and tender shrubs such as fuchsia, penstemons, pelargonium, lantana, verbena and salvia. • Divide and replant clumps of perennials once they have finished flowering to give them more space. • Plant up pots to bring colour to your garden in the short term. Good autumn bedding plants include cyclamen, sedum, heathers and heucheras.…

DIERAMA HYBRID Elegant plum-purple flowers dance in the wind on this hybrid of Sue’s. Dierama need full sun and well-drained soil. WATSONIA HYBRID This half-hardy South African plant grows from corms, like gladioli, and needs protection from frost. SANGUISORBA HYBRID Sanguisorba’s wiry flower stems make it a super choice for windy, exposed gardens. ERYNGIUM ‘COBALT STAR’ Spiky, silver-green foliage gives rise to 75cm tall thistly flowers in shimmering blue. PHYGELIUS ‘MOONRAKER’ Unfussy Cape fuchsias thrive in sun or partial shade. Treat them as a perennial. FRANCOA SONCHIFOLIA A Chilean perennial with crinkly foliage and spikes of flowers throughout summer.…

If there’s one idea that sums up the carefully choreographed three-acre garden that surrounds Miranda and William Kendall’s Edwardian home at By the Crossways, close to the Suffolk coast, it is the continual dance of letting nature do its own thing. But as anyone who has flirted with wild gardening knows, balancing the natural order with the desire for beautiful views and vistas can be something of a tightrope walk. The couple could not have found a better collaborator than gardener Brian Skilton, who arrived 13 years ago and, since then, has created a beguiling garden that, just like the 400-acre estate enveloping it, is maintained and developed with ecology as its priority. “The garden is very much Brian’s creation and vision,” says Miranda. “We wanted it to form a…

ROOM TO GROW Always choose the largest greenhouse your budget permits: space is especially important if you plan to use it to overwinter plants, when lots of space and air circulation around specimens is essential. Hartley Botanic’s capacious Victorian Lodge has roomy proportions. Tel: 01457 819155; hartley-botanic.co.uk BEST OF BOTH The Grand Grow and Store from Gabriel Ash combines the benefits of a greenhouse with a shed. A 6ft by 12ft growing space is ample for overwintering tender plants and cuttings, while there is room for tools, furniture and cushions in the 7ft by 12ft storage area. Tel: 01829 271888; gabrielash.com MODERN CLASSIC Gardeners seeking a greenhouse with a more contemporary aesthetic will appreciate the clean lines and accoya frame of Cultivar’s Portrait range. It can be configured to suit,…

LAVANDULA ‘MUNSTEAD’ Spikes of fragrant, purple flowers on this compact form of English lavender, which is used to great effect in the Lilac Circle. HYPERICUM X HIDCOTEENSE ‘HIDCOTE’ A dense shrub covered in an abundance of golden-yellow, cup-shaped flowers. CLEMATIS ‘KERMESINA’ A profusion of gorgeous, deep-red blooms, resistant to clematis-wilt and produced from July to September. FUCHSIA MAGELLANICA VAR. GRACILIS ‘VARIEGATA’ Foliage in shades of pink, red and green, with elegant, dark-red, tubular flowers. ALLIUM HOLLANDICUM ‘PURPLE SENSATION’ A striking silhouette and packed heads of deep-purple-violet, starry flowers. JOVELLANA VIOLACEA Above a mound of coarsely toothed, green leaves appear hooded, lilac-blue blooms on this semi-evergreen shrub. RHEUM PALMATUM ‘ATROSANGUINEUM’ An…

It’s summer’s end but there’s no ebb in the tide of ready-to-pick, seasonal flowers on Rachel Siegfried’s flower farm, Green & Gorgeous. Colour-saturated dahlias, her main floristry ‘focal’ flowers, are supported by a throng of ‘fillers’: jewel-coloured alstroemeria, magenta cosmos, ruddy rudbeckias, froufrou zinnias and golden sunflowers. Ripening hips and berries, whips of feathered grasses and silvery eucalyptus add layers of texture and make a good foil for the kaleidoscope of colour. The flower field is an ever-changing bouquet of seasonal flowers. Rachel’s expertly cultivated 500-strong crop of cut-and-come-again dahlias stands shoulder high by late summer, bursting with blooms. “The dahlias are our focal flower for three months and, if well-managed, they are hugely productive and will bloom until the first frosts,” she says. Of the 57,000 registered dahlia cultivars,…

If these months at home have given you time to explore new interests or pointed towards a different way of life, a course could go a long way towards expanding your horizons. Fortunately, there is no shortage of subjects and places to study, whether you’re embarking on a new career path through a well-known institution or deepening your knowledge with a workshop offered by individuals with particular expertise in a subject. Aside from expanding a skillset, taking a course with friends will cement existing bonds. Embarked upon independently, it is a chance to add to a friendship group. There is nothing quite like immersing yourself deeply in a subject with strangers for a time for helping you step out of your comfort zone in the best possible way. While courses…

Of all the gardens you included, which of them was the most compelling for you? All of the gardens are fascinating and absorbing. However, Frederiksborg Castle has a rich history and despite a long period of neglect has undergone considerable restoration, including a large replanting scheme. It is undeniably mesmerising. Rich in Renaissance-style architectural elements such as terraces, ornamentation, decoration and the art of perspective, this verdant garden, with its impeccably pruned hedges and topiary, is a must-see. There are many incredible gardens with royal connections. How did you pick what to include? I wanted to select royal gardens that are both open to the public and have played an important role in garden history: this is not simply a collection of the best royal gardens. It is also important…

THE GARDEN AT MISERDEN Winner of Historic Houses Garden of the Year 2018, this timeless garden, with spectacular views over parkland and the rolling Cotswold hills beyond, was created in the 17th century and retains a sense of peace and tranquility. There are extensive yew hedges, including a notable topiary yew walk designed by Lutyens as well as some carefully planted mixed borders, containing a wide range of roses, clematis and herbaceous plants. The garden is a preserved, hidden gem in the heart of the Cotswolds. OPEN: Please visit www.miserden.org for details. Tel: 01285 821303 gardens@miserden.org | www.miserden.orgMiserden, Near Stroud, Gloucestershire GL6 7JA KINGSTON MAURWARD A tranquil, peaceful and intimate spot, the Kingston Maurward gardens are beautifully situated in undulating Dorset countryside, with a lake, canals and broad sweeping formal…

Events this year have undoubtedly prompted self-reflection, with many of us taking the opportunity afforded by the lockdown to examine aspects of our lives. A new academic year begins in September, so if you’re considering changes, perhaps to a new career in gardening, now’s the time to grasp the nettle. The world of horticulture spans so many diverse roles and specialities, full of interesting niches to suit different people and their skills, and the variety of courses and qualifications on offer reflects that. We consider some options on page 99, along with shorter courses if you just want to enhance your gardening prowess or learn a new skill. With the new term comes a new season, as late summer begins to shift into early autumn. The plants in our gardens…

SALVIA ‘ROYAL BUMBLE’ This shrubby salvia bears its red flowers from July into autumn. It reaches 75cm and in mild winters will stay evergreen. DAHLIA ‘FASCINATION’ Semi-double blooms are borne above purple-bronze foliage from August until the frost hits on this decorative dahlia. FUCHSIA ‘THALIA’ A tender perennial with olive leaves and clusters of coral-red, hanging flowers. Protect in a greenhouse over winter. DAHLIA ‘HONKA RED’ Propellor-like petals form a star-shaped flower in crimson red around a golden centre on this quirky dahlia. HELIANTHUS ‘LEMON QUEEN’ A brilliant perennial sunflower for the back of borders, at a towering 1.8m. SALVIA ‘CERRO POTOSÍ’ One of the best shrubby salvias, loved for its shocking-pink flowers. Fares best in full sun…

Emulate the conditions where plants grow in the wild as much as possible. For example, watsonias grow in rock crevices with no soil and just water and minerals washing from the rocks, and dieramas grow on baked-hard roadsides where the soil is really gritty. Poor soil and good drainage are crucial. Mix in grit and stones with soil and don’t feed. A lot of South African plants don’t like being moved, so try to get their planting position right first time. They need lots of light, so a south-facing spot is perfect. Tender plants can be grown in pots and then moved under cover during winter. Go to town with colourful bedding plants such as mesembryanthemum, gazania and lobelia, all of which are South African natives. Mix with succulents for…

Keder Greenhouses A cost-effective alternative to traditional greenhouses, made using a unique bubble plastic and rail system. Tel: 01386 49094; kedergreenhouse.co.uk White Cottage Accoya and aluminium combine the look of classic timber greenhouses with modern durability. Tel: 01270 753826; whitecottage.co.uk Griffin Glasshouses Aluminium greenhouses in Victorian or contemporary styles. Tel: 01962 772512; griffinglasshouses.com Woodpecker Joinery Hand-crafted, traditional timber greenhouses made from cedar wood. Tel: 01889 562610; woodpecker-joinery.co.uk David Salisbury Oak-framed extensions, garden rooms and conservatories. Tel: 01278 764444; davidsalisbury.com Hampton Conservatories Elegant, hardwood, bespoke orangeries and conservatories available in a range of styles and sizes. Tel: 02870 824100; hampton conservatories.co.uk Haddonstone Free-standing stone pavilions and orangeries with a focus on traditional architectural styles. Tel: 01604 770711; haddonstone.com Westbury Garden Rooms Classic wooden orangeries with glazed lanterns letting in plenty of…

Take cuttings from mid-February to March. Cover tubers, leaving the crowns exposed, in compost-filled vegetable crates lined with landscape fabric. Place on a heated mat at 18°C in the greenhouse and keep moist. When shoots develop two to three leaf joints, use a clean, sharp knife to take cuttings from near their base. Trim below a leaf joint, dip in rooting powder and plant in pots or modules filled with free-draining seed compost and keep humid. Once roots develop, pot on regularly until it’s time to plant out. Start tubers into growth in crates of compost in the greenhouse in March. Harden them off for two weeks before planting them outdoors. Plant out at the end of May or June when there’s no further risk of frost. Plant in full…

Gardens don’t stand still. In the metaphorical sense of maturing, changing over time – of course not. But also in the sense that plants sometimes just go walkabout. Once, years ago, I learned a very valuable lesson. It was the summer of my first National Garden Scheme Yellow Book open day. The garden was very young – mostly grass and hedges and easy to maintain. But I had been ill since the previous autumn, and no weeding had been done since then. As the open day approached I began to panic. But then the beds and hedge bottoms, covered (as I thought) with weed seedlings, began to bloom and my garden was transformed into a haze of pink and purple foxgloves, dusky aquilegias and green and white feverfew. It had…

Jo Thompson The award-winning designer and Chelsea regular explains her new scheme to bring bespoke design and lots of colour to everybody’s gardens The idea for Colour My Garden (colourmygarden.co.uk) came to me organically. For years people have been asking me how to use plants to make beautiful colour combinations. Planning for the growing season can be overwhelming – there’s a huge range of bulbs to choose from and it can be tricky to know when to place your order. Too early, and they sit in the shed getting mouldy; too late, and your favourites could be sold out. A subscription to Colour My Garden simplifies the process hugely, whether you have a big garden, a patio or just a few window boxes to fill with colour. I put together…

ALL PRICES ARE CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS.…

Dealing with aphids Mix up a solution of eco-friendly washing-up liquid and spray or wipe plants individually – the aphids will absorb the soap and die off. In optimal conditions, aphids are able to clone themselves up to five times a day – so it’s no wonder they can devastate a plant so quickly! Companion planting Grow flowers in among the vegetables. Annuals such as cosmos, zinnias, sunflowers or marigolds will attract beneficial insects and aid pollination. Seed sowing Although seed packets give you a general guide as to when to sow and when to plant out, some years late frosts can mean outdoor tomatoes and tender annuals have to be held back indoors – or vice versa. Doing a little research into varieties that have been bred for our…

The home of the reserved plantsman and horticulturist Major Lawrence Johnston from 1907, Hidcote remains an influential English garden, taking its inspiration from France and Italy and featuring collections of rare plants and trees from around the world. Formal in design, based on architectural principles, with contrived views and an insular approach, there is an overall gentleness to the planting here, and Hidcote continues to be an inspiration for gardeners worldwide. Set in the inhospitable conditions of the north Cotswolds, Hidcote Manor (then a farm) and the hamlet of Hidcote Bartrim were purchased in 1907 by the twice-married-and-widowed Gertrude Winthrop for her and her son, Lawrence Johnston, when he was 36 years of age. The estate came with around 300 acres and although there was originally just one acre of…

Michael Walker has looked after great gardens such as Harewood House, Waddesdon Manor and, until recently, Trentham Gardens, where he introduced the perennial displays designed by Tom Stuart-Smith, Piet Oudolf and Nigel Dunnett. In 2019, after 16 years at Trentham, Michael set up as a consultant, advising on practical and technical aspects of gardening and garden management. The events of 2020 have given him pause for thought: “There is a real opportunity to emerge from this time in a new and positive direction that can and should proudly be our legacy,” he says. With his time at Trentham in mind, Michael picks ten good plants for early-autumn colour. nationalgardensspecialist.co.uk;trentham.co.uk 1 Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’ As summer blooms slip away, black-eyed Susan steps in to lift the spirits with bright, long-lasting colour.…

Gather Autumn Fruits September’s soft embrace is one of the lesser-sung joys of the garden. The heat of summer has passed but the colder autumnal nights are yet to begin in earnest. The pressure of gathering and preparing the harvest for storage is mostly gone. Anna Pavord writes in her classic book, The New Kitchen Garden, that tree fruits pay rent twice a year, with spring blossom and autumn fruit. Along with numerous stone fruits, apples and pears are typically forthcoming in the Walled Garden at Babington House in Somerset. “We have lots of varieties of apples. They start at the beginning of August and are used for all sorts of things in the kitchen,” explains head gardener Sophie Martin. Here, espaliered apples divide growing spaces, and individual pear trees…

Woodland Flowers by Keith Kirby Bloomsbury, £35 In the remaining fragments of Britain’s ancient woodland, left intact because the ground was too steep or the soil was too poor to be of any use for farming, a whisper of life from centuries past remains. Within these sylvan microclimates, where it is slightly more humid, less windy, warmer in winter and cooler in summer, plant species that aren’t found on surrounding land, thrive. So it is that plants themselves, so-called indicator species like herb paris (Paris quadrifolia), offer important clues to the identity of a piece of land. Similarly, tracing certain species offers clues to human movement from the post-glacial period, constituting much of the question about what makes a species native. Could sycamore have blown in from Europe in a…