Woman's Weekly Living Series June 2019

Exbury’s 100th anniversary Exbury, the world-famous woodland garden in Hampshire, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Founder Lionel de Rothschild was a keen collector and successful hybridiser of many different rhododendrons and azaleas, and of course his legacy can be enjoyed today. Exbury’s team, along with experts from Surrey’s Millais Nurseries, are in the process of conserving some of the rarer hybrids in its collection, and together are showing new and heritage rhododendron varieties at RHS Chelsea this May. The collaboration forms part of a year-long programme of events at Exbury, among them a ‘stream of bulbs’ that will weave around rare trees, and a new Centenary Garden, which has been planted to reach its peak in late summer. Visitors can enjoy grand views of the gardens from the…

GOOD COMPANIONS Aquilegia, cornflower, geum, astrantia and poppy SIZE 90cm x 60cm SOIL Fertile and well-drained POSITION Full sun or partial shade CARE Peonies establish well from bare roots – plant them in autumn, shallowly, so that the crown is 2.5cm below the soil surface. Allow good air circulation around the plants to prevent fungal infection. Provide supports early to prevent the flowers flopping. In autumn, cut back and mulch, avoiding the crown. SUPPLIERS Try kelways.co.uk (01458 250 521), and claireaustinhardyplants.co.uk (01686 670 342).…

Wool compost Grow healthy, tasty tomatoes organically using brand new Wool Compost for Tomatoes. Made from naturally-sourced wool and bracken from the Lake District, it contains all the must-have nutrients without the need for additional feed. A 30ltr bag costs £10.99 from dalefootcomposts.co. uk, or call 01931 713 281. Organic growing bag You can’t really beat the convenience of a growing bag for raising crops such as peppers, aubergines, tomatoes, herbs and salads. SylvaGrow is the first peat- free planter approved by the Soil Association for organic growing. It provides extra depth for roots and contains balanced organic fertilisers and seaweed meal for healthy growth. A 45ltr bag costs £6.49 – for stockists, visit melcourt.co.uk. Pong-free manure substitute A no-dig soil conditioner, plant feed and mulch all in one, Bloomin…

‘Eustacia Vye’ David Austin Roses launch two new roses at Chelsea, each bearing names of characters from Thomas Hardy novels. ‘Eustacia Vye’ (Hardy’s heroine in The Return of the Native) produces apricot-pink blooms with a strong fruity scent. Size: 1.2m x 0.9m. Pot £28, bare root £21.50. ‘Gabriel Oak’ This new English Rose, named after a protagonist in Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd, bears large rosette blooms in the style of the Old Roses, and also has a strong fruity fragrance. It’s vigorous in habit, reaching 1.2m x 1.2m. Pot £28, bare root £21.50; both varieties are available from davidaustin.co.uk. ‘Purple Sun’ Create a sunny outlook with the vibrant, unusually-coloured daisies of Osteospermum ‘Purple Sun’. Order plugs from thompson-morgan.com (0333 400 0033), or, as the season progresses, plants from crocus.co.uk (01344…

Beth Chatto was a truly inspirational gardener A garden inspired by Beth Chatto’s Gravel Garden will be created at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival this July. The horticulturalist and writer, who died last year, is to be named Horticultural Hero 2019 by the Royal Horticultural Society. Beth’s famous drought-tolerant garden started life as a car park and was transformed, working on the principle that garden plants grow best when placed in conditions closest to their natural habitats. Key to her philosophy was ‘right plant, right place,’ and this helped gardeners to succeed in their plant choices by noting the prevailing conditions. Beth’s gardening team will be creating the show display which visitors can see from 2-7 July; for details visit rhs.org.uk. ✿ The Beth Chatto Gardens and nursery are…

CITY SPACE A circular lawn is surrounded by deep foliage borders Town gardens are often long, narrow affairs that can become dull patches of grass edged in unloved borders. But, at Linnette Ralph’s North London home, she shows that even the most uninspiring plot offers scope for imaginative design. ‘Mine is divided into distinct areas – a formal flower garden near the house and a functional vegetable patch towards the back,’ she says. ‘The original garden could be seen, front to back, in the blink of an eye. By dividing it into different spaces, the view is broken up,’ she explains. ‘Now, looking out from the house, your eye is caught by the pots on the patio area. Bird feeders have been placed in the first bed, so I can…