Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2021 i Woman's Weekly Living Series

TWOOL NAKED This is a general purpose garden twine made of undyed Dartmoor wool. Soft to handle and durable, it blends naturally into the garden and reduces your carbon footprint. £6.50, 100m, twool.co.uk PLANTBOX PlantBox is a vertical living wall system. Troughs are made in Norfolk using 100% recycled materials and feature a watering reservoir. From £60 for three, the above display shows two sets of 10 troughs, £360 plus delivery. growingrevolution.com WOOL COMPOST WITH COMFREY Dalefoot, the Lake District peat-free compost maker, has added comfrey to its entire Wool Compost range. Combined with bracken, it gives extra super charge of nutrients and trace elements. From £7.99, 2-11 bags delivery £10, dalefootcomposts.co.uk…

GARDENING FOR BUMBLEBEES Bumblebees are among the most important of our insects, ensuring our wild flowers and fruit and vegetable crops give us bountiful harvests. As numbers decline, we need to give them a hand to thrive. Gardening for Bumblebees by Dave Goulson is a fully illustrated practical guide to the best trees, shrubs and flowers for pollinators throughout the year. Find out how to create a wildflower meadow and provide nest sites for bees. Penguin Random House UK, hardback, £25…

The secret of Brian and Josse’s success with dahlias lies in a few simple rules — grow in lots of open space with good light, stake firmly, water and feed regularly, and deadhead every two days. Their care regime follows the same pattern each year: ✣ In late winter, sort through the crates of last year’s tubers, discarding failures and dividing mature tubers ✣ In March, plant tubers in individual pots that are placed together outdoors in a sunny spot, where they can be easily watered and covered on frosty nights ✣ Plant sprouting tubers out near the end of May, choosing which go in borders and which in pots ✣ In autumn, lift the tubers before the soil becomes saturated; clean, label, dry, and wrap in polythene, before storing…

1 GAULTHERIA MUCRONATA ‘MULBERRY WINE’ Shrub whose dense mass of small evergreen leaves provides the perfect backdrop to white flowers in May and June, and magenta-purple autumn fruit. Shade or semi-shade. H: 75cm 2 RUSCUS ACULEATUS Also known as Butcher’s broom, this spiny shrub’s cut branches will last for weeks out of water – longer than almost any other evergreen. Grow in sun or shade. H: 45cm 3 LEYCESTERIA FORMOSA ‘PURPLE RAIN’ The arching stems of this Himalayan honeysuckle are weighed down by long clusters of white flowers and purple bracts in summer and autumn, with purple berries taking over as the blooms fade. Deciduous. H: 2m 4 HARLEQUIN GLORYBOWER Weird but wonderful, Farges harlequin glorybower is adorned with turquoise berries encircled by crimson calyces. A deciduous shrub in cold…

Salvias have an exceptionally long flowering season, and few other plants add flower colour from early summer well into autumn, with a short breather around midway when dead flower spikes are removed. Compact cultivars suit the front of borders, in co-ordinated or contrasting colours, or teamed with low-growing grasses to act as a foil to the bright colours. Taller cultivars can be dotted between dahlias, zinnias, rudbeckias and fuchsias of a similar height, set against a backdrop of lanky heleniums, cannas and clumps of feather reed grass or purple moor grass. While William would advise against growing plants that do not suit the soil type, he loves to experiment. ‘Nothing is set in stone, and what’s the worst that can happen?’ he asks. ‘Don’t necessarily believe everything you read.’…

Outdoor light sources to banish an evening’s gloom come in a plethora of fixtures, fittings and flambeaux, providing a mix of functional and decorative effects for small intimate evenings or the big special occasions alike. Adopting a similar mindset to the ‘right plant, right place’ philosophy ensures you’ll choose appropriate lights that will fulfil an intended purpose, whether simply to beautify, or to provide a safe environment to move around after dark. Available in a variety of styles and finishes, exterior lights can be run on mains electricity, batteries or solar power which can be one of the most cost-effective options. When it comes to positioning, they can be mounted on walls or any other sound permanent surface, recessed in the ground, raised on lamp posts, spikes, poles or bollards,…

Always employ a qualified electrician to install exterior lighting schemes. Modern external lights are largely low voltage and, ideally, should be connected to the power supply via armoured electrical cables which are buried underground in piped conduits. For new hard landscaping projects — patios, paths and steps — lighting can be an integral part of the overall design. However, when lighting is added as an afterthought, particular care is needed to ensure the positioning of cables and switches is safe.…

GREENGAGES ✣ ‘Cambridge Gage’: Honeyed sweet fruits from mid-August. Partially self-fertile (crops best if a pollinator is available). Cropping is more dependable than other greengages. ✣ ‘Imperial Gage’: Delicious if less sumptuous than ‘Cambridge Gage’, but more reliable – mid-August. Partially self-fertile. GAGE-PLUM HYBRIDS ✣ ‘Blue Tit’: Good-flavoured blue fruits, self-fertile and productive – mid-August. Not self-fertile. ✣ ‘Oullins Gage’: Yellow/pink fruits, reliable heavy crops, good flavour – mid-August. Partially self-fertile. DESSERT PLUMS ✣ ‘Opal’: Small purple fruits, heavy cropping, reliable – early–mid-August. Partially self-fertile. ✣ ‘Reeves’: Yellow orange fruits, variable crops – mid–late-August. Not self-fertile. ✣ ‘Valor’: Blue, medium-sized fruits, reliable. Late August. Not self-fertile. COOKING PLUMS ✣ ‘Czar’: Blue fruits, productive and reliable, moderate eating quality. Mid-August. Self-fertile. Prone to plum moth. ✣ ‘Victoria’: Red fruits, reliable and…

Trees offer a wealth of benefits in the garden: shade, fruit, autumn colour, fragrance, flowers, height and structure. Their value to wildlife and the environment is well documented, but research shows that trees are good for our health and wellbeing too – in fact, studies have found that hospital patients with a view of trees heal more quickly and need less pain relief. In short, every garden, however small, should have at least one tree. Many people, particularly those with limited outside space, may believe they don’t have room for one, but with so many thousands of garden trees to choose from, in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, there truly is a tree to suit every garden. Autumn is the ideal time to think about planting trees, and…

With their shapely lines, gorgeous leaves and interesting bark, acers make popular ornamental trees. Depending on the variety, they can sit in full sun or dappled shade, just under the canopy of larger trees or with a little protection from other shrubs. Acers don’t like lime, so a neutral to slightly acid soil with good drainage is ideal. Smaller types make interesting plants for patio pots. Take care not to let acers dry out in the first year, as this can lead to brown or scorched foliage. Colour changing The semi-dwarf Acer palmatum ‘Ariadne’ is outstanding. Its bushy habit gradually forms a neat, small tree. Its new spring growth is a glorious mixture of pink, orange and yellow. For summer, the leaves take on a purple hue, then the entire…

Rudbeckia There is a definite zing in the air as borders put on their last hurrah before summer’s end. Flowering into October, rudbeckias are one plant guaranteed to light up your garden until the first frosts. Commonly called black-eyed Susan, they’re either annual or perennial and very easy to grow. The half-hardy annual rudbeckia comes in a great variety of shapes and colours from simple golden daisies to more unusual shaggy, richly coloured flowerheads. These are perfect for containers and border edgings and easy to raise from seed. The perennial varieties tend to be taller and can make a large, long-lived clump. Plant in the autumn for flowers next July. Choose from ‘Herbstsonne’, the tallest at 1.8m with floppy golden flowers, R. fulgida varieties ‘Goldsturm’ and R. deamii both reaching…

Lilium ‘Black Beauty’, a 1.2m tall lily with branching stems of scented flowers held on stiff stems at head height, enabling a detailed look at the turkscap flowers with greenish centres and black-spotted inner petals that are pink with creamy white margins. Perfect for the back of a border — plant a few extra bulbs in a corner because this lily makes a great cut flower. Eucomis bicolor, pineapple lily, is a splendid bulbous perennial that starts out as a handsome rosette of strap-shaped green leaves, before a stout, purple-spotted stem emerges. By mid to late summer, the stem is adorned with countless star-shaped, purple-edged, greenish white flowers, and topped by a distinctive tuft of leaves. It is not fully hardy, so in frost-prone areas, keep in a greenhouse over…

Mild mildew Q Can I do anything about the mildew covering my climbing roses and Michaelmas daisies? A Powdery mildew is common in late summer covering the upper surface of leaves with grey film. Downy mildews have more fluffy spores beneath the leaves. Some roses and Michaelmas daisies are notoriously susceptible to this mildew. Products with a physical mode of action such as ‘SB Plant Invigorator’ collapse the powdery covering and reduce the severity of attacks. Some gardeners spray their plants with milk or baking soda solution – these can be effective but the milk soon smells and baking soda solution can harm foliage. Garden fungicides, at this late season, are unlikely to be cost-effective. Rather than rely on fungicides, it is better for the environment to replace susceptible plants…

Colchichum emerge from summer dormancy as clusters of gleaming, silvered pink or white flowers, appearing ahead of their leaves, hence the common name ‘Naked Ladies’. Few bulbs are as irrepressible — autumn crocuses flower regardless of whether they are planted or not, so can be bought late in the summer, provided they are immediately put into deep, moisture-retentive soil in a sunny spot. They should not be confused with autumn-flowering crocuses, a totally different flowering family. The galvanised bucket should first be thoroughly washed with soapy water, and then drilled with drainage holes which are covered with a layer of gravel, to prevent the compost blocking the holes. Several months prior to creating this display, the bulbs (also called cormous perennials) of Colchicum ‘Waterlily’ and Colchicum speciosum were pre-planted in…

1 Cut a 15cm circle in the top of a pumpkin. 2 Carefully lift out the cut-out round top of the pumpkin and retain. 3 Scoop out the seeds from within the pumpkin. 4 Draw the outline of a face with marker pen on to the smooth skin. 5 Very carefully follow the pen markings to cut out the eyes, nose and mouth. 6 Then remove the cut-out sections. 7 Place tea lights inside the completed pumpkin and add the cut-out lid. The pumpkin’s ‘face’ will glow from within, thanks to the light! Set the pumpkins on the front doorstep among ornamental cabbages and squashes for a Halloween treat!…

Plums often suffer from mild attacks of pests and diseases, which seldom kill the tree or reduce the crop significantly. Occasionally trees succumb to silver leaf disease and have to be replaced. Bacterial canker kills occasional shoots which are pruned out. Aphids or greenfly can curl the leaves but damage is usually tolerable. Brown rot and plum maggots are more significant as they affect the fruits. Brown rot is worse where fruits are crowded, damaged or after wet weather. Plum moth and sawfly lay eggs on fruits in midsummer and the larvae tunnel into fruits, spoiling them. Where annual attacks occur a pheromone trap will catch male moths and an insecticide applied about seven days later protects fruits.…

FESTUCA ‘SUNRISE’ The tops of this evergreen grass become a vibrant orange at the end of the season, bringing autumn warmth to the border. Drought tolerant, plant in well-drained soil. Height 70cm. £18. Tel 01386 562 999; hayloft.co.uk ROSE ‘DUKE OF EDINBURGH’ In memory of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh this commemorative rose was launched to mark his centenary. £2.50 of every sale will be donated to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Living Legacy Fund. £12.99 bareroot. Tel 01462 420402; roses.co.uk PYRACANTHA ‘SUNNY STAR’ Having far fewer thorns than most pyracanthas, this variety makes a vibrant display against walls or fences in sun or semi-shade. Height: 3m. From £12.49. Tel 0844 573 1818; thompson-morgan.com…

GARDENERS Brian and Josse Emerson LOCATION A 250-year-old thatched cottage abutting a quiet lane outside the village of Stour Provost in north Dorset LANDSCAPED Since the 1990s, the couple have transformed a narrow strip of land wedged between a road and fields by purchasing an adjoining strip to create a half-acre garden with sweeping borders overflowing with bold plant associations SPECIAL FEATURES A back terrace with a splendid container display of dahlias, meandering pathways, a secluded shady lawn with dining table, a productive kitchen garden, an 18-metre-long rustic arbour, a charming gazebo to watch the sun go down, and wildlife-friendly plants throughout ASPECT South-facing SOIL TYPE Heavy clay PROBLEMS Being on top of a hill, the garden is exposed to the full force of south-westerly winds, so creating a windbreak…

Josse creates wall plaques and small ornaments, cast in reconstituted stone, to add finishing touches to gardens great and small. Some of the pieces derive from clay originals made by a sculptor friend, others from pieces acquired on foreign travels. Recently, the couple’s daughter, Hannah, has sculpted new pieces in clay. Josse then makes all the moulds from liquid silicon, setting them in wood and plaster casings, ready to cast in concrete. Various types of sand and cement are used to vary the finish.…

Salvia x jamensis ‘Señorita Leah’ has a salmon-pink lower lip that intensifies towards the throat Salvia chamaedryoides var. isochroma has pretty silver leaves and bright blue flowers Salvia microphylla ‘Orange Door’ has orange-red flowers fading to soft coral Salvia ‘Pink Lace’ bears aromatic leaves and perfectly formed pink flowers Salvia ‘Crème Caramel’ sports creamy flowers with apricot-tinted calyces Salvia microphylla ‘Wendy’s Surprise’ bears deep pink flowers Salvia microphylla ‘San Carlos Festival’ bears rich pink flowers Salvia ‘Blue Merced’ bears bluish violet flowers, introduced in 2017 Salvia x jamensis ‘Pink Lips’ is a form that can be either all pink or all white Salvia x jamensis ‘Raspberry Royale’ carries masses of red blooms…

Garden lighting falls into two main categories —functional and decorative. Functional lighting defines different areas of the garden, creating outdoor rooms that can be used safely after dark. Wall lights generally illuminate the areas closest to the house, extending to places for dining, barbecues, fire pits or hot tubs, while recessed fixtures indicate pathways and steps. Finally, when it comes to decorative effects, there are different styles of light to highlight trees, borders, statues, ornaments, garden buildings, pergolas or water features. STARTING POINTS The first step in planning an outdoor lighting scheme is to thoroughly research – the process is not so different from interior lighting which becomes an integral part of the overall look. Analyse how you use the space, distinguishing between places for relaxing where ambience is paramount;…

✣ Always buy the best quality you can afford. Cheap fittings are a false economy because their weatherproofing is often inadequate, and once damp seeps in, the system fails and an electrician has to be called. ✣ With new hard landscaping, bury armoured electrical cables at least 50cm underground in piped conduits. ✣ Light fittings need to blend in with their surroundings in daylight, so avoid utilitarian fittings that cannot be concealed. ✣ Study the different ambience created by the soft radiance of warm white bulbs versus the cold near-blue of white bulbs, testing bulbs of different wattages to see whether they provide too much or too little illumination. ✣ Identify how you move around your garden, and ensure that any steps, paths, changes in level, doorways, barbecues and bicycle…

European plums, Prunus domestica, arose in the Caucasus mountains near the Caspian Sea as a natural hybrid of sloes (Prunus spinosa) and cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera). People have been enjoying their sumptuous fruits for over 2,000 years. Plums are exceptionally diverse in colour, size and shape, but fit into five main groups: ‘greengages’, very sweet, green to golden in colour, round in shape; ‘prunes’, oval and purple used for drying; yellow or red ‘egg-shaped plums’ used for jam and canning; the ‘Victoria’ or ‘Lombard’ plums’ which are standard garden plums; and ‘gage-plums’ which combine something of the flavour or gages with the larger fruits of plums. CULTIVATION Plums tolerate a wide range of soils including clay soils, but will not thrive where waterlogging occurs. Sheltering from wind aids pollination and…

PLUM CHUTNEY PER SERVING 40 cals, 0g fat, 0g sat fat, 12g carbs MAKES 1.4KG ✣ 1kg (2¼lb) plums, halved and pitted ✣ 350g (12oz) Bramley apples, peeled, cored and chopped ✣ 250g (9oz) onions, finely chopped ✣ 150g (5oz) raisins ✣ 250g (9oz) light muscovado sugar ✣ 500ml (16fl oz) red wine vinegar ✣ 1 cinnamon stick ✣ 1 heaped tsp ground ginger ✣ 1tsp ground allspice You will need: ✣ 4-6 jam jars with vinegar-proof lids 1 Put all the ingredients in a preserving pan on a medium heat and bring to the boil slowly, stirring occasionally until the sugar has dissolved. Reduce the heat and simmer until the mixture is well reduced, stirring as it thickens so it doesn’t catch the bottom of the pan. Just before…

It’s not just our own gardens where we can plant new trees. Trees that are planted in communities offer the same range of benefits, but with the added bonus of making your local area more pleasant and bringing people together in community gardening groups. Two initiatives this autumn are encouraging communities and groups to plant trees across the country. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Roots of Remembrance campaign began with groups across the North West of England planting trees in tribute to the late Bill Blackledge, former chair of North West in Bloom. The regional effort sparked a national call by the RHS to encourage people who had lost friends and family to the virus to plant memorial trees in their area. Since then, nearly 3,000 trees have…

✣ Enrich poor soil with a generous amount of well-rotted compost or manure. Adding organic matter and grit can also lighten heavy clay soils and reduce the likelihood of the bulbs rotting. ✣ Most bulbs should be placed at two or three times their own depth and a bulb’s width apart, but check the planting instructions on each packet to make sure. ✣ After planting, firm the soil gently with a trowel or the back of a rake, water well and mark the spot to help you avoid disturbing the bulbs. Protect against marauding squirrels and badgers with some pegged-down wire mesh.…

✣ Fancy a palm? The tree-like hemp or windmill palm, also listed sometimes as Chamaerops excelsa, is a fine evergreen Himalayan palm. It thrives in mild, seaside gardens. Elsewhere, it requires the shelter of a warm wall to protect it from frost and cold winds, which can shred its huge leaves. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM). ✣ Known as Spanish dagger because of its stiff, sharp-tipped leaves, Yucca gloriosa belongs to the lily family. It has towering spikes of creamy-white, bell-shaped flowers that rise above the leaves in summer and autumn. Use yucca as a focal point in a sunny border where the stout stem will become branched as it ages, or grow them in patio pots of loam-based John Innes…