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22 Articles

It’s time to pep up the patio!

My patio containers need an overhaul. There’s not much rhyme nor reason to them – they’ve just ‘happened’ over the years and while there’s a charm to this ragtag group of mismatched pots and plants, they could benefit from some attention! Several need repotting and shifting, some plants have probably had their time (I’ll find a spot in a border for them somewhere) and some containers are just getting a bit old and tatty. It’s a fun project though, and a good starting point is our feature on best shrubs for containers (page 12). These are the backbone of a display, providing year-round interest and structure around which we can add other colour, fragrance and general pizzazz. Carol Klein has a fascinating column (page 22) on how we’d do well…

It’s time to pep up the patio!

HAPPY KEW YEAR!

Visitors to London’s Kew Gardens are in for a treat from this spring as a range of features are unveiled. After being deep cleaned for the winter, the garden’s 173-year-old Waterlily House reopens in April. Located next to the iconic Palm House, the square timber structure will reflect its Victorian heyday with a display of intricate bedding plants, potted ferns and swaying palm trees. Within, giant waterlily Victoria cruziana will take centre stage, surrounded by potted papyrus, lotus and chenille reflecting the historic displays of yesteryear. Kew also aims to transform the Palm and Waterlily Houses into the world’s first ‘net zero’ glasshouses, assembling a team of environmental consultants to help with the project. From late March, around Queen Charlotte’s Cottage (created in 1771 in an area known as ‘the…

HAPPY KEW YEAR!

NEW FOR THE GARDEN

ULTRALIGHT BRANCH AND SHRUB CUTTER FROM £49.99 • Get to those out-of-reach places with Wilkinson Sword’s lightweight branch and shrub cutter, with a choice of either a 1.5m or 2m extension pole of anodised aluminium. Each will sever a 25mmthick branch via high-quality, SK5 blades with non-stick coating. The two-way, easy-pull mechanism has a shaft slider and an end toggle for extended reach. From: wilkinsonsword-tools.co.uk CAPABILITY GARDENING SPADE £44.99 • With a breaking strain of 130kg – the current UK standard is 55kg – Kent & Stowe call this “the strongest spade, that’s built to last”. It’s stainless steel with a FSC-certified ash handle, a larger tread edge and a 20-year guarantee. For stockists visit kentandstowe.com ECO-BLU BIRD FEEDER £9.99 • Crafted from recycled Prevented Ocean Plastic, this is UK-designed…

NEW FOR THE GARDEN

Your garden GEMS!

The online specialist gardening retailer, run by gardeners for gardeners SHREDDY FOR ACTION! I always shred any documents that I don’t want to go into the green household bin, then use it as garden mulch or add to the compost heap as filler material. Arabella Farrell, by email DIVE IN TO PLANTING I love a quirky planter so couldn’t resist turning this paddling pool that had seen better days into a new home for some plants last year! Waste not, want not! Andi Barton, by email ICE CREAM TO STORAGE DREAM! Old ice cream tubs are ideal to reuse as storage for garden essentials such as blood, fish and bone and crushed eggshells. I keep mine in the greenhouse. And, of course, it’s always a good reason to keep buying ice…

Your garden GEMS!

A legacy grown FROM LOVE

Gardener: Richard Cowan Location: Rose Cottage, Old Quarrington, Durham DH6 5NN Size: Approximately half an acre Soil: Clay Aspect: South and west-facing Been in garden: 42 years Open: July 6 for the National Garden Scheme Contact: Visit the NGS website: ngs.org.uk An African proverb states that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, and in the same vein it sometimes takes a family to create and maintain a garden. And that’s certainly the case for Ann’s Garden at Rose Cottage. Named in honour of Richard Cowan’s late wife who died suddenly in March 2023, it’s now cared for by Richard, his partner Roni and daughter-in-law Jenny, along with help from gardener Aiden. “Ann started the garden – it was all her idea and inspiration,” Richard explains. He worked under…

A legacy grown
FROM LOVE

TOP 10 SHRUBS FOR CONTAINERS

Most of us fill our tubs and baskets with annuals, there’s a good choice in every garden centre and their spring and summer colour is unrivalled. But twice a year they end up on the compost heap and we’re off out to buy more. Of course, buying plants is always fun, but there is another way to create colourful containers. Growing shrubs in pots, especially evergreens, has huge advantages. For a start, what they lack in dazzle they add in their bold presence, in their instant air of maturity, in their long seasons of colour, in the fragrance of their flowers or foliage and the fact that, over the years, they develop into impressive specimen plants. And you only have to buy them once! Here’s our pick of the best……

TOP 10 SHRUBS FOR CONTAINERS

Clematis pruning made simple!

Many of us are uncertain of when and how to prune clematis. This is because years ago, the experts were so keen that we get it exactly right that they made it way too complicated. In fact, it’s just not. Here we answer the most common questions on how to care for your clematis… Is it really confusing? No, not really. In fact it’s actually quite simple. And the first thing to remember is that, however you prune your clematis, you won’t kill it! They are remarkably forgiving plants and even if you cut it down to the ground in the middle of summer, I’ll be surprised if it dies. The other thing to remember is that, for the purposes of pruning, clematis are divided into just three groups, known…

Clematis pruning made simple!

START OFF TASTY SUMMER strawberries

Is there any better part of being a gardener than stepping out on a sunny summer’s morning to pick fresh strawberries from your plot to have with breakfast? Even if you’ve only got room for a few pots, that delicious taste and texture of soft, sun-warmed fruit can be yours. If you grow just one type of strawberry the picking window can seem quite short, but if you’ve got room, grow a few different ones and this sweetest of picking seasons will be much longer. GET THEM GOING NOW It’s a good time to plant some strawberries, with different varieties offered for sale in pots and mail order specialists selling a wide selection in the form of bareroot runners. In the garden, choose a sunny place with deep, rich soil…

START OFF TASTY SUMMER strawberries

It pays to work with NATURE!

Gardening is not nature. Although we must obey nature’s laws when we’re gardening, we are imposing our ideas on a piece of land – not just allowing nature to take over. But Mother Nature is the best teacher and if we consult her at every opportunity and take the advice she offers, we shouldn’t go far wrong. To grow plants successfully we need to give them the very best conditions we can, considering first and foremost where they would like to grow if they could choose for themselves. The smaller the garden, the more important it is to select plants that are going to thrive, taking into account the soil, conditions and amount of light our gardens can offer; it would be frustrating to grow alpines in dense shade or…

It pays to work with NATURE!

The online specialist gardening retailer, run by gardeners for gardeners Spring shows its promise Caroline & David Broome A plant-packed suburban garden in London that is accessible all year. My first visit of the year to the allotment saw me getting to grips with the blackberry hedge and grapevine. The hedge is about 100 years old, but I keep it in check by pruning out all the dead stems. The grapevine hardly produced any fruits last year, so I’ve tried some judicious pruning in the hope of a better crop this summer. I’ve also helped a fellow allotmenteer prepare and plant up a new raspberry bed. Back at home, some late-winter pruning is underway. I’ve cut back sambucus, reduced the oakleaf hydrangea to a more manageable size and thinned out…

SPRING CLEAN THE GARDEN

As the new season emerges, our gardens can look rather dishevelled, with old perennial stems left uncut, undulating ornamental grasses lying battered by the elements and a foray of dead garden material all contributing to a scene of neglect. Now the need for winter interest has passed, overwintering insects have awoken and bulbs are blooming, it’s time to take action and make space for all the new growth. The first job is to get on top of weeds before they go viral. Annual weeds have shallow roots and can be easily picked out by hand or hoed, but tap-rooted weeds or perennials such as bindweed will need more assertive action with a corkscrew weeder or to be dug out. Rediscover lawn and path edges with your edging shears, clean patios,…

SPRING CLEAN THE GARDEN

PLANT TENDER CLIMBERS

As the planting season continues, it’s time to think about plants you want to include to bring height and depth to borders, fences or walls. Climbers are the perfect option and, if grown well, will billow with foliage and flowers at head height and above to create real impact. There are two times a year when it’s best to plant climbers – in autumn you can start off hardier types, and spring when you should get the more tender ones settled. Decide on what you need where – close to a doorway or path you may want strong scent, or a covering of splendid foliage to cover an ugly wall, or simply a bounty of blooms to enjoy in high season. Why not try annual climbers? These are often perennials…

PLANT TENDER CLIMBERS

GIVE YOUR LAWN SOME LOVE!

If you want your lawn looking good, now’s the time to take action when it’s starting to make new growth. Essentially a lawn is made up of thousands of plants growing closely together, so to keep them healthy they need a little care. Although regular mowing helps, we do need to do a bit extra to help our lawns along. Raking or scarifying in spring as growth starts will remove any dead plant material and moss and lift grasses that grow flat to the soil. Doing this allows air to the base of the plants and encourages dense growth to thicken up the grass. Aeration in the form of spiking holes into the soil is also very beneficial and will aid surface drainage, relieve compaction and get much-needed air to…

GIVE YOUR LAWN SOME LOVE!

START OFF CABBAGES AND LETTUCE

Whatever the weather’s doing outside, now is the ideal time to sow some veg inside, whether in the greenhouse or on a bright windowsill. It’s still a little early for courgettes and sweetcorn but you can definitely get going with lettuce and cabbages, cauliflowers and calabrese. All these are easy to germinate and the seedlings will tolerate cool temperatures once planted, even in any May light frosts. Sow summer lettuce, summer cabbages, calabrese and summer cauliflowers in pots or cell trays in multi-purpose compost and lightly cover the seeds. Try to keep temperatures at or below 20C so the seedlings remain sturdy and short. High temperatures also slow the germination of lettuce. Keep them in good light and, as the first true leaves appear from between the seed leaves, transplant…

START OFF CABBAGES AND LETTUCE

Branching out with broccoli!

Helping you get your best-ever fruit and veg This year, alongside my usual calabrese, I’m trying something different – stem broccoli, and I’ve chosen ‘Bellaverde Sibsey’. This deliciously sweet variety starts off like traditional calabrese, forming a single central head similar to what you’d find in the supermarket (I still don’t understand why calabrese is labelled as ‘broccoli’ in shops!). But then comes the real magic. Within 10 to 14 days of cutting the main head, the plant shifts its focus to producing tender, succulent sideshoots, much like the ‘Tenderstem’ you can buy. The key to getting a great harvest is to keep cutting those stems regularly, encouraging a continuous flush of new growth. Before all that though, I need to get the seeds started. When it comes to brassicas,…

Branching out with broccoli!

Creamy blueberry cheesecake

Blueberries need minimal maintenance; just an annual prune to encourage new growth. First I cut out dead or crossing stems, then I remove one or two main stems to open up the middle of the bushes to allow air flow and reduce congestion. I’ll shorten any long, straggly stems to create a bushy shape. Finally, I’ll remove any moss and weeds from the pots and top dress with fresh ericaceous compost. Then I’m hopefully all set for another year of bumper crops. This recipe is wonderful for celebrations so keep it in mind for Easter, which will be here very soon. It can be cut into portions to freeze, with fresh blueberries added once thawed. Ingredients Serves 12 FOR THE BASE • 100g unsalted butter • 300g digestive biscuits, crushed…

Creamy blueberry cheesecake

Aiming high with begonias

The world's finest share their tips for success Last October we took a holiday in Singapore, meeting up with friends who are also begonia lovers. As always there’s too much to see and so little time to see everything. We spent three days in the magnificent Gardens by the Bay, where one of the highlights is the Supertree Grove. The ‘supertrees’ themselves are metal structures, planted from ground level up with all types of plants attached to the metal branches. There’s access to a sky walk platform, connecting three of the giant structures, giving a treetop view over the natural gardens. Once dusk falls, the gardens come alive with music and a laser light show. Gardens by the Bay is also home to two giant architectural glasshouses standing out above…

Aiming high with begonias

THE PROBLEM SOLVER

Professor Buczacki is a horticultural expert, writer and former chair of Gardeners' Question Time Got a problem? Our Problem Solver can help! See our contact details on page 3 #GNASKTHEEXPERTS Have rotten apples made my compost mouldy? Ryan Gordon, Thetford, Norfolk Stefan says: You’re worried because when you take forkfuls of compost from the bin, there’s mould growth in it. You think the rotten apples you added to the heap a year ago are the cause and you’re worried the mould growth will affect your vegetables. Let me reassure you on both counts. Mould growth is normal in compost. The mould fungi have played a vital part in breaking down the organic remains. And the disease that was present on your old apples is called brown rot and it only…

THE PROBLEM SOLVER

NUMBER 12 Once you have completed the crossword, take the letters in the shaded squares and rearrange them to spell out the name of a herb. This is your prize answer. ACROSS 1 Parma - - -, purple flower giving its name to a popular sweet (6)4 Greek god, or a human spaceflight programme led by NASA (6)9 Eurasian sedge with an aromatic rhizome formerly used in perfumery (9) 10 Colourful spring-flowering bulb associated with the Netherlands (5)11 Strip of wood behind plaster (4)12 - - - gloriosa, plant also known as Spanish dagger and Adam’s needle (5) 14 Diving equipment acronym (5)15 Aviator (5)17 French city close to the Belgian border (5)19 Outer surface of a tree (4)21 Liquid essential for plant life (5)23 Globe vegetable? (9)24 Jinx (6)25…

Pick of the POST

A polished result! I used bamboo skewers painted with nail polish to colour code my spring bulbs! Linda C, Southport Butterfly breakout This dormant peacock butterfly awakes early after a sunny spell. I found it sheltering in our wood pile. Savita Patel, Gotherington, Gloucestershire Fragrant welcome Viburnum is bursting into bloom, filling the air with its sweet fragrance. It’s such a magnet for early pollinators and a joy for us gardeners. It’s a real welcome splash of beauty after such a dreary winter! Marion Henson, Cambridge Best of this week’s short & sweets! This is a blooming delight in my garden. Cheers me up on a gloomy day – spring is on the way! Miriam Wales, by email Green shield bugs inhabiting the yellow hollyhock flowers. Dave Jolley, Dunham Massey,…

Pick of the POST

Gorgeous geranium ‘Jackpot Candyfloss Mix’

Geranium ‘Jackpot Candyfloss Mix’ delights with a stunning blend of soft pastel pink, vibrant deep pink and crisp white blooms. This vigorous F1 hybrid thrives in all weathers, delivering a summer-long display of single flowers on tidy, compact plants. Ideal for brightening beds, borders, and patio pots. H: 40cm, S: 35cm. Plug plants supplied from May onwards. You might also like... Geranium Rosebud Collection Captivating blooms open to reveal large clusters of fully double flowers on vigorous, trailing plants. The Rosebud Collection includes five varieties – ‘Polly’, ‘Sybil Pink’, ‘Tommy’, ‘Sybil Blue’ and ‘White Pearl’. These varieties have been specially selected because the blooms never open fully, but remain in a truly elegant rosebud formation. Their long flowering period and drought tolerance make these trailing pelargoniums ideal for creating an…

Gorgeous geranium ‘Jackpot Candyfloss Mix’

Buy 10 get 10 free on sweet peas!

Be the talk of the neighbourhood with hanging baskets displaying delightfully fragranced sweet peas that fill your whole patio with their unmistakable aroma from May to September. These plants are known for flowering profusely, with blooms appearing along every inch of the stems to develop a globe-like display. Enjoy a mixture of colours, including shades of red, pink, lavender, blue, rose and white. And it’s unbelievable value too, as when you buy 10 garden-ready plants you’ll get another 10 free! • Fragrant Trailing Sweet Pea: Item 410186 £12.99 – buy 10 get 10 free Choose from • Fragrant ‘Patio Perfect’ Sweet Peas: Item 410189 £12.99 – buy 10 get 10 free • Fragrant Sweet Pea Cut Flowers: Item 410183 £12.99 – buy 10 get 10 free You might also like...…

Buy 10 get 10 free on sweet peas!

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